Today is February 15th, and with that the Dutch Carnival has officially begun!
It's a time of celebration, silliness, dressing up, eating a lot (of candy) and having a good time.Quote:
Carnaval is not only a feast of eating and drinking, but also serves as social role reversal feast which allows people to behave outside the usual acceptable social norm. People will dress up as a character, much as seen during the feast of halloween that appears in the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon culture, which though has developed from a different origin.[35] During the Dutch carnaval people will often dress colourful and take on roles like jesters, occupations, objects, animals, other genders and sexes, archetypes or fairytale characters, well known people, subcultures, historical figures or foreign cultures. Masks and face paint are often used in combination with the costumes. The old tradition of wearing masks is becoming more and more replaced by the use of face paint, which makes it easier to drink and eat during the feasting. The costumes allow people to change their identity and role in society for a few days without being judged for it by their fellowman during and after the carnaval.
There is a *lot* of interesting information to read up on this holiday, which can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_in_the_Netherlands
There are many parades throughout the province, led by the Princes and Princesses of Carnival. The people who watch the parades have candy thrown at them from the carriages and parading folks, which is caught in hats, umbrellas, bags or picked up from the ground. Costumes are abundant, there is no limit to what you can be or do!
Although I haven't celebrated it in a few years (and am currently unable to due to my health) I still enjoy my memories of this celebration from when I was younger.
I say to you all "ALAAF!" and hope you've enjoyed a little culture from the Southern province of the Netherlands.
...That looks amazing
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