Carnaval

Carnival is celebrated all over the world so it is not actually a typical Belgian tradition. It is a Christian tradition that falls on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday preceding Lent of 40 days. The first Carnival Day falls seven weeks before Easter Sunday and officially starts on Sunday. Carnival always falls between February 1 and March 9. It is pre-eminently the festival of folly, mockery and exuberance. What is typically Belgian about Carnival, however, is our individuality about carnival processions we do in certain cities.

Aalst Carnaval

Carnival in Aalst is the most famous and largest carnival event in Belgium. It takes place annually in Aalst during three days before Ash Wednesday. The opening parade of Aalst carnival attracts around 80,000 spectators from all over Belgium and abroad.

Carnival Aalst is mainly a street event: the carnivalists dance on the squares and move from one café to another. On Carnival Sunday, the big carnival procession passes through the streets headed by the Aalsterse Gilles. This attracts tens of thousands of people from all over Flanders and abroad every year. The participating groups have come exclusively from Aalst since the 1970s and make new costumes and new floats every year. About a hundred floats participate in the parade. The themes used are local, national and international.

Binche

Binche's carnival is known worldwide and you must have experienced it at least once. The over 600-year-old carnival has been officially listed as an Unesco World Heritage Site since November 2003 and according to archives, the custom dates back to 1395.

Walk around to the rhythm of the drum roll, the clanging of clogs and the ringing of bells. During this "folklore", more than 900 Gilles give their best. Gilles, by the way, are only encountered in Belgian carnival: they are anonymous "folklore characters" who come out on the day before Ash Wednesday.

Bonfires of Bouge/Namur

The Bouge bonfires are also known where Seven Fires are lit according to an old tradition. According to legend, if you don't want to be bothered by tricksters and witches, you have to see seven fires at once. The bonfire in Bouge is always lit on the first Shrove Sunday after Carnival. Bonfires can also be seen elsewhere in the Ardennes around Carnival time.