Belgian Festivals & Traditions
Carnival of Binche
Flower Carpet
Christmas
Children in different parts of Belgium have different names for Santa Claus. One of the names is Sinterklaas. He brings them presents on the 5th and 6th of December. A character called Sooty Piet (Sooty Peter) helps Sinterklass's deliver the presents. He climbs down the chimney and leaves the presents in and around the shoes that the children have left on the hearth. That is why he is covered in soot. Children are told that if they've been naught, Piet will put them in his sack and take them back to Santa's workshop where they will have to work for the rest of the year! |
Click the video below to see some flag throwers:
Traditional Dancing
The men and the women wear old fashioned clothes when they are dancing.
The men and the women wear old fashioned clothes when they are dancing.
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Sometimes props are used during the dances. The dancers in this video use flower arches during the dance. |