The Kattenstoet (lit. 'Festival of the Cats') is a parade in Ypres, Belgium, devoted to the cat. It has been running regularly since 1955 and is usually held triennially on the second Sunday of May.[3] The parade commemorates an Ypres tradition from the Middle Ages in which cats were thrown from the belfry tower of the Cloth Hall to the town square below.
Kattenstoet
Minneke Poes, one of the giant cats in the Kattenstoet
There are various legends about how the throwing of cats originated. One possibility is that cats were connected to witchcraft, and the throwing of the cats symbolised the killing of evil spirits.[4] The last recorded event of this kind was in 1817.[3] Another story suggests that the cats were brought into the Cloth Hall (Lakenhallen) to control vermin. Before modern heating and storage methods, when it got cold the wool was stored in the upper floors of the Cloth Hall. At the start of the spring warm-up, after the wool had been sold, the cats were tossed out of the bell tower.[5]
Modern festivaledit
Kattenstoet in the 1950s
Symbolically reviving this practice for the parade festivities, a jester tosses plush children's-toy cats from the Cloth Hall belfry down to the crowd, which awaits with outstretched arms to catch one. The throwing of the cats from the belfry is followed by a mock witch burning. Participants in the festivities often dress as cats, witches, mice, or townspeople from ages past, and the festival also features brass bands and people riding on horseback. Around 2,000 people participated in the 2012 parade.[6] The festival is a popular tourist event in Belgium and has helped strengthen the local tourist economy around Ypres. 8,000 people visited the event in 2000.[3]
^. Vredesstad Ieper (Ypres town council). Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
^"Kattenstoet (official site)". Retrieved 15 December 2022.
^ abcAlexandra Powe Allred (2005). Cats' Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book Of Mysterious Mousers, Talented Tabbies And Feline Oddities. Potomac Books. p. 234. ISBN9781574888584.
^George McDonald (27 April 2009). Frommer's Belgium, Holland & Luxembourg. Frommer's. p. 203. ISBN978-0-470-38227-1.
^"De Kattenfeesten te Ieper. Een analyse van de Kattenstoet en het Kattenwerpen aan de hand van de theorie van Hobsbawm" (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 March 2011.
^Brett Ackroyd (12 May 2012). "Love cats? We do too". Cheap Flights. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kattenstoet.
Official festival website - City of Ieper
February 16, 2024
kattenstoet, festival, cats, parade, ypres, belgium, devoted, been, running, regularly, since, 1955, usually, held, triennially, second, sunday, parade, commemorates, ypres, tradition, from, middle, ages, which, cats, were, thrown, from, belfry, tower, cloth, . The Kattenstoet lit Festival of the Cats is a parade in Ypres Belgium devoted to the cat It has been running regularly since 1955 and is usually held triennially on the second Sunday of May 3 The parade commemorates an Ypres tradition from the Middle Ages in which cats were thrown from the belfry tower of the Cloth Hall to the town square below KattenstoetMinneke Poes one of the giant cats in the KattenstoetStatusActiveFrequencyTriennialLocation s YpresCountryBelgiumInaugurated1955 1955 Most recentMay 13 2018 2018 05 13 1 Next eventMay 12 2024 2024 05 12 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Modern festival 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground editThere are various legends about how the throwing of cats originated One possibility is that cats were connected to witchcraft and the throwing of the cats symbolised the killing of evil spirits 4 The last recorded event of this kind was in 1817 3 Another story suggests that the cats were brought into the Cloth Hall Lakenhallen to control vermin Before modern heating and storage methods when it got cold the wool was stored in the upper floors of the Cloth Hall At the start of the spring warm up after the wool had been sold the cats were tossed out of the bell tower 5 Modern festival edit nbsp Kattenstoet in the 1950sSymbolically reviving this practice for the parade festivities a jester tosses plush children s toy cats from the Cloth Hall belfry down to the crowd which awaits with outstretched arms to catch one The throwing of the cats from the belfry is followed by a mock witch burning Participants in the festivities often dress as cats witches mice or townspeople from ages past and the festival also features brass bands and people riding on horseback Around 2 000 people participated in the 2012 parade 6 The festival is a popular tourist event in Belgium and has helped strengthen the local tourist economy around Ypres 8 000 people visited the event in 2000 3 See also editCat burningReferences edit Kattenstoet official site Vredesstad Ieper Ypres town council Archived from the original on 30 October 2020 Retrieved 23 November 2015 Kattenstoet official site Retrieved 15 December 2022 a b c Alexandra Powe Allred 2005 Cats Most Wanted The Top 10 Book Of Mysterious Mousers Talented Tabbies And Feline Oddities Potomac Books p 234 ISBN 9781574888584 George McDonald 27 April 2009 Frommer s Belgium Holland amp Luxembourg Frommer s p 203 ISBN 978 0 470 38227 1 De Kattenfeesten te Ieper Een analyse van de Kattenstoet en het Kattenwerpen aan de hand van de theorie van Hobsbawm in Dutch Retrieved 28 March 2011 Brett Ackroyd 12 May 2012 Love cats We do too Cheap Flights Retrieved 13 July 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kattenstoet Official festival website City of Ieper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kattenstoet amp oldid 1206201815, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
