Kermesse : nf The fair (from the Dutch Kerkmisse, “Church Mass”) means in Belgium. as France in Luxembourg and French-speaking Switzerland, the Party parish, patronage, charity or an annual fair, celebrated with great rejoicing en full air.
By extension, in France the term fair designates holidays annuals of schools, most often those of nursery and primary schools: these are often open-air parties, with various game stands and sales stands, in particular of ready meals, treats and confectionery.
In the past we used the term ducasse, or even nowadays and in some regions, the term fancy fair which is usually a party de beneficence offering charity sales, au profit of a school, of an association.
The big fairs in Europe:
Germany : Fairs are very numerous in Germany. They bear the name of Kirmes, Kirchmess, Kirchtag or Kirchweih, depending on the region with all their spelling variants. Still depending on the region, we consumes of the beer or wine.
Belgium : Until the beginning of the XNUMXth century, Brussels had two fairs: a "small", now missing, which took place on Pentecost Sunday and a "large", which commemorated the procession of October 4, 1530 instituted by Margaret of Austria to celebrate the end of a plague epidemic.
In 1531 the emperor Charles V promulgated an ordinance limiting the duration of fairs to one day.
In 1880 the Communal Council decided that the fairs which took place simultaneously on the Grand-Place, Martyrs Square and Grains Market would be gathered in a big fair which would take place at the beginning of July in boulevard du midi, fair noon.
Luxembourg : Luxembourg fair (Schueberfouer).
Alsace : The Messti of each village.