Washing of the Madeleine

Paris celebrates Afro-Brazilian culture with the Lavage de la Madeleine. Concerts, dances, festive evenings and a colorful parade to the Madeleine church

Every year, the Lavage de la Madeleine transforms Paris into a capital city decked out in the colors of Brazil. A week of festivities sets the capital’s heart racing with concerts, lectures, dance parties, capoeira, and a grand Brazilian ball. The highlight of the event: on Sunday, September 14, the colorful parade brings together musicians, dancers, and folk groups from around the world, leading up to the ritual of the symbolic washing of the steps of the Madeleine Church. A celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture and brotherhood, the event offers Parisians and visitors a unique immersion at the crossroads of traditions, music, and popular festivities.