The ‘Battle’ of Mellans and Avresses is a mock fight tradition (with men on stilts) in 1951 in Namur, Belgium.
Do you know: This tradition is also known as la bia bouquet or the gold stilt combat.
Traditionally, men divide themselves into two groups; the Mellans are the ones found on the black and yellow stilts while the Avresses are found on the red and white stilts. These groups then ‘fight’ against each other by trying to make their opponents fall using only stilts and elbows. This custom has its origin in the Middle ages, when Namur was often flooded and walking on stilts became a way of having fun.
