Brussels Ommegang Festival - 450 years of tradition

Maciamo

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This week was the annual celebration of the Ommegang, a mediaeval pageant commemorating the "Joyous Entry" of emperor Charles V in Brussels in 1549.

Over 1,400 participants paraded in Renaissance garments on Brussels' Grand Place. It is one of the oldest festival in Europe, although the modern version only started in 1930, based on the 16th century procession. One of the highlights is the stilt fight at the end, a tradition that originated in the Belgian town of Namur in the 13th century. Some of the stiltwalkers managed to move around the square at a height of 5 metres above the ground. The fighters, who run on stilts and kick each others with the stilts, were "only" standing 2 metres above the ground though.

Here are my photos of the Ommegang 2010.
 

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