Heritage news
Holy daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festivalHoly daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festival
EveryParampara

Traditions of Bruges

A medieval canal town of lace, chocolate and the Procession of the Holy Blood each Ascension Day.

Bruges was a rich trading city in the Middle Ages, and its old centre is a World Heritage site. Its craft traditions include bobbin lace and chocolate, and its great religious event, the Procession of the Holy Blood, carries a relic said to be a cloth with the blood of Christ through the city every Ascension Day.

Bruges: Vue du canal à Rozenhoedkaai
Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

The Holy Blood and the lace

In the procession, over a thousand people in costume present scenes from the Bible and from local history, with the relic carried under a canopy. Bobbin lace is made by hand on a cushion, with many wooden bobbins, and is still taught in the Lace Centre. Beer, brewed locally, has a place in the city's identity.

At the table

Moules-frites, mussels with chips, stoofvlees, beef stew in beer, waterzooi, a creamy fish and chicken stew, are classics. Belgian chocolate in pralines, waffles with sugar or fruit and many kinds of beer, brewed by monks, are enjoyed. Frites come with mayonnaise.

Signature traditions of Bruges

Procession of the Holy BloodThe Bruges procession.

Also part of it, and being written: Bobbin lace (The craft.), Belgian chocolate (The sweet.), Moules-frites (The mussels.).

A trail idea for Bruges

  1. Markt Hear the carillon.
  2. Béguinage A quiet courtyard.
  3. Lace Centre See lacemakers.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇧🇪 Bruges, BelgiumProcession of the Holy BloodHeilig Bloedprocessie An annual sacred parade and historical pageant through the streets of Bruges, Belgium.Spiritual

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.