Hagelkruis Boekent | Gemert

Hail cross Boekent Gemert. Near the ancient hamlet of Boekent, there was already a hail cross in the Middle Ages to ensure that God's water ran over God's fields and to keep thunder away. Nowadays there is another hail cross.

Like all other hail crosses, it stood in the middle of the fields. This is because the function of a hail cross is to keep hail and other forms of thunder away from the harvest and thus protect it. Only one original hail cross has survived in North Brabant, in Aarle-Rixtel. Nevertheless, it was a widespread belief. The location of the Boekent hagelkruis must have been near the current address Oudestraat 70. In the course of the sixteenth century, this hail cross was replaced by a small kèske that would be known for centuries as the St. Nicholas stick. St. Nicholas was also invoked as a patron saint against hail and storm.

IJsheiligen

In 1996, more centrally in the hamlet of Boekent at the place where Kromstraat, Broekstraat and Oudestraat meet, a new bluestone hail cross was placed on the small square opposite the national monument De Blauwe Kei, dating from 1734. A picnic area is also located near the cross. At the foot of the cross one can also find the names of the ice saints Servatius, Pancratius, Mamertius and Bonifacius. The birthdays of these saints, on which they are also venerated, are May 13, 12, 11 and 14. The Ice Saints can cure winter hands, for example, but also their name days were an indicator of the end of night frosts and winter.