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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 15417
[Culture]
Date Posted:
5/4/2006
1:08:29 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,879
RSS: 17,659
Comments: 9
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Belgium's Cat Parade
Author: Jayne Traendly Source: Stars and Stripes
Title: BELGIUM'S CAT PARADE
Hissssss! Be warned. Another element has been added to this year’s Cat Parade in Ypers, Belgium: a 130-yard-long cage of wild cats.
The 2003 parade featured the more “playful” side of the cat with the cartoon character Garfield. So this time, says Michele Martens of the city’s tourist board, “the director wanted to include the more aggressive parts.”
But it’s a wonder Ypres’ cats haven’t let loose with this wild side before, considering their tragic history in Belgium.
The story didn’t begin so grim. In fact, legend has it that in pagan times, a giant statue of a cat god stood where the Cloth Hall in the town center now is located. But this cat adoration turned to fear when the locals converted to Christianity and the once-honored figure was transformed into a symbol of the devil.
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Community Thoughts: There are 9 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Luv Dem Felines! | May 5th. at 1:07:07 am EDT
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Winddragon (anderson, South Carolina) - Email Me
I have a cat frame with a picture of my two fat, spoiled rotten, hairy, girls together, right next to my bed. Best dad's day gift ever. Cats are for squeezing, smooching, and a good, aggravating belly rub and foot massage to really get'em hissing and spitting.
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| Herded Cats Are Clowders. | May 4th. at 8:09:11 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
A cat parade? Sounds like fun, now that they are no longer harming them in this festival, and some of the cat goddesses are now represented. Too bad they're still burning the witch dolls though.
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| As A Cat Owner, | May 4th. at 7:48:06 pm EDT
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Libertarian (Langley, Washington) - Email Me - Web
I give my cat Shcmuts flying lessings on a regular basis. I never toss him high or far enough to cause injury but he seems to bounce right back and is ready for more. He actually enjoys it I think.
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| 9 Lives | May 4th. at 4:07:21 pm EDT
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
"The town’s history records show that a cat festival was celebrated in the 15th century, closely related to the Ash Wednesday fair. But this event was no fun for felines. The highlight involved the town jester hurling live animals out of high towers, an act that symbolized the exorcism of demons. At some point, this tossing was officially transferred to the Cloth Tower belfry."
I can't imagine anyone being this cruel to good Mousers. Cats normally land on their feet, and have a terminal velocity so low as to make this a viable landing. Mice wouldn't notice such a drop at all, but Cats land on their feet, Dogs would have to be put down with Broken Legs, and People do Watermelon Impressions. Unless the Jester was so cruel, as to be run out of town, the Cats were just acting in the show.
"So once again the town’s felines will hold a colorful parade and show these people how to do it right in Belgium’s “capital of cats.”
There is a legend, either in Grimms or Anderson, of a lad whose inheritance was a cat. It's possible that Ypres was the place where the cat made him a hero.
Arawn
Find More info -- HERE
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| HA! | May 4th. at 3:52:44 pm EDT
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Jeanne Lisbet (Calgary, Alberta) - Email Me
Probably the only time you will ever see cats being 'herded.' LOL.
Blessed BE!
JL
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| Ewww | May 4th. at 3:41:19 pm EDT
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LD Wolverine (Edmonton, Ontario) - Email Me
"this flinging of felines lasted for centuries. It wasn’t until 1817"
I hope the stink of the dead carcasses was horrible for the townspeople.
Sheesh will human's degree of ugliness no no bounds? I mean really, all of us has fantasized at one point or another about flinging the screeching caterwalling cat in heat that insists that her mating place of choice is outside your bedroom windown at 2am but this is rediculous!!
Although it is really neat that they have a festival like this.
But I have to ask about this sentence "At 7 the “witches” are burned,"
Which Witches??
LOL
Peace.
Linda
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| Throwing, Burning, And Explosions | May 4th. at 3:36:34 pm EDT
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Aurora - Kat (Westbrook, Maine) - Email Me
"The throwing of the cats is at approximately 6 p.m. At 7 the 'witches' are burned, and at 10 fireworks finish off the evening."
Sounds like a fun time! Bring the kids!
:)
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| "Witches" Burned! | May 4th. at 3:34:43 pm EDT
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Aurora - Kat (Westbrook, Maine) - Email Me
I thought this was a cool idea, until I read the very bottom section that gives details about the event and it mentions that as part of the festivities there will be a "witch" burning. It doesn't say what exactly they will be burning, but it certainly made me curious.. Alas, even witch "dolls" are persecuted :)
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