Roubaix Local Customs

It is kind of a tradition in Flanders and Northern France (which was long time part of Flanders), that every city, town has its own giant(s), and then in the annual festivities these giants take part of the parade.

And this goes further then only the parades, as sometimes these giants get married with the giant of another town, och yes and sometimes they even get children, like this new giants get born . . . .

So the giant of the city of Roubaix is Pierre de Roubaix.

Pierre the Roubaix was a very important person in the history of this city.

Thanks to his father Jean III (Jean sans peur - jean without fear) Roubaix received the title of City. Then his son, Pierre the Roubaix continued the work of his father, an around 1469 he received the authorisation of Charles the Bold to start producing wool. This was the start of economic success story for the city of Roubaix.