Hasselt (Brussels morning newspaper) – Hasselt burns in the true literal meaning in the annual May event while creating a mass bonfire. Households ceremonially burn the symbolism of winter while they signal through dance performances along with the theater and traditional rituals of Maymole.
Tonight, Hasselt marked his tradition of 468 years of welcoming spring with the annual May celebration, as reported by VRT. The event had a symbolic winter burning, a Procession of Mayypole and local theater groups and dance groups. A great crowd met as a festive fire was lit in Grote Markt, where a doll that represented winter caught fire. The attendees participated in the traditional Reddelberg procession, enjoyed the Drops and speculas Hasseltse, and witnessed the proclamation of the Count of May on horseback.
May night in Hasselt dates back to 1538 and remains a cornerstone of the city’s cultural heritage. The event begged with a Reddelberg procession to Grote Markt, where the participants joined along the route. Upon arrival, a fire was lit and a doll burned that symbolized winter to mark the transition to spring.
A Mayypole was erected, a tradition that is believed to guarantee prosperity in the next seasons. The night included performances by local theater and dance groups, along with the ceremonial reading of the May Count of Horsback, announcing Winter’s End.
The attendees celebrated with the Hasselt drops (a local gin) and specturas, maintaining customs without changes since the beginning of the event. Councilor Laurence Liberty (N-VA/Open VLD) pointed out the lasting appeal of the event, attracting both the premises and visitors.
What is the historical and cultural meaning of the afternoon of May of Hasselt?
The tradition of the afternoon of May Hasselt, held with a large bonfire under the theme “Burn Winter and Welcomo Spring”, reflects a mixture of pagan and Christian spring rituals deeply rooted in regional folklore. The 468th edition marks a duration of 460 years that Hasselt maintains its tradition of public fire ceremonies to mark seasonal changes. Germanic Europe traditionally built these fires to eliminate winter while attracting a new life through seasonal rituals, which were associated with the traditions of Christian Lent, as Luxembourg explain.
The Belgian Western Festival Buergbrensen, which is also known as Dimanche Des Brandons, includes bonfires that used to celebrate the duration of the first Sunday of Lent. The Hasselt version of the Festival remains alone for its specific career that turns at the end of April and early May, which combines universal agricultural customs with local cultural pride.
Fire lighting, OPPS directed by community figures as newly married, serves as a collective ritual to “purge” the darkness of winter and embrace renewal.
