Geraardsbergen krakelingen feast and fire

A legend tells us of the siege of Flemish Geraardsbergen in 1381 by a fearless local nobleman Walter Van Edingen. His strategy was to starve the people of Geraardsbergen, but when the last remnants of bread and herring were thrown over the city wall as a signal of abundance, the besiegers gave up, discouraged and tired of waiting. The people of Geraardsbergen then waited for dusk and created a bonfire on the mount of their town to let the neighbouring towns know they got rid of the enemy and needed help. And every year since, a barrel of tar would be taken up to the same mount and a fire would be lit.