Time lapse of the iconic charachter of Warneton : the white monks, locally named Mountches, and the sculpture of the gift.
(Browse the collection : Hainaut Province stock footage videos, time lapses and cinematic shots)
The town of Comines-Warneton (Komen-Waasten in Dutch) is located at the western edge of the Province of Hainaut (Henegouwen in Dutch), at the border with France and West Flanders (West Vlaanderen in Dutch). It includes a few cities or villages and hamlets depending of one single administration. Comines and Warneton are the main towns of this merged municipality.
This said, this sculpture made by local artist Bernard Verhaeghe refers to the folk festival and a tradition remaining from medieval times. The local monks dedicated their abbey to Saint-Nicholas. On his feast day, the “white monks” as they were known, went out on donkeys or mules, distributing bread, cakes, and treats along the streets of the city. Since years, this tradition is carried on in the folk festival held the first saturday in december. Children dress up as “Mountches” – the little monks – in white cloaks and hoods, like the monks of old time. Saint-Nicholas comes on horseback, distributing oranges. The festivities close with throwing figures from the balcony of the town hall.
Actually, similarities with Santa Claus are obvious, although the origin is not the same. Anyway, Saint-Nicholas feast day is still a major tradition throughout Belgium, and in Eastern France as well.(Read more : St Nicholas Center)
File names, codec and sizes
warneton004_5K+
warneton004_fhd
warneton004_web
Mov ProRes 244 HQ
Mov ProRes 244 HQ
H264 mp4
1,50 Go
186 Mo
10,4 Mo