The nights of the first weekend of Lent are a little less gloomy in Luxembourg: the traditional Buergbrennen are organised in many towns and villages and bring the inhabitants together around a bonfire and regional dishes. Sonja Kmec, a historian specialising in popular culture, conducted a research project on this tradition with Catherine Lorent and Jean Reitz in 2021-2022.
How old is the Buergbrennen tradition?
“The earliest traces date back to the late Middle Ages. Some people think that the origins go back as far as the Gallo-Roman or Celtic period, but this is – at this stage – impossible to prove.
Is the Buergbrennen a typically Luxembourgish rite?
“Not at all, seasonal bonfires exist just about everywhere in Europe. They are not necessarily organised during Lent like the Buergbrennen, but also around Easter or Midsummer’s Day. These festivities always have agrarian symbolism because they are based on the rhythm of sowing and harvesting.
What did your research into Buergbrennen show?
“This festival is still celebrated despite the many changes in society. In fact, there have been several revivals of this celebration. In the 1920s and 1930s, for example, there was a revival of interest, particularly in the south of Luxembourg and around the capital, even though it was originally an agrarian festival and therefore more firmly rooted in the north. The Buergbrennen was revived again in the 1970s and 1980s, and again in the early 2000s. It’s clear that every time we go through a major societal transformation, traditions gain in popularity.
How do you explain this?
“The more our points of reference are turned upside down, the more important traditions become. Traditional folk festivals like the Buergbrennen have become a point of reference in an age when people feel that everything is changing very fast. We counted 260 Buergbrennen in 2020, compared with around 100 at the end of the 1960s.
There are two interpretations of this tradition: one is that it’s about chasing away the winter, and the other is that it’s about burning witches. Which is more plausible?
“A priori, it’s about chasing away the winter. The pyre contrasts the cold of winter with the warmth of fire and embodies the light it gives off. This light also illustrates the return of daylight as the days lengthen. As far as witches are concerned, most historians believe that there is no direct link with these fires. But the first written traces of this tradition coincide with the height of the witch trials in our regions in the 16th and 17th centuries. And some festivals mimic legal trials, where straw dolls are found guilty of other crimes and burned – a kind of collective expiation. It’s a question worth looking into.
Has the Buergbrennen ritual changed in recent years?
“The legal framework has changed: it is now more and more complicated to build a bonfire and the presence of the fire brigade is required. In the 1970s, it was not uncommon to see tyres hanging from the pyre. That’s unimaginable today, when you can only burn dead wood that hasn’t been chemically treated.
Another development concerns the events dimension of the Buergbrennen, particularly in large towns such as Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette and Rodange. Specific committees organise events and end up creating a much larger festival with activities. In smaller towns, the bonfire is simply accompanied by the tunes of the local brass band.
There is also often food and drink available including Luxembourg specialities such as Bouneschlupp. Is this an opportunity to showcase local cuisine?
“I think it’s more a question of promoting conviviality. In the early days of the Buergbrennen, giant bacon omelettes were cooked by the community in a local restaurant. Then, in the 20th century, barbecues arrived. And now it’s just like every other village festival, with chips, chops, and traditional soups like Bouneschlupp or Ierzebulli. The proceeds also provide financial support for the organisers.
Could environmental protection issues threaten the Buergbrennen?
“Parliamentary questions have already been asked on the subject, but the tradition is centuries-old and the answers given to date are that the Buergbrennen is an exception. The tradition is not under threat and is in fact constantly evolving. While most bonfires represent a cross, others take the form of a castle, for example.
By the way, is the Buergbrennen pagan or religious? The date is set to coincide with Christian festivals, whereas it was originally a pagan custom…
“The Church was sceptical about this celebration in the 16th century. The village parish priests did not approve of the promiscuity that the Buergbrennen offered young people. Then, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Church saw an advantage in combining the Buergbrennen with a mass or even a procession around the fire, as it brought the villagers together. In the end, it’s hard to say what kind of festival it was, as villagers and sometimes churchmen had their own interpretations of Christianity and incorporated magical or pagan elements. What is certain is that the Church integrated Buergbrennen into its calendar.