Folklore of Belgium

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The Folklore of Belgium is extremely diverse and reflects the rich legacy of cultural and religious influences which have acted on the region throughout its history, even before the establishment of the nation of Belgium in 1830. Much of Belgian folklore is unique to the region in which it is commemorated. Many aspects of folklore are manifested in public processions and parades in Belgian cities; traditions which are kept alive for the amusement of locals and tourists alike.

The term folklore (which is rendered identically in both French and Dutch) is used in Belgium in a much wider sense than in English, chiefly to denote all cultural events open to the public such as traditional festivals and parades. Excluded from folklore are individual (not public) traditions, like the celebration of Easter, food (except if linked to a public cultural event), and events that saw their start only recently, including music festivals such as I Love Techno.

Brussels

Main article: Brussels § Folklore
Meyboom giants in Brussels, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Brussels' identity owes much to its rich folklore and traditions, among the liveliest in the country.[1][2]

The Ommegang, a folkloric costumed procession, commemorating the Joyous Entry of Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II in Brussels in 1549, takes place every year in July. The colourful parade includes floats, traditional processional giants, such as Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, and scores of folkloric groups, either on foot or on horseback, dressed in medieval garb. The parade ends in a pageant on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square). Since 2019, it has been recognised as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.[3]

The Meyboom, an even-older folk tradition of Brussels (1308), celebrating the "May tree"—in fact, a corruption of the Dutch tree of joy—takes place paradoxically on 9 August. After parading a young beech in the city, it is planted in a joyful spirit with lots of music, Brusseleir songs, and processional giants. It has also been recognised as an expression of intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, as part of the bi-national inscription "Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France".[4][5] The celebration is reminiscent of the town's long-standing (folkloric) feud with Leuven, which dates back to the Middle Ages.

The Saint-Verhaegen/Sint-Verhaegen (often shortened to St V), a folkloric student procession, celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), is held on 20 November. Since 2019, it has also been listed as intangible cultural heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region.[6][7][8]

Another good introduction to the Brusseleir

Le Mariage de Mademoiselle Beulemans by Frantz Fonson and Fernand Wicheler, and Bossemans et Coppenolle by Joris d'Hanswyck and Paul Van Stalle, are still the subject of regular revivals.[10]

Province of East Flanders

Ros Beiaard in Dendermonde, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Ros Beiaard is a large folkloristic horse. It differs from the other Ros-Beiaard horses because it is used only once every ten years and because the horse is carried by people. The Ros Beiaard is on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, under the "Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France".

Province of West Flanders

In

Derick of Alsace (the Count of Flanders) which is believed to contain the blood of Christ—is paraded round the city.[11] The procession itself is said to date to the 13th century.[11] Each year, the procession attracts some 50,000 visitors and pilgrims.[11]

In the town of

Passion of Jesus
, including cross-carrying and a procession of hooded penitents.

The Kattenstoet (Cat Festival) takes place in Ypres each year, possibly commemorating a medieval tradition in which cats, then associated with witchcraft, were thrown from the tower of the city's Cloth Hall.[12]

Province of Antwerp

In the so-called 'polderdorpen',

Hoevenen, Stabroek, Berendrecht, Zandvliet en Lillo, north of the city of Antwerp, a traditional game called Ganzenrijden (goose-riding) is kept alive. A (dead) goose is hung in a fishing net high above the ground, and the objective is to pull of its head while riding a horse underneath it. The winner is then crowned king for a year. Then, the kings of every village gather in a second competition to see who is the best among them, and the winner of that competition is subsequently crowned the emperor.[13]

Province of Hainaut

The Gilles at the Carnival of Binche
Ducasse de Mons, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The three-day Carnival of Binche, near Mons, is one of the best known in Belgium. It takes place around Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras) just before Lent (the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter). Performers known as Gilles wear elaborate costumes in the national colours of red, black and yellow. During the parade, they throw oranges at the crowd.[11] In 2003, it was recognized by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.[11][14]

Each summer, the town of

David and Goliath
was influential to this festival.

Province of Namur

The town of

teddy bears
are thrown to the public from the Town Hall.

In the furrow between the Sambre and the Meuse, one finds century-old traditions, religious processions influenced by the passage of the French army, known as the Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse. They are usually composed of almost 300 soldiers and many more people who come to see them. During three days, the "marcheurs" honor the saint of the local parish.

Province of Liège

The town of

monks of the 15th century who were forbidden from celebrating carnival because of their laziness. Participants wander the streets of the town putting up posters. In the afternoon they shower the crowds with confetti while hitting them with pork bladders.[15]

Province of Luxembourg

The folklore of the Ardennes, in the province of Luxembourg, is particularly rich.

References

  1. ^ "Folklore". www.brussels.be. 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  2. ^ "Folklore". Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  3. ^ "UNESCO - Ommegang of Brussels, an annual historical procession and popular festival". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  4. ^ "Meyboom". be.brussels. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO". ich.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  6. ^ "La Saint Verhaegen — Patrimoine - Erfgoed". patrimoine.brussels. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  7. ^ McNally, Paul (2019-10-13). "Brussels student celebration St V joins cultural heritage list". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  8. ^ "La St-V fait son entrée au patrimoine culturel immatériel de la Région de Bruxelles". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  9. ^ "Théâtre Royal de Toone". www.toone.be. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  10. OCLC 906056246
    .
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "The best Belgian folklore festivals". www.expatica.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  12. ISBN 978-0-470-38227-1
    .
  13. ^ "Ganzenrijden in de polderdorpen". Radio 2 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  14. ISBN 1-74104-237-2
    .
  15. ^ "Blanc Moussis Carnival of Stavelot". www.opt.be. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
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