Carnival

Here we go carnival a very busy days, and i'm so tired from work have to work till 1o hours a day...i'm totally knock-out so today is time for rest, household chores and blogging.

Carnival in the Netherlands is also called "Vastenavond" or "Vastelaovend", and is most celebrated in Catholic regions, mainly the southern provinces North Brabant and Limburg. Dutch Carnival is celebrated on the Saturday through Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Although traditions vary from town to town, some common characteristics of Dutch Carnival include a parade, a "prince" plus cortège ("Council of 11"), a farmer's wedding (boerenbruiloft), and eating herring (haring happen) on Ash Wednesday.

One variant of Dutch Carnival is known as the Rijnlandsche Carnival, which can be seen in the province of Limburg. The province's capital of Maastricht holds a street carnival featuring elaborate costumes that resemble some South American and Venecian influences. Intentionally amateurish marchingbands ('Zaate Hermeniekes' or 'Drunken Marching Bands') traditionally perform on the streets. In recent years samba bands have become more popular.

The oldest-known Dutch carnival festivities date from 1385 in 's-Hertogenbosch. They are depicted in several paintings by 15th-century painter Jheronimus Bosch. During the three days of the carnival, 's-Hertogenbosch changes its name to "Oeteldonk," which means "Frog Hill." This name changing tradition is common in and around NoordBrabant.

Sint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) party

Sinterklaas is one of the important yearly celebration every 5 of December here in the Netherlands. It is not only an important celebration but a tradition too.

My very first time attending this celebration with my dutch family. It was exciting and joyful, everybody got a gift from Sinterklaas with a poem also.

For adult:It is actually everybody (the whole family) is preparing a gift for the whole family but the gifts you recieve you have not to know from who of the family is the gift coming from, assuming it is from sint Nicholas(sinterklaas).Sometimes you noticed it and have idea from who the gift coming from but sometimes you have no idea.

For kids: They got gifts with poems and they believe that it is from sint Nicholas (sinterklaas).

I got many gifts posted above and with two poems attached, I have to read first the poem, the poem is something to do with the gift, after reading the poem then, you may open the gift, show it to everybody, everybody is giving applause. I find it so great and interesting! Thank you so much sint Nicholas! (Dankje wel Sinterklaas!)

drinking coffee with dutch

Yesterday after my work, with my all dutch collagues drinking coffie together. They ask me if i want a cookie with my coffie, and said yes, if there is.
There are still cookies and I have to pick it myself in the place where it is, I bring the whole box of cookies to the table, and you know what they are saying? Oh! for a cup of coffie with one box of cookies... and i was not surprised, I mean I did bring the whole box maybe somebody wants some more cookies? It is really a dutch type, 1 cup of coffie and 1 piece of cookie. You think its strange? It's just normal for them.