Brussels last week celebrated the planting of its Meyboom, or Tree of Joy, for the 716th year in a row, despite a mock battle with residents of Leuven, who annually try to delay the planting past its 5 p.m. deadline.
The true origins of the tradition, which involves a parade through the city in traditional costume, puppets and yes, a large tree, are not completely certain, but the Brotherhood of the Companions of Saint Laurentius, which organizes the annual event, says it dates to 1213. It’s had its present form since 1308.
The backstory is that residents of Brussels and Leuven quarreled over a beer tax, leading a horde of Leuveners to raid a barn where a wedding of Brusselites was taking place. The Companions came to the rescue, and were given, by the Duke of Brabant, the privilege of planting a Meyboom every August 9th.
On the day, the chosen tree is cut at 6 a.m., followed by a march on a criss-cross route through several of Brussels’ communes to the city center. It’s then marched through central streets and ends up at Grand Place for presentation to city authorities. ‘Leuvenites’ hide themselves somewhere along the route and attempt a surprise blockage to keep the tree from being ‘planted’ at the site of the supposed original raid.
The tree must be ‘planted’ by 5 p.m., because in the Middle Ages, after that time, the city gates would have closed for the night, leaving the planters outside and vulnerable to attackers from Leuven.
The tradition has been listed by UNESCO as an intangible heritage.
