A chaplain celebrated a daily mass in St Peter's Chapel at the request of Lord Hugues 1 of Rumigny.
A collection of money was organise to restore the chapel
The de Beaufort family had the chapel rebuilt; it had been destroyed during the Revolution. The Pope offered a relic of St Peter for the chapel.
The townspeople wanted to celebrate this event and decided to dress in military costumes and accompany the religions procession.
Only the guards of the Duke of Florennes, carrying cudgels, took part in the procession.
Actual groups of marchers accompanied by music, made the procession a real success. (This year is considered to be the beginning of "les Marches St-Pierre" in Florennes.)
soldiers accompanied the processions, both to lend dignity and to protect the pilgrims. Therefore in 1821, the townspeople decided to accompany the procession dressed in military costumes dating from the time of Napoleon.
the inhabitants held the very first March. Now, it always takes place on the first Sunday after the 29th of June (the Saint's Day of St Peter).
Prospered thanks to its iron mines and metal industries, the Town Council decided to defray part of the expenses for the costumes and the powder.
Les Petits Marcheurs (children under 14) Les Rouges , Les Blancs
there are "Grenadiers" "Gendarmes."(with guns and with yellow trousers) "Sapeurs" who carry an axe or a spade, and "Zouaves," (with very wide trousers)
the "Blancs" and the "Rouges" select an officer 's corps and submit names to the Town Council.
the officers are consecrated to the sound of drums.
An official list of the majors, adjutants, flag bearers, drum majors, sapeur sergeants, officers of the "Grenadiers" and officers of the "Zouaves" is read.
The flags which have been kept in the Town Hall are officially given back to the groups.
"Les Blancs" receive the old standard of the youth and "Les Rouges," the national flag.
the officers try to collect money from their sponsors, so that there won't be a shortage of drinks during the March.
a rosary is said each evening in St Peter's Chapel (which is opened only at that time).
each "soldier" picks up his costume from his officer's home (most rent their costumes.)
the three groups go out, but they do not wear their full costume. "Les Blancs" get the statue of St Peter from the chapel to carry to the main church.
very early in the morning, drums awaken the troops
At 8:00 am,
a mass is celebrated for the two adult groups and the townspeople who follow them.
At 9:00 am,
a mass is celebrated for the children's group, accompanied by the band from Hanzinelle. The band is dressed in "Voltigeurs" costumes.
Between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm,
in front of the church or along the "Rue de Mettet," one can see a beautiful and impressive spectacle.
In the evening, at about 5:00 or 6:00 pm,
all groups form up in a square battalion (Bataillon Carre) at the "Parc du Château."
the same ritual is repeated this morning as has occurred on Sunday morning.
At approximately 4:00 pm,
the children dance in the "Rue Ruisseau des Forges" (wearing amusing costumes).
At about 6:00 pm,
they go into the primary school St Joseph, shoot for the last time a small cannon, and give their flag backs.
(translation by Nikkie Mc Donald and Daisy Bertrand)