The country for this week’s postcard challenge is Belgium. Oh, dear. I’ve struggled with this location. I’ve learnt Smurfs and Tintin originated from Belgium, and that the folklore usually revolves around unpleasant things happening to people who may have had one too many of Belgium’s 500+ beers. Audrey Hepburn was born in Belgium and many people wish Jean Claude Van Damme would go back there. And, Belgium makes me think of chocolates and that can only ever mean bad things for my willpower.
The postcard shows gilles, which are men dressed in costume and wax masks. For over 500 years, gilles have featured in a festival at Binche. They parade around town, shaking sticks to ward off evil spirits.
The background….
Two agents have been randomly chosen from the secret association MIFFED, Modern International Federation of (almost) Forgotten and Extinct Deities, to save the world from the 2012 end of the world. Can Cinxia, a once worshipped Roman goddess with an obsession of dressing brides, and Topia, a Finnish forest god now relocated to Michigan, USA, save the day?
The Adventures so far….
Austria – Week 1 | Spain – Week 2 | Brazil – Week 3 | China – Week 4 | France – Week 5 |
Postcard from Belgium
I love how you dive right into the history and traditions of this card. I learn something new every day.
I like it even though it's a bit scary'ish looking <3
This is a really great card. I think it might give me nightmares
Scary masks, scary story. scary great.
Those masks are the stuff of nightmares. Great postcard though, more stuff I did not know.
Jen x
Super postcard, however, personally I find masks a bit scary! Great storyline and lovely reverse postcard.
Janet xx