Meyboom 2012
I did it in 2011, and in 1981 as well. The Meyboom festival is for the people from Brussels. I was born here…
BELGIUM. Brussels. 9/08/2012: Participants to the Meyboom festival preparing to unload the tree.
BELGIUM. Brussels. 9/08/2012: Participants to the Meyboom festival carrying the tree around the Grand’ Place.
BELGIUM. Brussels. 9/08/2012: Meyboom festival.
The ‘Meyboom’ is held each year on August 9th in Brussels, the capital of both Belgium and the Flemish region. The parade is one of the oldest traditions of the city. Legend has it that its origins can be traced to 1213, the date of a victory by the people from Brussels on the city of Leuven. A tree has to be planted before 5PM at the corner of the rue du Marais and the rue des Sables. Otherwise the privilege goes to the inhabitants of Leuven who, on one occasion in 1939 managed to steal the tree. The tradition took place even during the 1914-18 and the 1939-1945 wars, but without a parade.
This will maybe be part of the ‘This is not Belgium’ project…