Ommegang

Ommegang
   The ommegang (literally "walk around") was the most grandiose pageant of the year during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. It was born sometime after 1348—its first official mention is 1359—as a ceremonial procession in honor of the Virgin Mary, who purportedly worked a miracle (1348) in assisting an impoverished cloth worker, Beatrice Soetkens, and her husband to secure a statue of her image to grace a chapel in the church of Notre-Dame du Sablon. A great procession wound through the city streets, the statue held aloft. The event soon acquired a more profane character and municipal authorities and leaders of the craft guilds came to play a prominent part. The parade attained a high point in splendor on 2 June 1549 when Emperor Charles V and his son, the future king Philip II, attended. By that date, the entire city population participated. Courtiers, ambassadors, academics, and members of the nobility and military would process accompanied by floats decorated al-legorically to depict virtues such as Hope, Charity, and Joy.
   The ommegang fell into decline during the wars of religion and stopped completely in 1580. It was revived by Archduke Albert and Archduchess Isabella in 1615. Its present-day manifestation derives chiefly from the efforts of folklorist Albert Marinus, who won approval from city officials and secured subsidies from well-to-do donors. It was first reprised in 1930 to commemorate the centenary of Belgian independence and the 550th anniversary of the Grand Oath of the Crossbowmen of Saint George, who played a leading role in early pageants. The parade proved costly, lasting six hours and involving hundreds of medieval-costumed characters, floats, and musical bands. It was decided to hold an ommegang once every 10 years, but World War II intervened. After the war, an annual event restricted to the Grand' Place has been held in July. It re-creates the pageantry associated with the ommegang of 1549.

Historical Dictionary of Brussels. .

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ommegang — cortège d origine religieuse organisé chaque été à Bruxelles pour évoquer les festivités par lesquelles la ville honora en 1549 l empereur Charles Quint …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Ommegang — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Une ommegang était à l origine une procession dans les Pays Bas méridionaux. Le mot ommegang signifie à l origine « aller autour de l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ommegang — This article is about Medieval pageant. For the American brewery, see Brewery Ommegang. The Ommegang at Antwerp in 1685 Ommegang (Dutch: walk around (the church) (originally in Dutch: om de kerk gaan , kerk was later omitted) , Dutch… …   Wikipedia

  • Ommegang de Bruxelles — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ommegang. Notre Dame des Victoires du Sablon, puissante protectrice de la ville de Bruxelles, debout sur sa barque. C est sous son égide et en son honneur que se déroule chaque année l Ommegang de Bruxelle …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ommegang of Brussels — The Ommegang of Brussels is a traditional procession that takes place now twice a year , at the turn of June and July. Originally it was the largest lustral procession of Brussels which took place once a year on the Sunday before Pentecost. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Ommegang de Malines — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ommegang. L ommegang de Malines est une antique activité culturelle et festive qui se déroule en la ville de Malines. Sur la mélodie de la chanson du géant (« Kere weer om, reuzeke, Reuzeke, kere weer om,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ommegang de Termonde — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ommegang. Le cheval Bayard à l ommegang de Termonde L ommegang de Termonde est une très …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ommegang (Congo) — En 1964, la ville de Stanleyville est occupée par les guerriers Simbas qui prennent la population en otage. Stanleyville est reprise au cours de l opération Dragon rouge menée par le 1er régiment paracommando de l armée belge. Parallèlement à… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Brewery Ommegang — For the medieval pageant, see Ommegang. Brewery Ommegang Location Cooperstown, New York United States; Belgium (occasionally) …   Wikipedia

  • List of World Beer Cup awards — The World Beer Cup, known as The Olympics of Beer Competition [1], is one of several major international beer competitions.[2] It was founded by Association of Brewers President Charlie Papazian. The World Beer Cup is held every two years. The… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”