The Folklore of Belgium is extremely diverse and reflects the rich legacy of cultural and religious influences which have acted on the region throughout its history, even before the establishment of the nation of Belgium in 1830. Much of Belgian folklore is unique to the region in which it is commemorated. 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. Excluded from folklore are individual (not public) traditions, like the celebration of Easter, food (except if linked to a public cultural event), and events that saw their start only recently, including music festivals such as I Love Techno.
Brussels
Brussels' identity owes much to its rich folklore and traditions, among the liveliest in the country. 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. The colourful parade includes floats, traditional processional giants, such as Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, and scores of folkloric groups, either on foot or on horseback, dressed in medieval garb. The parade ends in a pageant on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square). Since 2019, it is recognised as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Meyboom, an even-older folk tradition of Brussels (1308), celebrating the "May tree"—in fact, a corruption of the Dutch tree of joy—takes place paradoxically on 9 August. 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 was also 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". The celebration is reminiscent of the town's long-standing (folkloric) feud with Leuven, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Another good introduction to the Brusseleir local dialect and way of life can be obtained at the Royal Theatre Toone, a folkloric theatre of marionettes, located a stone's throw away from the Grand-Place. The 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.
Province of East Flanders
The Ros Beiaard is a large folkloristic horse. It differs from the other Ros-Beiaard horses because it is used only once every ten years and because the horse is carried by people. 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".
Province of West Flanders
In Bruges, the Procession of the Holy Blood (Heilig Bloedprocessie) is held on Ascension Day each year, during which a relic - a rock-crystal vial allegedly found in 1148 during the Second Crusade by Derick of Alsace (the Count of Flanders) which is believed to contain the blood of Christ - is paraded round the city. The procession itself is said to date to the 13th Century. Each year, the procession attracts some 50,000 visitors and pilgrims.
In the town of Veurne, the so-called Boeteprocessie (Procession of Penitents) takes place on the last Sunday of July. Various events take place which reenact the Passion of Jesus, including cross-carrying and a procession of hooded penitents.
The Kattenstoet (Cat Festival) takes place in Ypres each year, possibly commemorating a Medieval tradition in which cats, then associated with witchcraft, were thrown from the tower of the city's cloth hall.
Province of Antwerp
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. The winner is then crowned king for a year. Then, the kings of every village gather in a second competition to see who is the best among them, and the winner of that competition is subsequently crowned the emperor.