Fairs were founded for such a variety of reasons. For competitions, to give thanks and for sheer splendour.
In Belgium, the Netherlands and the German states some fairs possibly originate from medieval schuttersfeesten, Schützenfeste or militia feasts (a sort of bowmen’s feast-day). A very popular chartered fair in the Netherlands was ‘de Hofkermis’ (‘Court Fair’) in The Hague, which was granted to the city by count Willem VI early in the 15th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was the most important fair in the Netherlands. Some fairs were organized in remembrance of historic occasions. The oldest fair in Belgium for instance, the one at Louvain, was originally a celebration. It recalled count Arnulf’s victory over the Vikings in 891. The first version of the Brussels ‘Kermis van het Heilig Sacrament van Mirakel’ (‘Fair of the Holy Sacrament of the Miracle’) was a thanksgiving for the miraculous end of an epidemic disease in 1530. The ‘Marct der Ontzettinge’ (‘Market of the Lifting of the Siege’) at Leiden in the Netherlands dates from 1578 when a Spanish attack on the town was repulsed. In addition, the famous Munich ‘Oktoberfest’ was first organized to commemorate the wedding of the royal couple Ludwig of Bavaria and princess Therese of Hildenburghausen.
The Hague fair in 1686, captured by the French artist Daniel Marot.
The Munich Oktoberfest is no place for vegetarians : roasting oxes in 1898 and roasting oxes about 100 years later.
The Oktoberfest was and is hugely popular. The lower card depicts ‘the ideal fairground vistor’.
In the 19th century sausages still had to compete with roasted fish, but nowadays a tasty pork sausage, roasted on a charcoal grill, is a must for every German fairground visitor. Nuremberg is the Bratwurst-capital of Germany. Already in the 14th century the Nurembergers enjoyed their small, but delicious sausages. For many patrons, six are minimum! One of the nicest sensual experiences you can have on a German fairground is the scent of sausages, mixed with the aromas of roasted almonds, mulled claret and gingerbread.
Greetings from the 1900 Oktoberfest: winter radishes are a favourite snack in Bavaria. The Parseval-balloon only existed in the artist’s imagination.
Radishes, sliced up and well salted, and beer make a perfect match. Radish-sellers did good business on the Oktoberfest. Other hawkers sold cakes, cheese, fruits, sausages, sweets and vegetables. Fairgoers had a lot to choose from. The lady-hawkers (Standlfrauen) still attend the Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest often presented aeronautical novelties. In 1900 Count Zeppelin showed his famous airship. In 1906 August von Parseval introduced his sausage-shaped Parseval-balloon. Visitors could hire this flying machine for a flight over the fairground. The airships inspired artists and comedians. This postcards shows how fond the Bavarians are of food: the Parseval reminded them of a giant Weisswurst, the motor grills fish, and the ballast tank is a tun of beer!
Scene of a Procession of the Holy Sacrament of the Miracle (‘Processie van het Heilig Sacrament van Mirakelen’) in Nivelles, Belgium, somewhere in the 1930’s.
Processions have their origins in the medieval worship of saints and their relics. These festivals combined Christian rites with older pagan rituals. Saints were celebrated in a solemn, but lively way. Saint’s figures, lots of flowers, horses, magnificent costumes, candles and music produced an impressive atmosphere. At the end of the actual procession it was time for festivities. Showmen performed, beer and wine were served and pastry and roast were dispatched. Many fairs and markets of our days derive directly from religious processions.
Postcard from the 1909 edition of the Oktoberfest.
The Oktoberfest in 1820. Above the king’s tent Madame Reichard ascends in her hot-air balloon. In the background the Munich skyline.