Kermesse. Kermesse, or kermis, or kirmess, is a Dutch language term derived from kerk and mis that became borrowed in English, French, Spanish and many other languages, originally denoting the mass said on the anniversary of the foundation of a church and in honour of the patron.
Such celebrations were regularly held in the Low Countries, in Central Europe and also in northern France, and were accompanied by feasting, dancing and sports of all kinds. The church ale was an English equivalent.
Arguably the first kermesse was an annual parade to mark the events of the Brussels massacre of 1370 in Brussels, when the entire Jewish population of the city were burnt alive or expelled after being accused of profaning a basket of communion hosts, which were said to have bled when stabbed. According to one source, those Jewish residents who could prove that they did not profane the hosts were not killed, but were merely banished from Brussels.
These festivities still survive in the form of funfairs, while the old allegorical representations are now uncommon. Whereas nearly every village has a kermis once or twice a year, the large Zuidfoor or Foire du Midi of Brussels and Sinksenfoor of Antwerp attract many visitors during several weeks.
The funfair on the Vrijdagmarkt in Ghent coincides with the 10-day long Gentse Feesten which are held across the entire inner city around the 21st of July. The st
Such celebrations were regularly held in the Low Countries, in Central Europe and also in northern France, and were accompanied by feasting, dancing and sports of all kinds. The church ale was an English equivalent.
Arguably the first kermesse was an annual parade to mark the events of the Brussels massacre of 1370 in Brussels, when the entire Jewish population of the city were burnt alive or expelled after being accused of profaning a basket of communion hosts, which were said to have bled when stabbed. According to one source, those Jewish residents who could prove that they did not profane the hosts were not killed, but were merely banished from Brussels.
These festivities still survive in the form of funfairs, while the old allegorical representations are now uncommon. Whereas nearly every village has a kermis once or twice a year, the large Zuidfoor or Foire du Midi of Brussels and Sinksenfoor of Antwerp attract many visitors during several weeks.
The funfair on the Vrijdagmarkt in Ghent coincides with the 10-day long Gentse Feesten which are held across the entire inner city around the 21st of July. The st
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