This weekend marks the return of the Strépy-Bracquegnies carnival. The festivities fell into mourning last year following a speeder drove into the crowd and killed 6 people and injured many others. Among the victims: Frédéric D’Andréa, a Carnival lover. This Sunday, his brother Nicolas will do the Gille to pay tribute to him. The emotion will be at its peak.
It is a place that he has decided to confront head-on every week. On its way, a stele pays tribute to the 6 victims of the tragedy of Strepy-Bracquenies and to his brother Frédéric who died a year ago. The Gille was mowed down in the middle of the festivity. “Humanly, the lack is there, the loss is immense. The wound is indelible. It will never be repairable no matter what,” Nicholas breathes.
This year, he will don Gille’s costume. He dreads the morning reunion. “I thought that this year, it might be nice to put on clogs and be able to walk in his footsteps. It will also be a very nice tribute to him”, adds Nicholas.
I think it’s gonna be the emotional lift
Sunday morning, images will scroll through his head: those of a disaster he cannot forget. Festival-goers will take the same route as last year. This course will oscillate between joy and emotion. “There will be more intense moments than others. And I think we will have to be able to approach them as calmly as possible. I think it will be the emotional elevator for three days”, says Nicholas.
For these lovers of bereaved folklore, it will therefore be necessary to bring this carnival to life. “All the victims who are still lucky enough to be alive today have decided to redo the Gille. And so, it will be special for everyone,” concludes the young man. Around 5am, hearts will be tight at Strepy-Bracquenies.
