From April 29 to May 8, Orléans will host the 595th Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc, a city-wide expression of gratitude to Joan of Arc for her central role in the lifting of the siege — and consequent liberation of the city — at the beginning of her military campaign in 1429. Besides being a must-attend event, one I cannot recommend enough, the city of Orléans spares no expenses in the organization and, most notably, in the communication department. At this point the visuals employed each year to advertise the event are an attraction in and on themselves, and for good reasons: not only are they different each year, but they are also downright stunning, and this year is no exception:
The care and hard work that clearly goes into each year's organization of this important event are a testament to the fact that, even after almost six centuries, the city of Orléans is still profoundly enamored with Joan, and forever grateful for what she did. From April 29 to May 8 the city streets and squares will be bursting with music, parades, and all sorts of celebrations, including the annual reenactment of Joan's entry into the city, in which a different young woman each year gets to impersonate Joan, riding a horse through the city streets like the real Joan did, with the banner and all, followed and cheered upon by the mayor of the city and a massive parade of other public figures as well as the regular citizens of Orléans. The criteria by which the new Joan is picked each year are also very specific: the candidate has to be of French nationality, she has to have been a resident of either Orléans or any of the neighboring municipalities (Ardon, Saran, St-Jean de Braye, etc.) for at least ten years, she has to be a Catholic Christian and she has to be someone who gives time to others through an association, as well as being a student enrolled in either a public or a private high school in Orléans.
More information about the 2024 Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc in Orléans can be found here: https://www.orleans-metropole.fr/fetes-de-jeanne-d-arc/
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