Welcome to Tilff “La cité des Pôres” The leeks city.

Born in 1952, the traditional group, “the Pôres Tilffois” brings originality to the Laetare Parade. Disguised as the pôres or porais meaning leeks the vegetable patch, dance in tune with the “Jardiniers Mélomanes”, the musicians gardeners, around a giant called “Djôsèf li r’piqueû” wallon name meaning (Joseph the guy that plant out leeks) there are also other giants who look like veggies.

Thousands of litres of leek potage are drunk at every carnival. It keep people warm and satisfy one’s hunger, the leek potage is made for that special occasion. At the end of the festivities they incinerate “the Macrâle” hiver, meaning (winter witch), with the great Carnival Bonfire.

The witches were believed to be responsible to bring the winter along with many misfortunes.
That why they burn his effigy during major fires and it is celebrated in late winter.
This practice is reminiscent of the stake that had to suffer the witches in past centuries.

As part of Walloon folklore, it is not uncommon to see a parade of the Macrales (witches) fraternities that ambulate among the August 15 festivities in Outremeuse, Liege.
The witch hunt d ‘Ermeton-on-Biert or Marche-en-Famenne for instance .