St V

Last updated

Saint Verhaegen
St V 2016 003.jpg
St V festivities in Brussels
NicknameSt V
StatusActive
Date(s)20 November
FrequencyAnnual
Venue
Location(s) City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
Coordinates 50°50′27″N4°21′18″E / 50.84085°N 4.35505°E / 50.84085; 4.35505
CountryBelgium
InauguratedNovember 24, 1888 (1888-11-24)
Founder Free University of Brussels
Most recentNovember 20, 2023 (2023-11-20)
Next eventNovember 20, 2024 (2024-11-20)

Saint V (French), Sint V (Dutch) or St V are the commonly used names for a holiday for freethinking university students in Brussels, Belgium. It takes place annually on 20 November and commemorates the founding of the Free University of Brussels on 20 November 1834. The day's long forms (French: Saint-Verhaegen, Dutch: Sint-Verhaegen) differ in the two official languages, but both are a reference to Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the university's founder, who notably is not a saint and was never canonized; the name was chosen instead to mock the Saint-Nicolas festivities of the rival Catholic University.

Contents

The festivities started in 1888 as a protest against the then-academic authorities and has since grown into an annual parade that pays tribute to Verhaegen and the values of free inquiry  [ fr; nl ]. Nowadays, the event is organised by the Brussels Student Association and is celebrated by students of both the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), which officially separated in 1970.

Origins

The event dates back to 24 November 1888, when students of the university organised to protest a university reorganisation that was perceived as undemocratic and against the principle of free inquiry  [ fr; nl ] (French: libre examen, Dutch: vrij onderzoek), on which the university was founded. That morning, 200 of the university's 1,400 students, with many freemasons (as Verhaegen was also the founder of the Grand Orient of Belgium), assembled and left a wreath of oak leaves on Verhaegen's tomb.

Placing flowers on Verhaegen's tomb in Brussels Cemetery by university faculty is part of the formal aspect of the celebration. Cimetiere de Bruxelles 03.jpg
Placing flowers on Verhaegen's tomb in Brussels Cemetery by university faculty is part of the formal aspect of the celebration.

In following years, the students, with much fanfare and waving the flags of their respective student organisations, would form a long procession to pay homage to Verhaegen at his tomb and a monument in his honour. These celebrations continue to this day, although the students are now generally more concerned with drinking in the streets; the honouring of Verhaegen is done largely by faculty and leaders of the student organisations and is more formal and official. In the last few years, a revival of the formalities has occurred due to several restrictions imposed by the city council. [1] Students get the day off for the events; no classes are scheduled that day. [2]

Celebrations

Celebrations at the Square du Grand Sablon/Grote Zavelsquare St V 2019.jpg
Celebrations at the Square du Grand Sablon/Grote Zavelsquare

Most student groups rent a large transport truck for the occasion, which they decorate in accordance with the year's theme. Each truck has a large number of kegs inside, and some students are designated to serve beer to the others all day, with an all-you-can-drink payment scheme. Many also bring large sound systems which play loud music all day. 2013's St V saw 6,000 students and 27 transport trucks take part in the procession. [3]

The students first meet at the Square du Grand Sablon/Grote Zavelsquare in central Brussels, and after several hours, the trucks start to move towards the former Brussels Stock Exchange on the Boulevard Anspach/Anspachlaan (Brussels' main boulevard). This takes several hours as well, as the trucks move only at a walking speed and are more often than not stopped due to the students surrounding them and on the road. Beer may not be served while the trucks are in motion. All roads which the procession goes on are closed to other traffic, including the Boulevard Anspach. The students then disperse and reconvene around 9 p.m. at ULB's Solbosch campus, where all the year's decorations are burnt semi-ceremonially. [4] Many alumni come to the university's discothèque on that night, which is normally only open to current students.

After the November 2015 Paris attacks, the city council decided to cancel the event for the first time since World War II. [5] A large part of the students, however, ignored that ban and proceeded to occupy the traditional starting point of the Square du Grand Sablon only to later continue with the procession on foot. [6] The following year, the city council forbade the use of the transport trucks and limited the consumption of alcohol to the start- and end-points; the students responded by throwing flour at each other and passers-bys. The origins of the flour-throwing dates back to a past tradition of the holiday where the students used to throw eggs, flour and water at the local catholic bourgeoisie who lived in and near the Square du Grand Sablon, after they had repeatedly pleaded with to city council to try and stop the event from happening because they disapproved of the students using the square as their starting point. [7]

In 2019, St V was included in the inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region. [8] [9] [10]

Yearly themes and medals

Since 1931, St V has been given a yearly theme, usually responding to current events and taking a liberal/anti-clerical approach. However, political themes are not shunned either, with students often using St V to raise awareness on social problems, ideological issues and humanitarian crises. Fascism, the School Struggle, state reforms, community fault lines, language politics, abortion, apartheid, human rights, freedom of speech, nationalism, migration, terrorism, climate change, poverty, the far-right, etc., among others, have already formed the theme of the celebration.

In practice, the annual theme often emerges in the decorations of the floats, the party stands on the Sablon and is expressed on banners and signs.[ clarification needed ] Since 1938, the organisation has also issued an official medal every year, which features an often explicit illustration. Initially this was done by the Association Générale des Etudiants (AGE), later the ACE and the BSG took on this task. [11] A competition is usually held for the design of the medals, in which VUB and ULB students are allowed to submit their designs.

Associations and individuals also regularly issue medals on their own initiative at St V that are separate from the official theme. Given their long tradition and limited circulation, the medals have become coveted collector's items among some, such as in 1988, for the event's 100th anniversary.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brussels</span> Federal region of Belgium, including the City of Brussels

Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region, located less than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the south. Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels saw a language shift to French from the late 19th century. Nowadays, the Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch, although French is the majority language and lingua franca. Brussels is also increasingly becoming multilingual. English is spoken widely and many migrants and expatriates speak other languages as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vrije Universiteit Brussel</span> University in Brussels, Belgium

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Dutch and English-speaking research university in Brussels, Belgium. It has four campuses: Brussels Humanities, Science and Engineering Campus, Brussels Health Campus, Brussels Technology Campus and Brussels Photonics Campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free University of Brussels (1834–1969)</span> Bilingual university, now split into two universities

The Free University of Brussels was a university in Brussels, Belgium. Founded in 1834 on the principle of "free inquiry", its founders envisaged the institution as a free-thinker reaction to the traditional dominance of Catholicism in Belgian education. The institution was avowedly secular and particularly associated with Liberal political movements during the era of pillarisation. The Free University was one of Belgium's major universities, together with the Catholic University of Leuven and the state universities of Liège and Ghent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Université libre de Bruxelles</span> French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium

The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking research university in Brussels, Belgium. It has three campuses: the Solbosch campus, the Plaine campus and the Erasmus campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Brussels</span> Municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region and capital of Belgium

The City of Brussels is the largest municipality and historical centre of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of the Flemish Region and Belgium. The City of Brussels is also the administrative centre of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions in its European Quarter.

The Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) is an educational charity. It supports the exchange of university students, scientists and scholars between the United States and Belgium. The foundation fosters the higher education of deserving Belgians and Americans through its exchange-fellowship program. Since 1977, Dr. Emile Boulpaep is the president of the BAEF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen</span> Belgian politician

Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen was a Belgian lawyer and liberal politician, known as the founder of the Free University of Brussels. He was twice chairman of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint-Géry Island</span> Former island in Brussels, Belgium

Saint-Géry Island or Sint-Goriks Island was the largest island in the river Senne in Brussels, Belgium. It was named after Saint Gaugericus of Cambrai, who according to legend, built a chapel there around 580. It ceased to exist as an island when the Senne was covered over in the late 19th century, and a former covered market, the Halles Saint-Géry/Sint-Gorikshallen, was built in its centre. Since the late 20th century, this building has been rehabilitated as an exhibition space.

Science and technology in Brussels, the central region of Belgium (Europe), is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ommegang of Brussels</span> Medieval pageant in Brussels, Belgium

The Ommegang of Brussels is a traditional Ommegang, a type of medieval pageant, celebrated annually in Brussels, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Brussels</span>

The following is a timeline of the history of Brussels, Belgium.

The Folklore of Belgium is extremely diverse and reflects the rich legacy of cultural and religious influences which have acted on the region throughout its history, even before the establishment of the nation of Belgium in 1830. Much of Belgian folklore is unique to the region in which it is commemorated. Many aspects of folklore are manifested in public processions and parades in Belgian cities; traditions which are kept alive for the amusement of locals and tourists alike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erasmus Hospital</span> Teaching hospital in Brussels, Belgium

Erasmus Hospital is a teaching hospital in the municipality of Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium. It is a research hospital associated with the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and was opened in 1977. It has 1,048 beds and 4,000 employees, treating between 25,000 and 30,000 inpatients and between 350,000 and 400,000 outpatients each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon</span> Church in Brussels, Belgium

The Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, or the Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, is a Roman Catholic church located in the Sablon/Zavel district, in the historic centre of Brussels, Belgium. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Sablon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sablon, Brussels</span> Neighbourhood in Brussels, Belgium

The Sablon or Zavel is a neighbourhood and hill in the historic upper town of Brussels, Belgium. At its heart are twin squares: the larger Grand Sablon or Grote Zavel square in the north-west and the smaller Petit Sablon or Kleine Zavel square and garden in the south-east, divided by the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon. This area is served by Brussels-Chapel railway station and Brussels-Central railway station, as well as the tram stop Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxime Steinberg</span> Belgian historian (1936–2010)

Maxime Steinberg (1936–2010) was a Belgian historian and teacher who wrote extensively on the Holocaust in Belgium. He has been described as "Belgium's principal Holocaust historian" and was best known for his three-part history of the subject entitled L'Étoile et le Fusil, published in 1983–87.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meyboom</span> Oldest tradition in Brussels, Belgium

The Meyboom or Meiboom plantation is the oldest tradition in Brussels, Belgium, attested since 1308. It is held every year on 9 August, the eve of St Lawrence's Day, and consists mainly in the planting of a beech at the intersection of the Rue des Sables/Zandstraat and the Rue du Marais/Broekstraat in the City of Brussels' Marais–Jacqmain district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St. John the Baptist, Molenbeek</span> Church in Molenbeek, Belgium

The Church of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish church located in the centre of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, a municipality of Brussels, Belgium. It is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of Molenbeek.

University of Brussels may refer to several institutions in Brussels, Belgium:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCLouvain Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning</span>

The Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning, often called LOCI, is the 14th faculty of the University of Louvain, Belgium. It became an independent faculty in 2009, with the merger of three institutes founded between 1867 and 1882, and is active in Brussels (Saint-Gilles), Tournai and Louvain-la-Neuve.

References

  1. (in French) ULB's agenda for the holiday, 2007.
  2. "Calendrier académique et agenda 2007–2008" (in French). Université Libre de Bruxelles. 2007. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  3. "Saint-Verhaegen calme et fraîche: moins d'interventions qu'en 2012" (in French). RTBF. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  4. "Saint-V: un étudiant décède lors du cortège, autopsie prévue – RTBF Regions". Rtbf.be. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  5. "Politie controleert Grote Markt in Brussel, geen St-Vé-viering". De Morgen (in Dutch). 20 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  6. "Studenten houden spontane Saint-Vé-optocht: "Brussel is van ons"". De Morgen (in Dutch). 20 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. "Flour Power". www.demoeial.be. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017.
  8. "La Saint Verhaegen — Patrimoine - Erfgoed". patrimoine.brussels. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. McNally, Paul (13 October 2019). "Brussels student celebration St V joins cultural heritage list". The Bulletin. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  10. "La St-V fait son entrée au patrimoine culturel immatériel de la Région de Bruxelles". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. "Mee(dailles) met het verhaal van St V | CAVA - Centrum voor". www.cavavub.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 21 January 2024.