Cancellation of the Braderie de Lille 2016
Aug 5, 2016 19:15:46 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2016 19:15:46 GMT
The Braderie of Lille is one of the most important events in France every year. It is an unlimited flea market held during the first weekend of September that draws 10,000 vendors from all over northern Europe and attracts 2.5 million visitors every year. This event started in the year 1127 and was part of a series of 5 merchant events organised in Lille, Bruges, Ypres, Torhout and Messines throughout the year. It was only in the 16th century that it began to turn into a flea market when servants were allowed to sell items discarded by their employers.
Over the centuries, there has been plenty of controversy. Normal vendors abandoned the event when the flea market aspect began to take over in the 19th century, and in 1873 a journalist complained that "it isn't what it used to be." Still the event continued every year and was only interrupted from 1939 to 1944 due to military hostilities.
It was in the 1970's that the current event began to take shape: three days of wild commercial activities in a free-for-all, punctuated with unlimited beer, mussels and french fries. The stands cover more than 100 kilometres of city streets, and it is its great success that caused cancellation this year due to the current state of emergency. The mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, announced the cancellation this morning with tears in her eyes. She said that there is absolutely no way to make the event secure considering current events and that she would never forgive herself if even one person died due to terrorism. This is devastating to the hotel and restaurant industry since it is the most important weekend of the year in Lille. Many restaurants stay open 24/24 during the braderie, because the activity never stops. In the centre of the city, there has been a tradition of piling up the mussel shells over the three days at one of the principal intersections.
Every year, I plan to go and every year I remember the event too late. It would be easy to take the train, but what if I wanted to buy something? It would be easy to drive there, but where on earth would I park? Well, this year I don't have to worry about it.
Most people understand very well why it was necessary to cancel the event, even though it is difficult to accept. Twitter already has its hashtag and symbol.
The city of Lille is already thinking about what it might do next year if the world remains as ugly as it is now. I imagine everybody being placed in an immense empty beet field far from the city and surrounded by a huge security fence. It won't be the Braderie de Lille anymore. Daech appears to have won.
Over the centuries, there has been plenty of controversy. Normal vendors abandoned the event when the flea market aspect began to take over in the 19th century, and in 1873 a journalist complained that "it isn't what it used to be." Still the event continued every year and was only interrupted from 1939 to 1944 due to military hostilities.
It was in the 1970's that the current event began to take shape: three days of wild commercial activities in a free-for-all, punctuated with unlimited beer, mussels and french fries. The stands cover more than 100 kilometres of city streets, and it is its great success that caused cancellation this year due to the current state of emergency. The mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, announced the cancellation this morning with tears in her eyes. She said that there is absolutely no way to make the event secure considering current events and that she would never forgive herself if even one person died due to terrorism. This is devastating to the hotel and restaurant industry since it is the most important weekend of the year in Lille. Many restaurants stay open 24/24 during the braderie, because the activity never stops. In the centre of the city, there has been a tradition of piling up the mussel shells over the three days at one of the principal intersections.
Every year, I plan to go and every year I remember the event too late. It would be easy to take the train, but what if I wanted to buy something? It would be easy to drive there, but where on earth would I park? Well, this year I don't have to worry about it.
Most people understand very well why it was necessary to cancel the event, even though it is difficult to accept. Twitter already has its hashtag and symbol.
The city of Lille is already thinking about what it might do next year if the world remains as ugly as it is now. I imagine everybody being placed in an immense empty beet field far from the city and surrounded by a huge security fence. It won't be the Braderie de Lille anymore. Daech appears to have won.
That is just awful!
