The Bal du Rat mort ("Ball of the Dead Rat")
is an annual
masquerade ball
A masquerade ball (or ''bal masqué'') is an event in which many participants attend in costume wearing a mask. (Compare the word "masque"—a formal written and sung court pageant.) Less formal "costume parties" may be a descendant of this tra ...
held in
Ostend,
Belgium in the casino.
The event was first held in 1898.
History
In 1898, a group of members of the
Cercle Cœcilia
Cercle is French for ''circle''. It can refer to:
* circle (country subdivision)
* Cercle (French colonial), an administrative unit of the French Overseas Empire
* Cercle (Mali), the Malian administrative unit
** The specific Cercles of Mali
...
from Ostend travelled to Paris. Joined by Anglo-Belgian painter
James Ensor they visited
Montmartre night-spots such as the
Moulin Rouge and a small venue known as "
Le Rat Mort
Le Rat Mort ("The Dead Rat") was a popular cafe/restaurant and cabaret in Paris in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Located in the Place Pigalle in the Montmartre District, it was frequented by artists, writers, actors, artist models, and pros ...
". On their return to Belgium, they decided to host a
ball
A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but can sometimes be ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used f ...
named in its honour.
Costume themes
Recent Bal du Rat mort costume themes include
* 2009: "Arabian Nights"
* 2010: "Out of Africa"
* 2011: "Land of the Rising Sun"
* 2012: "
French cancan"
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bal du Rat mort
1898 establishments in Belgium
Masquerade balls
Ostend