Festivals of Bayonne

The festivals of Bayonne are one period of festival in the city basco - Gascon of Bayonne (Yrénées-Atlantiques) which begins Wednesday which precedes the first weekend by August and finishes next Sunday. In 2004, these festivals joined together between 1,3 and 1,5 million visitors, making these most important festivals of France. The behavior of rigor white, is accompanied by a red scarf. The purists also recommend the port of a red belt (the cinta).

History of the festivals

The festivals of Bayonne (which were called at the time “great festivals of summer”) took place for the first time in 1932 inspired by the festivals of Pampelune ( sanfermines , Fêtes of San Fermin).

In 2005, a record (new world records) was beaten with a long Paquito chocolatero of 1400 m and 4000 personnes.
In 2006, this record was beaten with 5100 people for a length of 1 700 mètres.
In 2007, this record was beaten again with 6000 people for a 2000 meters length. For a few years, an multitude record exceeding the million people in 5 days has been recorded. That places this event among the most important festivals in the world, in term of multitude.

Colors

For the period of the festivals, two colors are prevalent: the White and the Red . The official behavior is the white with the red scarf and the belt rouge.
But the colors of the behavior evolved/moved since the origin. At the time of the first festivals, in 1932, the colors were the Bleu and the white (blue came from the overalls of the workmen). This blue was then replaced by the red, following the example feria of Pampelune, San Fermin, where the red and the white are the official colors. A polemic continues nowadays, a minority preferring the original blue and white (which can also refer to the colors of the general sports club most important of the city, the Bayonne Aviron). One can also find green, another of the colors of the Basque Drapeau.

Unfolding

First of all, the festivals of Bayonne have been spread out for a few years over five days: first Wednesday of August until next Sunday. All that there is the best in the Basque tradition there is represented: winds into a ball, musics and dances; Bullfight S, races of cow ttes (including one fictitious for the children), ravelled Tank S, Bandaged S, concerts, balls, toros of fuego, Fireworks animate the festivals.
The Puppet of King Leon, day before attentively on his flocks during all the fêtes.
Hero of a Cartoon of Jean Duverdier, this character is inspired by a figure of the Bayonne life, Leon Dachary, is considered at the time for his escapades.
It is him which launches the festivals while throwing, of the balcony of the town hall, the famous keys of the city, with an invited personality: Shine Mariano, Johnny Hallyday in 1960, Zazie, Jean-Jacques Goldman (2002), Francis Cabrel, Guy Forget, Tony Estanguet in (2005), Helene Ségara, Bernard Lavilliers, certain members of the team of the Girondins of Bordeaux like Lilian Laslandes, Élie Baup and François Grenet as well as members of the Bayonne Aviron Rugby Pro.

Incidents

The whole of these festivals proceeds in general in an good atmosphere, even if one counts accidents, even deaths due to the excess of alcohol, falls since the ramparts or Noyade S in the Nive or the Adour (dangerous with causes of the Marée S).

In 2005 and 2006, five complaints for rape were deposited.

Gallery

See too

External bonds

Official site of the festivals of Bayonne (fetes.bayonne.fr)
Blog of the festivals of Bayonne of the newspaper Southern West
Site of the town of Bayonne (bayonne.fr)
nonofficial Site of the festivals of Bayonne (fetesdebayonne.com)

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