Coming soon: Menton carnival – the celebration of lemons

From the 13th of February to the 4th of March, Menton will become the lemons’ city. In fact, Menton celebrates the carnival with a parade of floats and sculptures made from lemons and oranges. This tradition began in 1895 with an idea of some hotels managers to animate the town during winter and the lemons floats and sculptures began in 1934 when Menton was the first producer of lemon in Europe and with the desire of the town council to attract more tourists by doing a unique carnival.

The Carnival of Menton consists of a parade of floats and sculptures made from lemons and oranges, of “Big Head”, throws of confetti, brass bands and flowers’ battle. The Carnival of Menton is very unique in the world. During the second day of the Carnival, the Mentonnais enjoy the game of “Moucouleti” or “Moccoletti”, which consist in keeping a lighted little candle in the hand and trying to blow out the others’ candle. It was also a kind of romantic game, in fact, when a man blow out a candle which belong to a women, she must give him a kiss when the man relight her candle.

The 15th of February, the 22 and the 1st March, the “Corsos des Fruits d’Or” will take place. These days hundreds of floats, sculptures made from lemons and oranges, brass band and traditional drum players will cross the town spreading happiness, confetti and joy. The 19th and 26th of February from 8.30pm will start the “Corsos nocturnes”. It is a very animated, high-sounding and crazy parade. These “Corsos nocturnes” end with pyrotechnics. See the website http://www.feteducitron.com/ for more information.

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