Folklore of Belgium

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.

[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.

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".

Saint 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.

[9] Finally, two famous folkloric plays, 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.

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".

[12] In the so-called 'polderdorpen', Ekeren, 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.

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.