Around 350 members of the Samain family held a family reunion in the West Flemish municipality of Avelgem during the weekend. Every 7 years family members, some of whom live as far away as South Africa and the United States, return to Avelgem to eat, drink and catch up.
350 members of West Flemish family hold family reunion in Avelgem “Every 7 years since 1948”
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Some families meet up every week, others wait for a special occasion to have a party. For the Samain family finding a venue to house all of them is not easy given that the family numbers more 1,000 members.
Dirk Samain lives in Sint-Denijs, a village a couple of kilometres from Avelgem. He organised this year’s reunion. Mr Samain told VRT News that “Every 7 years we organise a big party and this year there were 350 family members in Avelgem. We are descendants of Jean Samain, a businessman that because of the Blockade of the Scheldt married a farmer’s daughter Maria Delattre from Dottignies, a municipality that is now part of Mouscron”.
Jean Samain’s descendants are now to be found the world over in France, the United States, Congo and even in South Africa. A good number of the family members that live abroad were present at the reunion. "We keep in touch through social media and email. However, there is still the need to see each other in the flesh and go back to our roots”.
A tradition for 105-year-old Rosa
The Samain family has been keeping up the tradition of family gatherings since 1948. 105-year-old Rosa Ghewy from Izegem (West Flanders) is the only family member that has been to all 12 gatherings. “You can see the family growing every time”, says Rosa. She adds that she is keen to attend the next gathering in 7 years’ time.