The night of May

Chorale d’hommes habillés en costume traditionnel des Ardennais (sarreau, blouse bleue, casquette noire et foulard rouge). The month of May is linked to love rituals as shown by the custom that, during the night of 30 April to 1 May, lovers planted a tree with ribbons in front of the home of those they had chosen. In Stavelot, this custom has been perpetuated since at least 1860 by choirs that roam the city and the villages to interpret a song of love; the 18th century legend, which wants a year of happiness to be promised to lovers who plunge their joined hands in the water flowing to the fountain of the main square, also belongs to these spring rituals.