Brussels Folklore

Folklore is very much alive today in Brussels.  There are dozens of Orders, "Confreries" and associations.

There is for instance the very congenial Order of the "Kiekefretters".  The "Brusseleirs", the natives of Brussels used to be called "kiekefretters", those who devour chickens.

There is the Order of the "Kuulkappers".  When Saint-Giles, Sint-Gillis was no more than a small agricultural town, its inhabitants were known for cultivating great cabbages.  Now of course St-Giles is part and parcel of the great city of Brussels.  Kuulkappers?  Those who chop down cabbages.

Not last and very definitely not least there is our Manneken Pis.  We have quite a few pages on him.  Because all folklore parades and many patriotic manifestations come or end here every year.  Look no further than here for a good start !

Then there are the groups of descendents of immigrants who brought their culture with them and who keep it alive here in our city.  There is for instance the very popular Grupo Folklorico Centro Asturiano de Bruselas.  They show us something from far away and from way back when and they share their joy for life with us.  I for one can only express my heartfelt thanks to them all.  They are truly splendid with their colourful costumes and their traditional music.  Without them Brussels would be a whole lot poorer.

On Sunday, 16 September 2007 the Grupo Folklorico Centro Asturiano de Bruselas was present and marched together with the Banda Gaites Villa de Xixon.  Both groups were splendid, admired and applauded by one and all. See here for a few more pictures.

Then there is the Confrérie des Chevaliers de Saint-Michel, the "Orde van de Ridders van Sint-Michiel".  For them we also have a separate page.

Every year on the first days of July the Ommegang goes out.  In a great and glorious procession hundreds of men, women and horses all decked out in their Sunday best, exactly like their forebears in 1549, welcome Emperor Charles V.  The Ommegang is a very very popular event and one of the climaxes of the folklore year in Brussels.  It has its own website with quite a few pages in impeccable—modern day—English.

Another climax is Brussels' folklore year is the Folklore Weekend in September.  Never on the first weekend of September because that's reserved for the beers of Brussels, another great event that attracts many thousands.

Pictures of Manneken Pis
Mijn Platte Land

Most recent update: 2007-12-18 21:29:33 +0100