The Cat Procession in Ypres

The Flemish city of Ypres is forever associated with history as a place where atrocities happened during World War 1. Today a quiet little town still feels the shadows of history hanging over it. Luckily, not all history can be associated with the horrors of war; there is still a history of the first world fire.

One of the most revered traditions in those parts of Flanders is the Cat Procession, a folkloric happening more than 60 years old that draws thousands of tourists to the historical town of Ypres. The parade is a kind of ode to the cat. The animal is the central protagonist in the procession with giant moving cats, music bands, equestrians and hundreds of people disguised as cats, mice, and witches.

Today it is pure entertainment and folklore but the origin is much darker than people think. This tradition goes back to the middle ages, a tough period in history where animals did not receive much kindness or mercy.

Cats were often the target of anger because they were the symbol of the devil, the companions of witches and warlocks. Cats were often tortured or burned alive, thanks to a persistent superstition fueled by the ways of religious beliefs. Thousands of cats burned alive at the stake. The howling of the poor animals was an enjoyment for the people. The ashes of the cats ended up as good-luck charms or a way to drive away evil spirits.

In those days, Ypres, like all Flemish towns, was renowned for its textile industry. The Flemish linen was world famous and the best. Most of the finished linen remained in towers. In those towers, mice ravaged the place, so they decided to combat them with its natural enemy: cats. They overlooked, however, the fact that cats procreate even more than mice. Soon there was an overpopulation of cats in Ypres. It did not take long to be the perfect excuse to slaughter as many as possible.

The most popular execution of cats was to throw them down towers and the belfry. This barbaric tradition was once again based on religious motivation and superstitions. After some time it just became a sadistic tradition and a ritual that nobody used to question.

This horrific tradition ended in 1817 after this year there are no more records of mass killing of the felines. According to legend, the cruelness stopped after the last cat who was thrown down the belfry survived.

In 1938 a group of choir boys puts together a Cat Procession. Each of the participants was carrying a toy cat. They celebrated and later they threw the toy cats down the belfry. This modest celebration continued until 1950. From this point on the Car Procession of Ypres received international attention. The de biggest procession was in 1955 with 1.500 figurants in wonderful costumes. Today the Cat Procession of Ypres is a massive celebration that takes place every 3 years. Believe me, you have to have seen it at least once!

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