Courtesy photo.
Carnival festivals and parades in the Benelux
CHIÈVRES, Belgium -- The carnival season is here. In Europe, Carnival is celebrated especially in countries with a Catholic presence sharing similar traditions and customs, such as carnival wagons, masks, jokes and cheerfulness. The festivities often take place in public parades where playful and imaginative elements come alive.
According to many interpretations, the word “carnival” derives from the Latin carnem levare, which literally means “remove meat” or “farewell to meat”, because it indicated the banquet held on the last day of Carnival (Fat Tuesday), just before the fasting of Lent. Alternatively, it has been hypothesized that the term may have originated from the Latin expression carne levamen (which has more or less the same meaning of “remove meat” or “farewell to meat”), or from the word carnualia (“games of the peasants”) or even from carrus navalis (“ship on wheels”, which alludes to the parade floats).
Carnival season varies according to Easter and from one country to another. The biggest celebrations take place on Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday, which are the last Thursday and the last Tuesday before the beginning of Lent. In particular, Shrove Tuesday is the closing day of the Carnival celebrations, as Lent in the Roman rite begins with Ash Wednesday. The origins of the carnival date back to the pagan rituals, which celebrated the end of winter to welcome spring.
If you find yourself in a European city during this period of the year, you will probably get the chance to attend a magnificent Carnival festival and discover the traditions linked to local folklore. Here is a list of some of the most famous ones in the Benelux.
Feb. 22-25: Malmedy, Belgium
The Carnival of Malmedy, also known as the “Cwarmê,” has been recognized as Immaterial Heritage of the Wallonia-Brussels community. The event is comprised of four days of fun activities.
Feb. 23-25: Binche, Belgium
This is Belgium's most famous carnival. Every year, it attracts more visitors. In 2003, it was recognized by the UNESCO as part of the world heritage as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. The main characters are the Gilles, who dance to traditional carnival music played by a small fanfare composed of brass, drums, and a bass drum. The Gilles of Binche do not go out on Fat Tuesday and must respect some rules (do not move without the accompaniment of a drum player at least, do not sit in public, never be drunk, be obligatorily a native of Binche, etc.). The other characters, who form the so-called "fantasy" societies, are Arlecchino, the Peasant and the Pierrots (children from various schools).
Feb. 27: Dinant, Belgium
The event will be held this year on Feb. 27. The “Guinguet,” the “Cafonnette” and the “Cheval Bayard,” the famous giants of Dinant, will start their parade at 2 p.m. on Place Albert 1er. The most fun part of the Carnival is that you can disguise yourself and take part in the wheelbarrow decorating contest!
March 20-22: Tournai, Belgium
This carnival is based on creativity and imagination and is always thematic. The costumed participants and the float parade through the streets. The festivities are divided into three days: the first day, called La Nuit des Intrigues (“The Night of Intrigues”) on Friday, the carnival itself on Saturday and the third and last day, which is commonly called “Le Tour des Cafés” (The Bar Tour) on Sunday. Saturday, the day of the real carnival, is marked by the procession of the confréries (brotherhoods) in the city to entertain the participants. The arrival at the main square marks the end of the procession with the cremation of the king of the carnival. In Tournai, the origins of Carnival date back to the 15th century. At the time, during a few days of madness, the vicars of Tournai chose a “bishop of the fools,” whom they then walked loudly for several days throughout the city. That was a way, as in any carnival tradition, to make fun of authority.
March 21-23: Stavelot, Belgium
This famous Carnival includes fireworks, confetti, light shows, and other fun festivities! On Sunday, there is a huge parade involving more than 2,000 local participants and beautiful floats. The “Blanc Moussis” are the traditional icons of the Carnival. They wear a white dress and a don carrot-nosed mask, parodying 15th-century monks who were forbidden from the Carnival.
March 22: Andenne, Belgium
The Carnival of Andenne, also called The Carnival of Bears, was created in 1954 and celebrates the legend of a young boy who was rumored to have killed a bear that was terrorizing the city with his bare hands. During this event, more than 500 “bears,” which have become the mascots of the town, parade through the streets of Andenne led by the giant bears Fonzi, Martin II and Martel.
March 22-24: La Louvière, Belgium
What is Laetare? In Latin, it means "rejoice." For three days and three nights, the city will expel winter spirits and encourage spring. The inhabitants of La Louvière have perpetuated this tradition for more than 150 years. The Laetare starts Sunday, early in the morning. The Gilles gather one after another in the different neighborhoods, before joining the center of La Louvière to form a mass gathering. This moment is always very emotional for all the participants, who share a glass of champagne.
Feb. 21-25: Eindhoven, The Netherlands
During Carnival, Eindhoven transforms into “Lampegat”. The city turns into orange-blue colors. Who will become the “Prince Carnival”? It is the best-kept secret of Eindhoven! The unveiling will take place during the Federation Ball, the Saturday before Carnival.
Feb. 23-26: Maastricht, The Netherlands
The actual show of this Carnival begins on Sunday when the fans parade through the streets of Maastricht. The excitement occurs in all the streets and squares. At midnight, on Shrove Tuesday, a special ritual begins: the farewell to the Prince of Carnival. Symbols and mascots of the carnival are taken and burned, buried or drowned. The festivities reach their peak in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, when the streets are filled with people dressed in brightly colored costumes. The bars remain open all night long for the occasion.
Feb. 20-26: Cologne, Germany
The celebrations start with the nomination of the three fundamental figures of the carnival: the Prince, the Knave and the Virgin. It starts with the Weiberfastnacht (the “women’s night”) when women have absolute power over the city: women of all ages will wander the streets to revel and cut ties to the "unfortunate" men, asking for a kiss on the cheek. All taverns and pubs are open throughout the night of the Saturday of Carnival when the parade of red jackets takes place at Neumarkt. Another important moment of the carnival is the so-called Rosenmontag (“Monday of the Roses”), a procession where thousands of costumed participants cross the city to be greeted by spectators on every street corner.
Feb. 20-26: Düsseldorf, Germany
This funny and provocative festival is better known as the Carnival of “Spinsters.” The party opens with women occupying the town hall and forcing the mayor to resign for one day. The mayor, who is “kidnapped,” can only regain his place by bartering his freedom with the good wine stored in the cellars of the old town hall and by joining the celebrations. Saturday is marked by a parade of huge floats. The entire Königsallee is bubbling with live entertainment, allegorical floats, masks, street performers, music and rivers of beer.
Check out our listings of carnival parades. Click on the link to download the file.
Special to The Gazette