Salphen
Encyclopedia
Salphen is a hamlet
which is part of the village of Oostmalle
in the Campine
region of Flanders
, Belgium. The history of Salphen dates back to the 13th century when in the records of the Chapter of Our Lady (Dutch: O.L. Vrouw Kapittel) of Antwerp it was called Zalhulfe.
, which fled the village to escape the Bubonic plague
. Two of his daughters and other relatives were among the victims. Because they were refused a burial in Wechelderzande
, they were buried in Salphen. Adriaan Mattheussen built the chapel to commemorate the deceased.
The chapel became a popular destination for pilgrims
which visited the chapel. In 1710 a bell
from the Antwerp bell founder Witlockx was installed in the chapel. However, the bell tower
and the bell were removed in 1983.
In 1726 the chapel was enlarged with the support of Robert Ots. The year of the enlargement of the chapel is placed in the wall, together with the initials of the stonemason I.H. In 1734 a statue of the Our lady from the altar
of the church of Rijkevorsel
was placed in the chapel.
In 1944 the chapel was destroyed by a V-1 flying bomb
, but in 1945 the chapel could be used again.
is restored, and it is being organized on the Saturday which is closest to 17 January, the feast day of Saint Anthony
. After mass
, the heads of pigs are sacrificed to Saint Anthony and sold at an auction
, horses are blessed and a fire for Saint Anthony is made. A fair
is held until late at night.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
which is part of the village of Oostmalle
Oostmalle
Oostmalle is a village which is located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The village itself is part of the municipality of Malle.Oostmalle was an independent municipality until 1976. It has a surface area of 28.27 km² and in 2004 had 6,510 inhabitants....
in the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region of Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium. The history of Salphen dates back to the 13th century when in the records of the Chapter of Our Lady (Dutch: O.L. Vrouw Kapittel) of Antwerp it was called Zalhulfe.
Chapel of Saint Anthony
The earliest traces of Zalhuffle date back to 1278. In 1626 the farmer Adriaan Mattheussen built a chapel for the people of OostmalleOostmalle
Oostmalle is a village which is located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The village itself is part of the municipality of Malle.Oostmalle was an independent municipality until 1976. It has a surface area of 28.27 km² and in 2004 had 6,510 inhabitants....
, which fled the village to escape the Bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
. Two of his daughters and other relatives were among the victims. Because they were refused a burial in Wechelderzande
Lille, Belgium
Lille is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Gierle, Lille proper, Poederlee and Wechelderzande. On January 1, 2006 Lille had a total population of 15,509. The total area is 59.40 km² which gives a population density of 261 inhabitants...
, they were buried in Salphen. Adriaan Mattheussen built the chapel to commemorate the deceased.
The chapel became a popular destination for pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
which visited the chapel. In 1710 a bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
from the Antwerp bell founder Witlockx was installed in the chapel. However, the bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
and the bell were removed in 1983.
In 1726 the chapel was enlarged with the support of Robert Ots. The year of the enlargement of the chapel is placed in the wall, together with the initials of the stonemason I.H. In 1734 a statue of the Our lady from the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
of the church of Rijkevorsel
Rijkevorsel
Rijkevorsel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the town of Rijkevorsel, Achtel, Sint-Jozef-Rijkevorsel and Gammel. On January 1, 2006 Rijkevorsel had a total population of 10,674. The total area is 46.79 km² which gives a population density of...
was placed in the chapel.
In 1944 the chapel was destroyed by a V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
, but in 1945 the chapel could be used again.
Procession of Saint Anthony
Since 1971, the ancient Saint Anthony processionProcession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
is restored, and it is being organized on the Saturday which is closest to 17 January, the feast day of Saint Anthony
Anthony the Great
Anthony the Great or Antony the Great , , also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Abba Antonius , and Father of All Monks, was a Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers...
. After mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
, the heads of pigs are sacrificed to Saint Anthony and sold at an auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
, horses are blessed and a fire for Saint Anthony is made. A fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
is held until late at night.
Source
- Malle history (Dutch)
- Salphen: Sint-Antonius-Abt (Dutch)