Planting of the Meyboom: The roots of Brussels' quirky annual folk tradition

It all began as a commemoration of a battle with another Belgian city

Every year, on 9 August, a group of Brusselers plant a tree, called Meyboom, at the corner of Rue des Sables and Rue du Marais in the Belgian capital’s Marais–Jacqmain District. The folk custom dating all the way back to the 13^th century is said to commemorate a battle in which the Brusselers repelled an invasion from the City of Leuven and legend goes that it took place somewhere around the spot of the planting.

This ancient tradition is one of many such that exist in Belgium and is a testament to the interesting history of Brussels – so much so that even UNESCO placed it on its list of intangible cultural heritage monuments.

The Meyboom rivalry between the two cities

Even though Meyboom translates to “May tree” the name has nothing to do with the spring month but is rather a corruption of the phrase “tree of joy” in Flemish. And the joy in question is the feeling of righteousness followed by the victory over the invading Leuveners.

The battle itself took place in 1213 and Brusselers had the Companions of St Lawrence guild to thank for helping them repeal the attack. Henri I, the Duke of Brabant and the lord of Brussels granted the guild members the right to plant a ‘tree of joy’. The date of 9 August was picked because it is the feast day of Saint Lawrence.

However, the custom didn’t become a regular occurrence until 1308. However, ever since then, Brusselers have not skipped an occasion to celebrate it no matter the historical conjuncture.

Every year, a group of Brusselers pick a tree to cut down at the Bois de la Cambre forest and then parade it through the streets of the city before planting it down. As you already understand, that’s not a true planting since the tree is only a trunk without roots. However, they have to do it before 5 PM. That’s because in the past the city’s gates would shut down at that hour.

Meanwhile, the people from Leuven still have an involvement in that tradition, keeping up the folk rivalry alive. Men from that city try to put obstacles to planting the tree and actually, in 1974 they managed to steal the tree from the forest before it was cut down and plant it in their own city.