2023-11-30 16:45:00
End of year rhymes with Saint Nicholas, Christmas, Christmas markets, New Year and many other things. But in Huy, the end of the year also rhymes with the Hivernales in the garden of the priest of the Saint-Pierre presbytery. Because, this year once more, Father Michel Teheux has decided to decorate his garden and his house, from the cellar to the attics, “and it’s not an image”, laughs the main person concerned, who even decorated his room for the occasion. “So I’m getting ready to camp for three weeks.”
45 days of activities around Christmas and ice cream in Huy: “It’s the major attraction of our festivities”
It’s true that the building and the garden are full of fir trees, figurines, balls, lamps, statues and other objects that the priest found during his travels, in stores, on the internet… By the way, there are some How much ? “Wow! I have no idea.”
And this year, we found quite a few birds. It must be said that the 2023 theme is “As if birds were flying”. “About ten years ago, the father of one of my acquaintances died. I then collected the bird cages from this gentleman, who was a pigeon fancier, telling myself that I would make good use of them one day .” And this day it arrived. Michel Teheux decorated the cages with small bird figurines. But we also find others, like papier-mâché parrots that frolic freely throughout the house.
Huy: Christmas of light at the presbytery of Saint-Pierre
But as the priest says, it is not the theme that is the most important. “The decoration is extremely baroque. It is the abundance and combination of objects that make the presbytery a magical place.”
A titanic job
He also works alone, or almost, to achieve such a result. “A few people help me, especially to install electricity in the garden. But I take care of all the decoration myself.” And as we suspect, just like Rome, the Hivernales do not happen in one day. “Before, I did everything quite late. But I found myself spending sleepless nights to finish on time.” And since he didn’t want to do that to himself anymore, he decided to get started well in advance. “I started decorating some rooms, which I don’t go to much, in September. And I took care of the others in my free time.”
Huy: “Noélie” in the gardens of the priest of Saint-Pierre, it’s starting this weekend (photos)
Les Hivernales, since 1992
And now that we are a few hours away from the opening of Hivernales, is everything ready? “I still have a little work left, especially in the garden. But I will have finished on time. Well, I say that I will have finished on time, but I know very well that I will still be doing last minute changes,” he laughs.
It seems like nothing, Michel Teheux has been decorating his presbytery for more than 30 years. “I started in 1992, we needed money to repay a loan we had taken out.” And since the event was a huge success, it continued. Without ever experiencing a certain weariness? “Yes. Every year, I really struggle to get started.” But every year, he gets involved and transforms his presbytery into a magical place that welcomes a good thousand people over three weekends.
And the priest wants his visitors to be welcomed in the best possible conditions. “I consider them as guests. They visit the house as if they were welcomed.” If the experience tempts you, go this Saturday to the Saint-Pierre presbytery in Huy.
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