Belgian Carnival parade of anti-Semitic tropes goes ahead despite criticism
The Belgian city of Aalst went ahead with its traditional Carnival parade on Sunday, despite calls from Israel to ban the event over its anti-Semitic floats and costumes.
This year’s parade included participants dressed in costumes of caricaturistic Jewish stereotypes, with some wearing hooked noses and exaggerated outfits meant to depict Orthodox Jews. One of the floats also included three Jewish caricatures placed alongside gold bars. Some revellers were also dressed in costumes meant to represent Nazi officers.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament had urged officials in Aalst to make sure this year’s parade was free from “manifestations of hatred.”
Earlier this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on the Belgian government to ban the “hate-filled” parade altogether.
The city’s Carnival parade lost its UNESCO cultural heritage status last year over the “recurrence of racist and anti-Semitic representation.” Revelers then dressed in Nazi costumes, making fun of the move.
Mayor defends parade
The city’s mayor dismissed criticism and calls for a ban on the festivities, saying “let Aalst be Aalst.”
“This is not an anti-Semitic parade,” Mayor Christoph D’Haese told reporters on Sunday. “Aalst is not an anti-Semitic city.”
D’Haese, of the right-wing nationalist New Flemish Alliance party, added that the goal of the parade is “not to hurt anyone.”
City authorities have repeatedly defended the parade as an expression of free speech and saying the costumes and floats are intended to be satirical.
The US Holocaust Museum tweeted “24,000 Jews living in Belgium were murdered in the Holocaust. Today, deadly anti-Semitism is on the rise again throughout Europe. Events like the Aalst Carnaval parade that promote anti-Semitism and stoke hatred and potentially violence must be denounced by all segments of society.”
One of this year’s floats featured Orthodox Jews next to gold bars
Sunday’s parade in Aalst also took place despite the threat of strong winds gusting up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). Several other Belgian cities postponed or canceled their parades due to the severe weather.
The Aalst Carnival celebrations, which are more than 600 years old, were given UNESCO cultural heritage status in 2010. Last year’s parade prompted a wave of criticism from the EU and from Jewish groups after a float included Jewish caricatures with bags of money that were surrounded by rats.
According to the World Jewish Congress, Belgium is home to a small Jewish community of around 30,000 people out of the country’s total population of 11 million.
rs/aw (dpa, AFP)
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
The significance of all those elevens
Since the Middle Ages, the number eleven has represented excess and sin. A number like this with repeated digits is known as a Schnapszahl (schnapps number) in German. The term’s origins seem to be linked either with seeing double when drunk or with drinking games. And revelers will certainly be boozing it up in the coming weeks, until it’s all over on Ash Wednesday.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
The Hoppeditz awakens
This jester-like figure is typical of Düsseldorf. At 11:11 a.m. on the dot, the Hoppeditz climbs out of a mustard pot in front of the town hall and heralds the start of the fifth season. Afterwards, people adjourn to the pubs in the old town, where they celebrate the new carnival session by singing, dancing and drinking.
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The Cologne triumvirate
In most of the carnival strongholds, a royal couple reigns over the festivities. In Cologne, it’s a trio, consisting of a maiden, a prince and a farmer. Nobody seems to mind that this trio consists entirely of men. With three shouts of “Alaaf,” the magnificently costumed triumvirate are celebrated by their willing subjects.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Swollen heads in Mainz
The Mainz carnival season opens with cries of “Helau.” The typical giant papier-mâché heads called “Schwellköppe”, or “swollen heads”, are always part of the big procession. Everyone heads to the Carnival Fountain where the fools’ constitution is read out. Article 4 declares that “every fool who is also foolish when sober is to be praised.”
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Carnival in Cottbus
Rumor has it that carnival is celebrated only in western Germany. The eastern German city of Cottbus proves that’s not the case. On 11/11, the dancers known as Funkenmariechen kick up their heels and the mayor hands over the key to the city.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Carnival stage shows
After the raucous beginning of the carnival season on 11/11, things quiet down during Advent. But in the new year, the revellers turn up the volume again: the carnival societies invite people to their big stage shows and balls. More or less humorous speeches are delivered, revellers sway to the music, sing and laugh.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Weiberfastnacht
On Weiberfastnacht, Old Wives’ Day, carnival really gets into gear: on the Thursday before Shrove Monday — of course at 11:11 a.m. — women storm the town halls. The street carnival takes off. Now revellers party on the streets and squares. The six “crazy days” begin.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Smooching
Of course, men can also party along on Weiberfastnacht, but they should watch out: traditionally women chop off their neckties. Still, at least they get a Bützchen, or little kiss, in exchange, as a sign that it’s all in good fun.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Rose Monday
The parades on Rose Monday, or Shrove Monday, are the highlight of the carnival season, especially in the Rhineland cities. Thousands of onlookers line the streets when the themed floats go past and the revellers on them throw flowers and sweets to the crowds.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet
The hand-carved masks are already an unmistakable sign that carnival in southwestern Germany differs from that on the Rhine. The large processions on Shrove Monday and Tuesday are called Narrensprünge — literally “fools’ jump.” Participants hop and jump through the streets. Rottweil’s Narrensprung is famous.
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11 facts about Germany’s ‘fifth season’
Ash Wednesday
The Hoppeditz opens the carnival season in Düsseldorf and also ends it. Traditionally the roguish figure is burned in effigy or buried in a coffin on Ash Wednesday amid weeping and wailing. It’s coupled with the hope that the Hoppeditz will rise again and usher in the “fifth season” the next time November 11th rolls around.
Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/belgian-carnival-parade-of-anti-semitic-tropes-goes-ahead-despite-criticism/a-52490668?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf