Hof der dingen - West Flemish proverbs

He who works diligently for his wife and child, and is loved by them? That’s father. The sweetest name in all the world, the finest word to come from any mouth – mother. Friends always bring joy – some when they come by, some when they leave. No swearing here – God is watching you. Only where people quietly care for one another can love truly live, and life be sweet. 

We all know them – some even by heart: the solemn or sometimes tongue-in-cheek proverbs that once adorned many living rooms. The proverb In ieder kot ist er etwot translates to Every household has its cross to bear – meaning that everyone faces different challenges, and was shared with us by Murielle Oosterlinck. How did she react when she discovered the wooden plaque?

“This wooden plaque used to hang in the sitting room of my grandfather’s cousin in Menen – a place we visited often. Etienne and his wife, Georgette, were wonderfully warm people who loved life and lived it to its fullest. I would even call them bon vivants. Life wasn’t always kind to them, though – Georgette couldn’t bear children and was faced with breast cancer as well. I’ve always loved this proverb: so simple, yet so true – and so beautifully phrased in our West Flemish dialect. I was delighted when I found this very plaque tucked inside a cardboard box while clearing out my parents’ basement. It’s proudly displayed at our house now!”