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Overview of festivals and celebrations in Belgium

In April, the Belgians hold carnivals in La Louviere and Stavelot. The festival of folklore is also celebrated in this month in Leuven. On the night of April 30th to May 1st, on the eve of celebrating the holiday of spring and labor, the Belgians during the witch dance burn the effigy of winter. On May 13th in the city of Ypres, there is a parade of cats. It was first held in the year 1955 and has been held annually ever since. In the Middle Ages, cats were considered to be a symbol of evil. The killing of cats was at the time believed to redeem the people from their sins, so the unfortunate cats were thrown down from the central city tower. But today instead of real animals, stuffed animals are flying down in their place. All participants in the action are dressed in costumes and emblems of these cute animals. May 19th starts the celebration of the holiday Doudou. It is celebrated into the whole of the next week. The Belgians celebrate Doudou in honor of the victory over the plague. The tradition of this holiday goes deep into the 14th century, when, after a religious procession in the city of Mons, the disease receded. Solemn events begin with a procession through the streets of the city, with participants dressed in costumes of the medieval era. Doudou ends with the staged battle of St. George and the dragon. Many centuries ago, the dragon broke into the city streets, but he was defeated by St. George. Since then, each year a procession led by the chariot of the saint makes a circle around Mons, after which the staged battle of the dragon with St. George takes place. … Open