Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Students from the Bread and Pastry Baking program in Antwerp baked around 1,400 apple balls and sausage rolls for Lost Monday – a special local event.
Beginning their marathon baking session at 10 PM and ending at 6 AM, these student bakers baked a fantastic number of pastries that will mostly be donated to the staff of the Antwerp municipal education system. As well as an experience of culinary talent, this event is aimed at demonstrating students’ ability and desire to accept the local traditions and promote togetherness.
Antwerp students baking from the Bread and Pastry Baking program prepared 1,400 apple balls and sausage rolls for Lost Monday at night. This festival carried locally promotes togetherness among the students and talents in culinary as they are given a chance to explore their culture. The culinary classrooms at the Bread and Pastry program of Antwerp Municipal Education were full of life and activity as students and educators rolled these wonderful items on a production line. Many students, including those like Widad from Brussels, were introduced to the tradition of the Lost Monday for the first time. Widad said that she wanted to join this local practice since it was entertaining and informative at the same time. “If you are passionate about the job, then night work is not a problem,” she stated, emphasising that her love for baking made the late-night hours enjoyable.
Another fellow student, Bilal, also contributed his understanding using participative sources where he agreed with some worksheets; he does night shifts, he does work in a bakery, but working in a bakery two days a week makes him manage night shifts through cold things which are directly taken from the freezer are very tough to handle.
Education’s new alderman Nabilla Ait Daoud of N-VA also lent her hand in baking sausage rolls with the students. This was her first official school visit after her promotion, which showed that she was serious about her promise to offer support to vocational learning and find out how dual learning works in real life. Then, the vice mayor, Ait Daoud, declared that she would go to all the schools in Antwerp during her term, making education perhaps the most emphasised element of concern within the community.
The tradition of Lost Monday
Lost Monday, or “Verloren Maandag,” is a cherished tradition in Antwerp with roots dating back to 1730. This day is observed on the Monday after Epiphany, or Driekoningen, which past associated celebrations have included the swearing-in ceremonies of new officials. The name “Lost Monday” reflects the idea of a “lost” day where work ceased in favour of celebration. Eventually, this holiday has developed to incorporate apple balls (appelbollen), which are now an important part of bakery products, especially in Antwerp during this period.
Lost Monday went beyond the simple indulgence of food and booze; it is iconic of community spirit and tradition. People use this practice every year to consume such pastries from bakers across the specified city. The fact that students are taking an active part in this event proves that every culture should transmit the craft of cooking from generation to generation. When they do practical activities like these, the students master more about their baking and also get to learn more about their culture.
The tradition has slowly been rising to fame over the years as more people appreciate it as part of the rich culture of Antwerp. Since history and people’s interaction involve food and celebration, Lost Monday is an excellent example of a historical event that connects people of the same city. As such events are still around the corner, they have played a crucial role in keeping the culinary culture alive in Antwerp for many years now.
