This Saturday 15 August, Greiveldange will be hosting Léiffrawëschdag, a traditional folklore festival in Luxembourg to honour Assumption.
The harvest festival also goes by the names of Léiffrakrautdag and Krautwëschdag and is an historical day designed to mark the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, which in Luxembourg represents a public holiday.
The tradition originated from a ritual known as the blessing of the herbs, whose beginnings can be traced back as far as the 6th century AD. In the more archaic celebration, parishioners would bring bunches of herbs to church which would then be blessed by a priest. However, over time this practice became increasingly relaxed to include more plants, and nowadays the blessing only takes place in a few areas, of which Grieveldange is one.
Grieveldange is a small village of 573 on the Moselle where on 15 August local residents will meet to partake in a glass of wine and enjoy the various festivities on offer. Following a Mass service, a concert will be held by the Museksfrënn '97 before traditional Luxembourgish dishes are served, accompanied by locally-produced still and sparkling wines.
The event, which is completely free of charge, will also include time-honoured games, as well as musical street performances and folklore groups in action. A market will also provide hand-crafted items and produce sourced in the region.
Photo by Visit Luxembourg
