« Hans knap knap knap… A penny or a coin to take Hanske's beard off! It hasn’t been cut in 100 years. See how long his beard is! Ho Hans, ho Hans! Put a penny in the Hans! »
So goes the song of the « knappers », who go from door to door offering good wishes to the inhabitants on « Lost Monday », the Monday following Epiphany. This tradition was once celebrated throughout the Antwerp Polders but can now only be seen in the villages of Berendrecht and Zandvliet. But for how much longer?
Credits
- Production & sound recording: Stéphane Colin
- Camera & editing: Matthieu Thonon
- Assistance & translation: Annelien Verbeeck
- Photographs: Simon Egan (MIM) & S. Guilliams
- © Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels, 2018