May festivals: Belgium’s Kattenfestival

In Grote Market, Ypres, a rather cuddly celebration is being planned. And, although today this special festival of all things feline revolves around celebrating our little feline friends, its origins lie in rather more sinister goings on. The Kattenfestival’s roots lie in a 12th century Belgium tradition that involved the city jester throwing live cats from the Lakenhalle’s (large commercial market building) belfry. Cats were believed to be the personification of evil spirits and the ritual, which continued until 1817 was thought of as a sure fire way to get rid of demons

Thankfully, today’s version, which originated in the 1930s, uses toy cats – although they are still hurled from the belfry!