Die Braak was nie bloot die destydse ‘koningsplein’ of ‘dorpsplein’ nie, maar ook die oefenveld vir die Burgerwag se skietoefeninge (dit was ook die doel van die Kruithuis - om die wag se wapens en kruit te stoor.)
Die ‘papegaaiskiet’ is ‘n tradisie wat die eerste keer in ‘n notule van 1692 opgeteken is. ‘n Houtpapegaai is op ‘n paal staangemaak en die man wat die teiken kon afskiet as die beste skut in die dorp aangewys. Tradisioneel het die papegaaiskiet aan die voet van Papegaaiberg plaasgevind (vandaar die naam), maar later is dit op die Braak gehou saammet die jaarlikse Van der Stel-feesvieringe.
Omdat dit alreeds die gebruik was om militêre optogte op die Braak te hou, het daar mettertyd ‘n groot kermis ontstaan, ‘n dorpsfees wat in die maand van Oktober rondom Simon van der Stel se verjaarsdag gehou is. Skoolkinders het vakansie gekry, perderuiters en blaasorkeste het op die Braak bymekaargekom, en vir agt dae was daar ‘n gees van feestelikheid in die lug!
Die jaarlikse kermis het die inwoners ‘n kans gegee om met tuisgemaakte produkte te smous, om vir hulself ‘n gulden of twee te maak. Matrose, verteenwoordigers van die owerhede en allerhande hooggeplaasdes uit die Kaap het die kermis bygewoon, en die Braak is versier met biertente en selfgemaakte stalletjies (‘loverhutte’ - hutte van takke en blare).
Die Van der Stel fees is ‘n tradisie wat vir die eerste keer in ‘n notule van 1692(!) aangeteken is, en het voortbestaan tot omtrent die tyd toe die Kaap onder Engelse besetting gekom het.
Petrus Borcherds onthou die laaste dorpsfees so:
In the month of October, eight days were kept, devoted to drilling during the day, and cheerful meeting of parties in the evening. Every house was thrown open and the inhabitants received exclusive privilege to sell cakes and refreshments during this period.
In die laat 60’s, omtrent sewentig jaar terug, het ‘n groep Stellenbossers weer die Van der Stel-fees laat herleef. My oupa Japie was deel daarvan, en saammet my ouma het hulle die ou Barokdanse leer dans (die gigue, minuet, gavotte), en met hul spoggerige sewentiende-eeuse valletjiesklere oor die Braak geparadeer.
Ten spyte van al die skandes en politiek van die ou Hollanders was hul klaarblyklik groot sports: papegaaie en matrose, gewere en danse en koeke en biertente.
As enigiemand goeie herinneringe of stories van die Van der Stel-fees het, deel dit asb met ons!
Eie fotos. Inliging: Stellenbosch Drie Eeue (1979)
English
The Braak wasn’t simply the town square or the ‘king’s plain’, it was also known as the exercitie plaatz, the Town Guards’ official shooting range (oefenplek vir die Burgerwag). The Kruithuis (literally gun powder house) existed for the same reason, to store the Burgerwag’s weapons and gunpowder.
The papegaaiskiet (Papegaai shooting contest, or ‘Papegaai pop’ for short), that I remember from my childhood (with a mixture of wonder and horror), was first recorded in 1692. A parrot shaped target was fastened to a vertical pole, and the marksman able to shoot it down first honoured as the best shot in town. The Papegaai pop was traditionally held at the foot of the Papegaaiberg (hence the name), but was later moved to the Braak and combined with the annual town fair.
Since it was already customary to host military processions on the Braak, a big festival developed around the time of Simon van der Stel’s birthday, 14 October. Children were excused from school, horses and brass bands paraded on the Braak, and for eight days a spirit of festivity hovered over town.
The Van der Stel fair gave the Stellenbosch residents an opportunity to sell their homemade goods, making a gulden or two for themselves. Sailors, representatives of the local authorities and all sorts of dignitaries from the Cape attended the fair, and the Braak fashioned with beer tents and self made stalls (loverhutte – huts of foilage).
The Van der Stel fees doesn’t exists any more. It was a tradition first recorded in 1692(!) and held until the the Cape came under English rule. Petrus Borcherds remembers the last fair in these words:
In the month of October, eight days were kept, devoted to drilling during the day, and cheerful meeting of parties in the evening. Every house was thrown open and the inhabitants received exclusive privilege to sell cakes and refreshments during this period.
In the late 60’s, about seventy years ago, a group of Stellenbosch residents revived the festival. My grandfather, Japie, was part of it and, together with my grandmother, learned how to dance the old Baroque dances (gigue, gavotte, minuet) in their fancy, frilly 17th century costumes.
For all their scandals and politics, the old Hollanders sounded like fun. Parrots and sailors, guns and dancing, cakes and beer tents.
If anyone has any fond memories or stories about the Van der Stel festival - please share!