Monday, January 09, 2006

Verloren Maandag

On the first Monday after the first Sunday after Epiphany ... Antwerpens celebrate Verloren Maandag, otherwise known as Lost Monday.

Lost Monday is an ancient tradition here in Antwerpen, and you can follow two storylines when explaining its origins. Firstly, there were the Guilds - a Guild was the official group of any profession, for example there would have been a Butchers Guild, a Bakers Guild etc ...

Lost Monday was the day when the Guild leaders officially informed members of their rights and obligations, provided drinks, and then sent their members out into the city, meeting and greeting the general public on behalf of their Guild.

The cafe owners decided to give something to the Guild members, and whipped up a cheapie meal in the form of a poor quality sausage wrapped in pastry that absorbed the grease. And so Worstenbrood was born.

But in the Middle Ages Lost Monday was also the day when civil servants took an oath to be faithful to the city. The celebratory alcohol after this occasion resulted in no work being done ... hence the name, Verloren Maandag.

In 1880, the sausage bread improved in quality, and then after the Second World War the celebration itself moved into the home. Tonight, in homes all over Antwerpen, people will have sat down to Worstenbrood and Appelbollen, in recognition of a tradition that was begun way back in the 1400's.

Did we ...?

Well no, it was Nasi Goreng with stir-fried vegetables ... what can I say, he didn't tell me until after dinner.

No comments: