Feierowend – book project
136, rue de l'Alzette; L-4010 Esch-sur-Alzette, Gemenderotsall (1. stack)
“Feieren. Danz, Musek a Fester am Minett” is a book about the culture of balls in the industrial south of Luxembourg from the 1920s to the 1980s, written by Laura Steil, anthropologist and historian at the University of Luxembourg (C2DH), in collaboration with FerroForum asbl and Luciano Pagliarini, musician and historian.
Leisure activities are a less-documented and less-studied subject, but they can offer new perspectives on society at large. The book begins with the first café-dancing in the 1920s and then tells the story of the development of a celebration culture deeply connected to the working class. The research actually started in a working-class neighborhood: at the “border” of Esch-sur-Alzette. Across from the Terres Rouges factory, part of the workers’ festive life took place, contrasting yet remaining continuous with the hard labor in the factory. It is no coincidence that regular balls gradually disappeared in the 1980s, alongside the decline of the factories.
The book is based on archives and conversations with people who lived through and contributed to the creation of the ball culture. It includes unpublished documents, photos, and testimonies, as well as texts by Laura Steil and Luciano Pagliarini.
To learn more about this project, join us on November 20, 2024, at the Esch-sur-Alzette town hall. You can even take a spin on the dance floor! Luciano Pagliarini and his orchestra will play the best dance music! The city of Esch will offer a refreshment.
Reservierung: Escher Bibbs T: 2754-2210
