FRBV25 CAE SHARE Joy Creating carnival hats

As it was carnival time during the hosting week in March, the teachers decided to organize a workshop on that topic. It is a very important event in the city and they wanted the students to learn about it and soak up the atmosphere.

The students were divided into groups of 4 (mixed nationalities).. First, they were shown a video about the Carnival in Dunkerque and the teacher explained the origins and the traditions connected with that event. It began, at the beginning of the 17th century, with the feasts given by shipowners before the sailors from Dunkirk went fishing for cod off Iceland. These fishing campaigns lasted several months and no one was quite sure to return... So, before they left, they spent part of the salary advance to have a good time.

These festivities coincided with the fat days preceding the period of Lent. The traditions of carnival and fishermen’s festival intertwined to become the «Visscherbende» (band of fishermen).

The foreign students created their own hats using material the French penpals had brought: feathers, coloured paper, ribbons, artificial flowers, all sorts of small objects that they stuck on a hat to produce a work both artistic and fun.

This activity was appreciated by the students because it was real fun and they could express their artistic and creative skills. The Greek and Italian students learnt about the traditions in their hosting city and they got to know their partner better.

The hat was used as part of the costume on the next Sunday for carnival and also during the farewell party at the Lycée Jean Bart on Monday, March 10^th.