Carnaval de Aalst / Carnival of Aalst

Aalst, ciudad flamenca a orillas del río Dender, 30 km al noroeste de Bruselas, es famosa por su celebración del carnaval. Se elige a un Príncipe del carnaval al que se permite "gobernar" la ciudad durante tres días. El domingo se celebra un gran desfile que cruza toda la ciudad, y en el que participan alrededor de 70 grupos y carrozas. El martes de carnaval se conoce allí como el día de Voil Jeannetten (literalmente las jovencitas sucias), en el que los hombres se disfrazan de mujer. Los festejos tradicionalmente terminan con la quema del muñeco, en la tarde del jueves.

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Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. Aalst is famous for its carnival festivities, celebrated every year in February. A Prince Carnaval is elected, who is allowed to "rule" the city for three days. A big parade crosses the city on Sunday, with about 70 groups of costumed volunteers and parade cars. Carnaval Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday (by tradition, the day before Ash Wednesday), is known as the day of the 'Voil Jeannetten' (literally: "the Dirty Jennies"), i.e., men dressed as women. The festivities traditionally end with the "Burning of the Doll", happening on Tuesday evening.