Galmaarden (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In 2025, Anthony Ravyts became Pauwel during the Pauwel celebration in Galmaarden, leading a parade with 16 apostles and distributing thousands of rye bread rolls, symbolising community spirit. This year’s festivities included a children’s peacock.
The Pauwel celebration in Galmaarden, Pajottegem, is a popular festival that celebrates local traditions. It focuses on giving out rye bread rolls. Every year, Pauwel, the main character, leads a parade through Sint-Paulus with his 16 apostles. This parade is an important part of the celebration.
According to authorities, when thousands of freshly baked rye bread rolls are handed out. Residents and visitors all receive these rolls. They mentioned that this tradition reminds everyone of kindness and community spirit. It helps keep the local traditions alive for future generations.
What special moments did Anthony Ravyts bring to the 2025 Pauwel celebration in Galmaarden?
In 2025, Anthony Ravyts became Pauwel during the celebration. He rode a white horse through the streets with his 16 apostles. The crowd was excited and waited for the rye bread rolls. Authorities mentioned that these rolls are important because they represent food and community spirit.
Event management mentioned that the event brings people of all ages together. It helps them connect with local stories and traditions. They mentioned that each roll given out celebrates the area’s heritage. It also strengthens the bonds between the people of Galmaarden and Pajottegem.
In 2025, Anthony Ravyts took on the role of Pauwel for the first time. He had been part of the Pauwel gang six times before this year. His brother-in-law was Pauwel the year before. This inspired Anthony to take the role for himself in 2025. He decided this long before the event.
At the start of the festivities, he made the day even more special. While in character as Pauwel, he proposed to his girlfriend, Femke. This added a personal touch to the celebration. The crowd cheered for them, making the event memorable for the couple and everyone present.
This year’s celebration had something new, along with the usual parade led by Pauwel. They included a children’s peacock, and Aaron Thiepont was picked to be the peacock. He walked through the streets of Sint-Paulus. They mentioned that to add to the fun, nine kids joined him as a peacock gang.
According to Anthony, the children’s peacock was bright and colourful. It stood for youth and innocence. It caught the eye of many people and added to the festive mood. He mentioned that this new part made the traditional event more exciting, especially for the younger kids in the community who joined in the fun.
“I have been a member of the Pauwel gang 6 times already,” says Anthony. “Last year my brother-in-law was still the Pauwel. Then I decided to become one in 2025.”
What traditions were highlighted during the 2025 Pauwel celebration in Galmaarden?
This year’s Pauwel celebration in Galmaarden, now part of the merged Pajottegem municipality, saw many visitors from the neighbouring areas of Gook and Herne, marking their first participation in this cherished event. Highlights included the Pauwel gang’s stop at the Pauwelhoeve to sign a golden book presented by the municipal government and the playful baptism of each apostle with flour from the rye bread rolls.
According to authorities, the tradition, which dates back to 1382 after a plague hit the region following the plundering of Geraardsbergen, celebrates when a white rider on horseback appeared during Saint Paul’s Conversion feast, distributing rye bread that cured the sick. This yearly celebration, held on the Sunday following January 25, has been a local tradition ever since and has been officially recognised as an intangible cultural heritage in recent years.
