The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Carnival in Belgium
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a true cultural celebration, there’s no better place than Belgium. Every year, the country celebrates Carnaval in a big way, with vibrant parades, colorful costumes, and delicious food. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of this festive holiday!
Carnaval typically begins on the Sunday 47 days before Easter and ends on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday).
This year, it falls between February 14th and March 3rd.
Parades
The highlight of Carnaval is undoubtedly the parades that take place all over the country. Each city has its parade featuring colorful floats and costumed revelers who dance their way down the street. In some cities like Binche, locals throw oranges at parade-goers as part of an ancient tradition!
Food & Drinks
No celebration is complete without food and drinks! Those celebrating Carnival can look forward to traditional treats like “cougnou” (a sweet bread shaped like Jesus in a manger) or “cobbetjes” (small donuts dusted with sugar). As for drinks—beer is always popular but if you want something extra special try ordering a glass of “lambic beer” or “gueuze beer”—two unique types of Belgian beer made from wild yeast.
Costumes & Traditions
During Carnaval, everyone dresses up in unique costumes. Popular choices include clowns, historical figures or animals. Many people also wear masks and wigs to disguise their identity while they enjoy the festivities! One tradition that takes place at Carnaval is called “burning down Judas.” On Shrove Tuesday evening, revelers gather around an effigy of Judas Iscariot and set it on fire as a symbol of cleansing before Lent begins.
No matter where you go in Belgium during Carnaval season, you can expect to be surrounded by joyous celebrations full of color and fun traditions.
Whether you join one of the many parades or just sample some delicious local treats, there are plenty of ways to get into the spirit of this unique holiday! So why not give it a try? Visit Belgium this winter and experience first-hand what makes Carnival so special!
Explore A Darker Side Of Rome
Rome is not only full of rich history and stunning/iconic views, but it also has a wicked and dark side that adds to the lore of this incredible city. Read more about the weird/wicked travel of Rome in my article: Weird Traveler- Rome.
