What are the festivals in Belgium?

Main holidays in Belgium

January 1: New Year's Day

The first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox: Easter (Easter) The Monday after the holiday is also a holiday)

May 1st: International Labor Day

The first Thursday 40 days after Easter: Ascension Day

Resurrection The seventh Sunday after the holiday: Pentecost (Monday is also a holiday)

July 11: Flanders Day

July Production Day: National Day

August 15: Feast of the Assumption

September 27: Walloon Festival

November 1: Halloween

November 11th: Armistice Day of World War I

November 15th: King’s Day

December 25th: Christmas (the 26th is also a holiday)

Belgium's Banche Carnival is one of the four famous carnivals in Europe, along with the Carnival in Nice, France, Cologne, Germany, and Venice, Italy. Its fame has become world-famous, and every year They attract tourists from all over the world, especially from Europe, to participate and watch.

Banche is a small city located 56 kilometers south of Brussels, with more than 10,000 residents. The carnival here is famous because of its long history and ancient traditions. Legend has it that the Banche Carnival originated in the mid-16th century, when Maria, the sister of the Roman Emperor, built a city and palace in Banche. In 1554, Maria held a grand banquet to welcome her nephew Philip II, and palace officials disguised themselves as various dignitaries to attend the banquet.

Costume parade

The costume parade of the Banche Carnival was passed down from that time. It has continued to develop and innovate, and has now become a popular feature in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and other countries. Major folk festivals. The Banche Carnival starts on the first Sunday in March every year and lasts for three days, with the third day being the busiest day.

In early March, the city of Banche was still cold and windy, with low temperatures and sometimes light rain. However, the people of Banche were excited to forget about the cold and enjoy the joy of the annual carnival. . The streets and alleys are full of carnival crowds, regardless of age or sex, all dressed up, singing and dancing to their heart's content. Some of them were dressed as dignitaries and princes, some were dressed as workers and farmers, and some were dressed as oriental businessmen, Indians and African hunters. Most college and middle school students dressed up as clowns, wrote various slogans and good wishes on their clothes and newspapers, and solicited donations from tourists. The children put on animal masks and played with colored confetti and plastic foam pistols. From time to time, they would also launch "attacks" on the tourists nearby, covering you with confetti or plastic foam. The tourists, after being frightened, responded with joy. smile.

The "Idiots" phalanx parade attracted attention with their unique costumes. They wore ostrich feather hats, golden "warrior" uniforms, white shawls on their shoulders, and white ties. , wearing a colorful belt with many bells around his waist, wearing huge wooden shoes, holding a small broom made of branches in his left hand, covering a wicker basket full of oranges in his right arm, and wearing a traditional wax hat on his face mask.

They danced awkwardly as they walked, causing people to laugh from time to time. It is said that some of the clothes they wear are handed down from their ancestors, and some are rented. The rent is very expensive, and it costs 10,000 Belgian francs to rent a set. This kind of clothing is quite special. It is double-layered. When used, the inside must be bulging with straw. When wearing it, you walk stupidly and stupidly, like a dull fool. Therefore, people call people who wear this type of clothing "idiots". ". The person who dressed up as an "idiot" got up at four o'clock in the morning, put on makeup and stuffed his clothes, and then had breakfast. After breakfast, the family put on their clothes and went door to door looking for their companions. It was almost nine o'clock before they could assemble the team and form a phalanx. Then, under the guidance of drummers, they parade and perform through the streets and alleys around the city.

At noon, the "idiots" walked into the city hall to participate in the award ceremony. Those who have dressed up as "idiots" for 50 consecutive years were honored to receive commemorative medals from the mayor.

The evening fireworks show is the highlight of the Banche Carnival. At this time, the lanterns were set off and fireworks were everywhere, illuminating the square in front of the city hall as if it were daytime. The crowd in the square was in high spirits and dancing. The men were holding beer bottles and drinking heavily, while the women were dancing and singing happily.

Suddenly, the "idiots" began to throw the oranges in the willow baskets to the crowd. Suddenly, oranges were flying everywhere in the square, streets and alleys, and the sound of drums and shouts was deafening. , the entire city of Banshi was immersed in a welcome. It is said that the orange thrown by the "idiot" is a mascot. Whoever hits it will have no disasters and peace in the year.