Aalst's infamous Carnival is back
After a year of preparation by the city’s 70 carnival groups, dozens of elaborate floats will roll out for the big parade this weekend
Aalst turns into New Orleans for the day
On Sunday afternoon, the city’s carnival warehouses open and – after a year of preparation by the city’s 70 carnival groups – dozens of elaborate floats roll out for the big parade. Aalst turns into New Orleans for the day.
But with some differences. This carnival, for instance, takes no prisoners. Float figures ridicule recent events beyond all sense of decency, with politicians and celebrities often depicted in the most embarrassing poses.
There are no taboos. Last year, one of the groups even succeeded in getting reprimanded by Unesco’s director-general for walking around in Nazi uniforms while smiling and singing German songs – a parody of one of Flanders’ political parties. The parade, watched by tens of thousands of spectators, ends at 17.00 at city hall. Then the feast, mostly revolving around the consumption of vast amounts of alcohol, gets underway.
On Monday afternoon, the Aalsterse Gilles, masked folkloric figures wearing clogs, perform the ritualistic dance of the brooms to chase away evil spirits and ask the weather gods for a good harvest. More drinking ensues.
Tuesday is either the most fun or the most embarrassing day for townsfolk, depending on their point of view: It’s the parade of the Voil Jeanetten (Dirty Jennies) – men (inevitably hung over) dressed up as sleazy women. This year, in an official statement the local police explicitly asked the Jeanetten not to carry around “pornographic photos or aerosol cans”.
Last but not least, a figure representing the winter carnival is burned in effigy, set on fire by the Prince of Carnival on Aalst’s Grote Markt. Now, the season of Lent can finally begin.
