a town of the Austrian Netherlands, in the province of Namur, seated on the river Mehaigne. E. Long. 4° 40'. N. Lat. 50° 32'.

BRAND-SUNDAY, Dimanche des Brandons, in French ecclesiastical writers, denotes the first Sunday in Lent; which is thus called on account of an ancient practice in the Lyonnais, where the peasants, in the night of this day, walked about their orchards, gardens, &c., with torches lighted, or fire-brands in their hands; in which plight they visited every tree, and addressing themselves to them one after another, threatened that if they did not bear fruit well the ensuing season, they should be cut down to the ground and burnt. This is evidently a relic of paganism; the like of which was practised by the ancient idolaters in the month of February; hence called Februarius, à februando.