Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

36  INTRODUCING BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG

BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG
THROUGH THE YEAR

Come rain or shine, Belgium has a robust New celebrations, parti cularly music
calendar of public events. Some of these are festivals, are also promoted with vigour and
historical parades with centuries of tradition become quickly estab lished. The summer
behind them and many are connected to months in particular, are thick with outdoor
religion, mark ing saints’ days and other concerts performed on stages erected in
Christian festivals. Armies of volunteers town squares. The events are held in the
turn out in historic cos tumes and haul vast same spirit of public fun that the Flemish
caricature giants that represent biblical or artist Brueghel captured in his paintings
mythological figures around the streets. almost 500 years ago.

Spring
There may be a chill in the air
even as snowdrops and daffodils
emerge, and the odd brisk snap
can freeze canals, pleasing
skaters. Crisp sunny days are
ideal for visitors to explore
the cities on foot and sample
delicious Easter treats.
March
Bal du Rat Mort (Sat, early Mar),
Oostende. The Dead Rat Ball, a
fancy-dress event, named after The Holy Blood relic, carried through Bruges by two prelates
a Montmartre cab aret in Paris,
has been held for over a century. April Ostend. Demonstrations by kite
Mid-Lenten Carnival (4th Sun Serres Royales (variable), masters from all over Europe take
of Lent), Stavelot. The Laetare Laeken. The greenhouses of place at this annual event.
Procession has the traditional the royal palace are open to Jazz Marathon (weekend, late
Blancs-Moussis (White-Clad) the public for 12 days. May), Brussels. Jazz fills the city’s
revellers in hooded robes and Ronde van Vlaanderen (early squares and cafés.
long red noses. Apr), Flanders. One of the
Easter (variable), nationwide. five Monuments of European
Child ren hunt for hidden Easter professional cycling. Summer
eggs brought, according to folk- Gentse Floraliën (late Apr, 2021), With longer days and warmer
lore, from Rome by the Ghent. This vast gar den festival weather, summer has always
church bells. fills halls every five years in been the most favourable time
Ghent, the heart of the horti- for pageants and processions.
culture industry. These months are busy with
a variety of excellent outdoor
May music festivals.
Hanswijk Processie (Sun prior
to Ascension Day), Mechelen. June
Costumed parades accom pany Festival van Vlaanderen
a revered 1,000-year-old statue (Jun–Dec), Flanders. The region
of the Virgin Mary. showcases its high-quality
Processie van het Heilig Bloed music and dance.
(Ascension Day), Mechelen. An Ducasse de Mons (Trinity Sun),
800-year-old pageant celebrat- Mons. Dating from 1380, it
ing the Holy Blood relic. displays the reliquary shrine of
Kattefeest (2018, 2021), Ypres. In St Waudru of Mons in the
the Midde Ages, cats were Procession of the Golden
thrown off the cloth-hall tower. Chariot. It cul minates in the
This is re-enacted once in three Battle of Lumeçon between
A riot of blossoms welcoming the spring years with cloth cats. St George and the Dragon.
season at Serres Royales Kites International (early May), Les Journées des Quatre

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