the traditional herring toss brought together thousands of people for a “magical moment”

The Carnival Band tried, from 5 p.m., to make its way to Dunkirk City Hall to throw herrings. The festivities took longer than expected to get started, but the delay did not dampen the general enthusiasm. A real moment of emotion, for the mayor of the city.

5:40 p.m.: The herring throwing has finally begun! The mayor took his place on the balcony of the town hall, raising the clamor of his fellow citizens. Thousands of Dunkirks hold out their hands in the air waiting to collect the precious fish.

“It’s the first time I’ve done the carnival, I’m really lucky! I jumped on it”, jubilates a victorious carnival-goer. Another throws his fist in the air with a howl of victory, his mouth still full of the caught and immediately crunched herring.

The yellow fries, which can win a meal at the restaurant, are also starting to be thrown from the balcony.

5:35 p.m.: The public is getting impatient, with more than a quarter of an hour behind the time of the launch. But nothing could be more normal: in the middle of the crowd, the Band had difficulty making their way to the heart of the town hall square.

5:25 p.m.: Last year’s blue fry winner prepares to take his place on the balcony. “There is a lot of pride in taking part in this carnival tradition. I am from Dunkirk, the grandson of a fisherman, so I am very happy to be here today. It’s going to be great” he grows impatient.

5:15 p.m.: The Trois Joyeuses are also a special moment for the mayor of the city, Patrice Vergriete, who takes part in all the festivities. “The five seconds when we open the doors to throw herrings is a magical moment. There is a clamor from this huge, colorful crowd, we are bound to be moved. It’s a gigantic emotion, it It’s great. This year, it’s the reunion band, there are a lot of people and the weather is with us, it’s perfect!”

17:10 a.m.: After several hours of celebration, walking the streets of Dunkirk, the Fishermen’s Band headed for the town hall square. The yellow nebula stands out in the compact crowd that follows the Strip step by step. From above, the city’s arteries look like a sea of ​​colorful umbrellas.

The front ranks of the procession, barely 100m from the town hall, chant the traditional: “Free the herrings!” The blue fry will also be thrown into the public, with whoever catches it winning the privilege of being one of the herring throwers.

“The strategy for catching a herring is to put yourself on someone’s shoulders!” anticipates a festival-goer looking for a suitable frame.

The herring throwing tradition since the 1960s and a symbol of the history of the fishermen of Dunkirk, who went to fish them near the coasts of Iceland. These are local figures who, each year, swing these fish from the top of the town hall.

And in Dunkirk, we don’t skimp on tradition: nearly 500 kilos of herring are thrown into the crowd. It seems like a lot but, given the crowd, you have to jostle to grab the coveted trophy of the revelers!

Follow all the news from the Dunkirk Carnival 2023 live on France 3 Hauts-de-France. and on france.tv.