European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Is photos by Ken George at right inflated pig bladders hang from the nose of one of the Blanc Moussis top and a daring Young Spectator lunges at the parading characters. Below other marchers draft an older Spectator for service in their Canoe. Olssn sadness by David Tarrant Brussels Bureau Long after carnival crazed colognes have Flung their final clump of confetti skyward and the masked marauders of Mainz have hurled their last blood oranges into the crowd when a kind of Post carnival hush descends Over Europe the Little belgian town of stave lot brings out the pig bladders. That s right. Pig bladders. Inflated like balloons the pinkish pig bladders can be slapped against one s own leg to make noise or bounced on another s head for the fun of it. The curious custom is All part of the nearly 500 year old stave lot Carneval de la laetare which roughly translated Means enjoy and that s what about 2,000 visitors did when at 2 . On a recent sunday a raucous procession of costumed marchers and floats wound through the City spraying confetti and playing games As stave lot threw off the cold sobriety of the mid lenten season and exploded in color and festivity. Blanc Moussis the most famous Symbol of the carnival did the most mischief. Wearing hooded White Robes and White masks with Long red noses hundreds of them ran amok through the streets bouncing the inflated pig bladders on the Heads of bystanders. Some crept up on the unsuspecting and reaching into sacks tied to their waists Flung handfuls of confetti into their faces. The curious costumes Are believed to have originated in the 16th Century when the Abbot in charge of the City s Abbey refused to allow his monks to attend the carnival according to Jeannine Jacob a Long time stave lot resident. The local residents expressed their anger at the Abbot s decision by dressing up in outrageous costumes that made fun of the Monk s habits. There is no precise answer for the origin of the pig bladder bashing which seems to have evolved out of centuries of mischievous merry making. It s a matter of fierce Pride to be a Moussi which is open to both boys and older men. Edmond Rollin has marched As a Moussi in the carnival for 58 years and his Friend Richard Peters for 46 years. It s something very special for both the Young ones and the grownups Rollin said. The Parade is also special As it winds through the narrow Cobblestone streets of the Small town nestled in the ardennes near the West German Border. There s no particular theme to the Parade and americans attending this year s carnival would have seen a lot of familiar floats including a wild West Saloon a Las vegas Casino and a Square dance. There was a spaceship float playing Michael Jackson tunes and another depicting the world cup soccer championship scheduled in Italy later this year. Cheerleaders and soccer players danced on the float to the sound of the disco hit Myca. The groups that marched with the floats also depicted a similar smattering of themes including some dressed up like an african tribe wielding Spears and carrying a child King a group of clowns on bicycles Square dancers Kung fun fighters and a marching band that looked out of place because it was so Well Normal looking. Everyone seemed oblivious to the weather a cold rain mixed with some Snow. Some who tried to avoid the raw weather by watching the Parade inside their warm cars did not escape the keen eyes of the prowling Moussis. Floats several stories High wielding Long air pressured cannons spewed hundreds of pounds of confetti Over the people the buildings and the cars parked along the route. One american family from Frankfurt West Germany found its Van completely covered by soggy confetti. I think they saw me videotaping inside the Van and they sprayed us the Man said. Many americans attended the Parade and some like Rick Sarni had been there several times before. Sarni said he appreciated some of the history behind the carnival but also enjoyed the antics. Especially when they weren t aimed at him. One year a Moussi swung a dead fish hanging from a string in his direction while he was watching the Parade. Basically i think they want you to take a bite out of it but i would t have anything to do with it said Sarni who teaches in an american school in Pir Masens West Germany. You re digging the confetti out of your clothes for weeks said Elizabeth Rowe who teaches at Pitburg elementary school in West Germany. But i like the Way they grab you and make you do things in the indeed marchers forced people to walk a few paces in heavy oversized wooden shoes to help pull floats or to sit in a chair and have their faces painted Orange. Everyone seemed to comply to some degree of willingness including an american woman who was pulled up into a float depicting an old Western House of ill after stepping off the float she laughed and said i just got attacked by a Bunch of French speaking april 5, 1990 stripes Magazine 11
