2023-09-03 17:25:00
Last year, two of the giants of Nivelles, the Argayon and the Argayonne, had been renovated in the workshop of a specialist in Comines-Warnetton. And their joyful (re)entry to Nivelles, in the spring; had made the happiness of the Aclots, attached to the giants who have been part of the history of the city for more than six centuries.
Sunday, it was the turn of their child, the Lolo, to make his official return following four months spent in the studio of Pierre Loyer. Of course, no giant of Nivelles has survived six centuries: they have had a turbulent history and were among the victims of the bombings of May 1940. But they have been rebuilt and the latest renovations are carried out using the drawings made in 1925 by Paul Collet. It is once more this principle that was followed for the Lolo.
The wicker structure inside the “giant baby” has been redone, as has its damaged head, which is now smoother. As for his cloth gloves, they have become real hands once more. These repairs cost around 8,000 euros to the City, which owns the giants (see opposite).
And to mark this rebirth of the Lolo, the carriers of giants had imagined a gathering of his peers, and a folk baptism, Sunday on the Grand-Place. For the event, around thirty riding giants – the branch of the family that moves on wheels was not invited – had come from Soignies, Bouvignes, Namur, Lessines, Ath, Tilff, Wavre… This gathering delighted fans, Sunday in Nivelles, especially as it was accompanied by a parade and the sun was there.
But before the parade, the Lolo version 2023 was officially unveiled, in the presence of the authorities. Even its appointed porters, Laurent Sampoux and Régis Zébier, had not seen it before the tarpaulin that concealed it was removed. The result was applauded by the public and following this folk baptism, the Argayon, the Argayonne and the Lolo danced in the company of the godfather and godmother, Baudouin IV and his wife Alix de Namur, who had both made the trip since Ath.
The Lolo will therefore be in great shape once more for the next outings, especially since the wearers are in the process of training two new recruits to bring it to life: not afraid of its 60 kilos, Manon Vandersande and Alice Sampoux will wear it from time to time. time.
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