Ommegang orOmmeganck (Dutch: "walk around" (the church, village or city),Dutch pronunciation:[ˈɔməˌɣɑŋ]) is the generic name for various medievalpageants celebrated in theLow Countries (areas that are now withinBelgium, theNetherlands, and northern France).
The Ommegang in Antwerp originated in the 14th century and is held on 15 August. There were two Ommegang processions held in Antwerp each year:
In the 15th, 16th and 17th century the Ommegang of Antwerp was the most important in Flanders.[1] The "Onze Lieve Vrouwommegang" consisted originally of two events: the first celebrated the religious feast of the Assumption of Mary. The second was a large, opulent secular participation of the guilds, crafts and chambers of rhetoric, each of which contributed a float to a procession through the streets of Antwerp.[2] Some floats contained references to events of the preceding year.[1] There was considerable rivalry between the guilds in their efforts to provide the most splendid display.[2]
In the 17th century the Ommegang of Antwerp comprised these elements in the following order:
_-_The_Ommegang_on_the_Meir_in_Antwerp.jpg)
The Ommegang in Antwerp has been depicted in several paintings by Antwerp artists such asErasmus de Bie,Alexander van Bredael,Alexander Casteels the Younger andPieter van Aelst.
.jpg)
TheOmmegang of Brussels is celebrated every July inBrussels. According to legend, the origin of the Ommegang of Brussels goes back to a local devout woman named Beatrijs Soetkens. She had a vision in which theVirgin Mary instructed her to steal the miraculous statue ofOnze-Lieve-Vrouw op 't Stocxken ("Our Lady on the little stick") inAntwerp, bring it to Brussels, and place it in the chapel of the Crossbowmen's Guild in theSablon/Zavel district. The woman stole the statue, and through a series of miraculous events, was able to transport it to Brussels by boat in 1348. It was then solemnly placed in the chapel and venerated as the patron of the Guild. The Guild also promised to hold an annual procession, called anOmmegang, in which the statue was carried through Brussels.
Through the following decades, what was originally a religious procession took on gradually a more worldly outlook. The Ommegang of 1549 corresponds to a golden age of the procession. From the mid-16th century, the Ommegang not only celebrated the miraculous legend, but became intertwined with theJoyous Entry ofHoly Roman EmperorCharles V. The Ommegang thus developed into an important religious and civil event in Brussels' annual calendar.[3]
Another famous Ommegang in Belgium is the Ros Beiaard Ommegang inDendermonde. In this ommegang, which is held every ten years, a giant wooden horse is displayed in the town centre. Four boys from the same family of Dendermonde have the honour to 'ride' the horse while it is on display.
The annualDucasse atAth has one of the largest of city giants:Gouyasse (Goliath).
An infrequent Ommegang, only held once every 25 years, is part of the Cavalcade of Hanswijck inMechelen. The Ommegang element evolved from the annual procession around the city walls held since 1330 as a token of gratitude to Mechelen'spatron Saint Rumbold who 'miraculously' ended a siege. ARos Beiaard which is smaller but older than the one in Dendermonde is mounted in the same manner and the 'family' of six city giants stands out. As in other cities, the commemoration became located largely within its centre.
An Ommegang is held every twenty-five years to commemorate the transfer of the relics of SaintsHerlindis andRelindis from theSint-Anna Church in Aldeneik to Sint-Catharinakerk in Maaseik. The most recent was held in 2022.[4]
Many of these traditions in Belgium and (with only two exceptions, formerlyFlemish northern)France are protected as an oral and immaterial cultural legacy byUNESCO, with reference to physical artefacts such asGiants and Dragons (the latter referring to any kind of mythical animals) carried by humans.
Media related toOmmegang at Wikimedia Commons