A part of the mining history in the Minett region is the celebration of Bärbelendag (Saint Barbara’s Day). Soon after the opening of the very first mines, the patron saint of miners was commemorated in our region. However, it took some time before this day was officially recognised as a holiday in the mines and miners were no longer required to work on 4 December.
Mining in the region ceased over 40 years ago. Despite this, Barbara’s Day is still celebrated in many southern towns and villages. This article focuses on the celebrations in Esch-Alzette and the Kayl Valley, where the tradition of the “Boarbel”, as Saint Barbara is known in this part of the Minett, is still very much alive.
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© Ville de Rumelange |
© Administration communale de Kayl |
© Kulturfabrik |
Rumelange
In Rumelange, Barbara’s Day is traditionally celebrated in and around the Musée des Mines. The procession starts on Wednesday 4 December at 9.30 a.m. in the Rue du Parc and goes to the museum where a commemorative ceremony takes place. A mass will then be held in the gallery of the Musée des Mines, celebrated this year by Father Léon Weber. Afterwards, the people of Rumelange will continue the festivities in the André Zirves cultural centre.
Kayl-Tétange
In the other municipality of the Kayl valley, the Boarbel is also celebrated on the same day. The municipality of Kayl and the Comité Sainte Barbe, which has been organising these festivities for exactly 70 years, invite all citizens to participate and celebrate this important tradition for the Kayl valley. In honour of the deceased miners, cannon shots will be fired at the “Hesselsberg”.
The official programme begins on 4 December at 9.45 a.m. at the Schungfabrik in Tetingen. The procession will start from there before going to the grave of a deceased miner to lay flowers, followed by a mass. At 11.15 a.m., the municipal administration invites the participants to a glass of wine to mark the occasion.
In the evening, the celebrations continue at the Schungfabrik. At 6.30 p.m., historians Sam Klein and Denis Scuto will give a talk on the “Monument National des Mineurs” at the Léiffrächen. Afterwards, the celebrations will continue in the concert hall of the Schungfabrik, with food and drink and a performance by the Paltongszéier, who will present their lively programme of traditional Luxembourgish songs.
Esch-Alzette
The Entente Mine Cockerill celebrated Saint Barbara’s Day last Saturday in Ellergronn. The group, which is to thank for the preservation of the Carreau Minier in Ellergronn as one of the few completely intact mining sites in the Greater Region, started its Bärbelendag celebrations at 15:00 with a procession from the Heintzebierg gallery to the museum in Ellergronn. After laying a wreath in honour of Saint Barbara, the festivities concluded with official speeches, hearty snacks and a glass of honorary wine.
The official programme of the city of Esch-Alzette in honour of Saint Barbara starts on 4 December at 9.45 a.m. The event begins with a mass in the Sacré-Coeur church, accompanied by the Harmonie des Mineurs. The mass will be followed by two wreath-laying ceremonies. The first will take place at 11:00 at the Monument aux Morts on Place de la Résistance. The procession will then move to the Monument du Mineur on the corner of Origer Street and the Grand-Rue for another wreath-laying ceremony. In keeping with tradition, cannon shots will be fired to mark this special day in the heart of the former mining metropolis. The festivities will end at 11.30 a.m. with an honorary wine offered by the town of Esch.
But the festivities don’t stop there – Esch offers the opportunity to continue celebrating Bärbelendag in the evening. The Kulturfabrik and the CNCI (Centre National de la Culture Industrielle) invite you to the old slaughterhouse in Esch. Between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., you can discover how these two partners want to give Bärbelendag a modern dynamic.
The programme includes
- A parade with a statue created by the artist Trixi Weis,
- Demonstrations by a blacksmith,
- A silkscreen tattoo workshop,
- The “Boarbelzockerséiss” workshop,
- A concert by the band “Hunneg-Strëpp”.
There will also be a special beer brewed exclusively for Saint Barbara’s Day. Furthermore, the CNCI will be offering snacks and a mini-shop with merchandise from all its partners.
For more information on the festivities in Pétange, Lasauvage and Dudelange, click here.