This November 15 marks King’s Day. Here's what you need to know about this rather special day for our country.
This November 15 marks King's Day, an annual celebration in Belgium to honor the sovereign. But where does this tradition come from and how is it celebrated today?
A celebration that dates back to 1866
King's Day originated in 1866, a year after the death of Leopold I, our very first king. The date November 15 was chosen because it corresponds to Saint Leopold's Day in the Germanic calendar. Leopold is not only the name of the first king, but also the second and fourth, which reinforces the symbolic importance of this day.
However, during the reign of Albert I, who came to the throne in 1909, this holiday was initially celebrated on November 26, Saint Albert's Day. But after the death of Albert I's mother on this date in 1912, the celebration was moved to November 15. The date will be definitively made official by King Baudouin in 1952.
The events of November 15
The day's celebration includes two highlights:
- The Te Deum: A religious ceremony which takes place at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudule in Brussels. It reflects the Catholic faith practiced by the royal family.
- A secular ceremony: Introduced in the early 2000s to underline the neutrality of the Belgian state, it is organized at the Palais de la Nation by the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Federal Government.
This year, King Albert II will attend the Te Deum, but without Queen Paola, who is currently recovering from a fall. Princes Astrid and Laurent, accompanied by their spouses, will also be present. On the other hand, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, the reigning sovereigns, never attend these ceremonies, because this day is dedicated to them. For them, it is therefore a public holiday.
A public holiday… but not for everyone
If King's Day is a public holiday for public service civil servants and employees in the administrative sector, it is not recognized as such for all Belgians. Therefore, schools remain open, although some nurseries may be closed depending on the case.
This day, between tradition and modernity, is an opportunity for the country to celebrate not only the monarchy, but also the values that it embodies in Belgian society.
King Philippe King's Day King's Day Belgium Belgian monarchy Belgian traditions November 15 Belgium history of King's Day royal celebration Belgium
