Cwarmê Museum

“Cwarmê”: The Carnival of Malmedy

One of the particular charms of Malmedy lies not only in its wonderful geographical location surrounded by nature and its cultural attractions. Folklore has also characterized the life of this town for some years. ‘Cwarmê’ is the Walloon name given to the carnival period in Malmedy, and it lasts for four days: from the Saturday midday to Shrove Tuesday, the night before the first day of Lent. The four previous Thursdays are known as the ‘days of the masquerade,’ and they bear the name of “Thursday-gras” or in local language “lès p' titès haguètes,” unlike the days of the Cwarmê proper that are called “lès grandès haguètes,” in line with the Malmedy carnival figure.

This colorful folklore spectacle, whose roots can be traced back to some 15th Century documents, has undoubtedly been taking place for an even longer time. Hundreds of people wearing masks and dressed in costume, accompanied by music along the route of the procession on Sunday, make this undoubtedly the highpoint of the carnival.

Among the traditional costumes worn you will find: the ‘sotê’ (dwarf), the ‘sâvadje’ (the savage), the ‘pièrot’ (pierrot), the ‘long-ramon’ (long broomstick), the ‘boldjî’ (baker)…

The Haguète is, however, the most prestigious costume and the most common one represented in the carnival in Malmedy. Its origin is difficult to establish, taking into account the lack of historical evidence about it, but, already in the middle of the 19th Century, one speaks about it as a very old costume. Originally starting out as a modest piece, the “Haguète” became a rich and luxurious costume, made out of velvet, inlaid with silver or gilded fringes at the arms and the pants. The whole outfit is “crowned” by a multi-colored array of ostrich feathers and the back is emblazoned with the double-headed eagle as seen on the Germanic banner of the Holy Roman Empire.

The “Haguète” is nothing without its “hape-tchâr” (flesh-snatcher), a pair of wooden articulated tongs that are used to grab the legs of the onlookers and not let them go until they kneel and say they’re sorry in Walloon: “Pardon, Haguète, à l’cawe du ramon, dju nu l’f’rès jamês pus!” (Forgive me, Haguète, I swear on the broomstick, I will never do it again!).

Each year, thousands of visitors come only to attend this highly colorful folk festival - one of the greatest European historical carnivals.

Down the centuries, the carnival of Malmedy has developed into one of the most original carnivals of Wallonia that, in addition, preserves its old Walloon name: Cwarmê.

The museum, devoted to the carnival, transports its visitors into the rhythm of the songs and music at the heart of the festival! Traditional masks and costumes, posters, models of the floats, photographs, sound and audio-visual displays transport you into the festive atmosphere, as colorful and musical as if it were Carnival Sunday.

Opening hours: The Carnival Museum is in the process of moving and will reopen at a date to be announced in 2010.

Contact und Information:

Imelda HEUSCHEN
Place du Châtelet, 10
4960 Malmedy
080 / 685 536
  i.heuschen@skynet.be