A delighted crowd keeps the flame of the flower parade tradition alive

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

Every year, and for about a century, Saint-Ambroix celebrates August 15 with a flower parade. Midi Libre – STEPHANE BARBIER

In Saint-Ambroix, faithful to tradition, the crowd gathered and had fun as the floats made of crepe paper flowers passed by. The festival will end on Sunday with fireworks at 10:30 p.m.

This Thursday, as 5pm approaches, Sylvie has taken out two armchairs from the “Amely coiffure” salon to give her mother-in-law a front row seat.
A little further on, above “La maison de l”immobilier”, two Saint-Ambroisiennes are waiting under flowered parasols. At the foot of the town hall, a compact crowd has gathered, the café terraces are darkening and, finally, at the windows of the medieval city, faces are emerging to the first notes of samba from the inaugural float evoking the Olympic Games.
It is an understatement to say that the inhabitants, and those who came from elsewhere, from Saint-Julien-de-Cassagnas, La Grand-Combe or Ardèche, fueled the flame of the traditional August 15 parade.
And thus rewarded the work of a year in the shadows, and with selflessness, of the volunteers of the 15/8 association in charge of the festivities.
This year, six floats launched at low speed on the boulevard du Portalet evoked, in turn, the Olympic Games or featured Mario Bros, Egypt, Obelix, a crocodile or even Barbie. Floats made of crepe paper flowers carrying kids throwing large armfuls of confetti into the crowd. They who, their elders hope, will one day animate this flowery parade. The pride of this Cèze region whose memory of a larger crowd at the time feeds a form of nostalgia. That the musicians, acrobats and dancers come to dispel. Sign of the attachment of these Cévenols to this parade shaping a most precious metal: the gold of memories.

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