Endless paper with ink all over it, essentially. You might say that they have amassed and offer for public viewing (and sale) a myriad of bound wads of paper with scribbles all over it. If this is your jam, as the kids say (or used to, anyhow - slang changes at the drop of a hat* these days), Bicherdeeg is a good opportunity to find your tribe.
*The irony of using another potentially outdated and ‘uncool’ expression to explain the first one was not initially deliberate, but left in place as a further example of the complexity of language.
Yes! That’s a good way to put it, actually. It’s a celebration of the written word. Putting the spotlight predominantly on authors from the local region, Walfer Bicherdeeg is the biggest annual book festival in Luxembourg. The basic premise is of course the sale of (both new and second-hand) books, but there’s plenty more on the agenda for the literary fiends amongst you.
Beyond the book sales, you can expect live public readings, workshops, and of course the opportunity to interact with and have works signed by several authors.
While only available in French and German, you might find this list of everything on the agenda useful to get an overview of the weekend’s activities. Those of you who don’t speak (or read) either of the aforementioned languages may want to keep an eye out for events marked "(en anglais)” as, sit down for this one, they’re in English!
There’s also a separate list of events specifically for kids, in case you have one (or several) and fancy bringing them along.
Keep an eye out for news around the beginning of November, but dates are officially set for 16-17 November 2024. Doors usually open at 10.30am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, and the fair stays open until 6pm both days. Did I mention (rhetorical question, I know for a fact that I did not) that entry is free? You can find further practical information right here.
Yes! As every year, RTL will be there to present the annual “dictée”, or ‘dictation’ - essentially a spelling bee for adults, where a short text is read aloud and participants are marked on their ability to spell everything correctly. It’s harder than it may sound!
