Name: Litanies of St. Juttemis
Start: 2025-02-14T14:30:00+00:00
End: 2025-02-14T15:00:00+00:00
Location: Ridderstraat

Ridderstraat

A what? By whom?
 
Every Kielegatter, every resident of Breda, many Belgians, and other visitors to the city centre of Breda have certainly walked past it: the cheerful little statue of Sinte Juttemis at the corner of Ridderstraat and the Grote Markt. The bronze statue, created by the late Breda artist Aimée Tollenaer, was a gift from the BCV (the current Foundation Kielegat) to the people of Breda in 1991 for the 5×11 jubilee of the BCV. So, it's a carnival-themed statue.
A litany?&nbsp; A litany originates from the Catholic church where a priest and the congregation take turns reciting prayers with invocations and responses. For years, this has been translated into the Kielegat dialect, in Kielegat style, about Kielegat and its Kielegatters. By the Hoogheid and 'ut volluk'.&nbsp; But why, is the question. According to the Van-Dale dictionary, 'met Sint-Juttemis' means never. Each line spoken by the Hoogheid in that Breda litany is loudly answered by the people with 'meej Sint-Juttemis'; which means: never.&nbsp; An example: “Transforming the Great Church into a parking garage”. Naturally, this is unthinkable, hence: with Sint-Juttemis.
And who is Sinte Juttemis? 
Sint-Juttemis (actually Sinte; because it is referred to as a female) has, just like every Hoogheid of Kielegat, four dynastic titles. These are, in order, Keeper of the Prince Tiles (due to the Prince Tiles in the pavement of Ridderstraat), Pispaol of the public urinators (which needs no further explanation), Protectress of the Ridderstraat, and lastly, Dance Teacher of the calf kiss. This last title refers to the saying 'When calves dance on the ice'. Calves cannot dance; hence never. The feast day of Sint-Juttemis is 17 August, right in the summer, therefore there is no ice, never thus.

Ultimately, the attendees, ut volluk, are asked after the litany (and also just throughout the year when passing by) to give the statue a gentle pat on its head. It costs nothing.&nbsp;

On Sunday 16 February, Prince Driekus d’n Tweejde will present the annual Litany of Saint Juttemis at 2:33 PM.