Searching for an explanation for the festivities currently consuming Eindhoven, Wikipedia gives a rather sanitized version of what we have been witness to these past two days –
“Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during January and February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.”
Nicely put. It also involves copious amounts of Bavarian beer, consumed openly and with gusto from the crack of dawn. Furthermore, Carnival seems to involve the liberal placement by publics works personnel of ‘relief’ centers, 4-station open urinals. Think of a giant plastic collection tank with four funnels on top at each corner. Discretion, I guess, is not part of Carnival. There’s one in front of a McDonald’s in the outdoor mall and another next to the post office down the street. Hey, who cares about privacy and that stiff, open breeze when you really, really gotta go. I wonder how they lift the tanks back on the truck. I’ll have to get up early Sunday morning to find out.
I’d like to see the local municipality’s pre-Carnival organization department's ‘to-do’ list… “Hang festive banners between light poles in the old square – CHECK” … “Assemble crowd gates along parade route – CHECK” “Drain urinal tanks and re-position across town – CHECK”…
The “public celebration or parade” seems to be one and the same. Wading through the crowd to get a ‘good’ spot to catch some of the floats, Scarf and I found ourselves next to a group of giants. They wore 70s costumes which looked like they were sewn from my mother’s polyester blend curtains. Predictably, they sported oversized afro wigs and staggered out of line in leopard skin platform shoes. Their chain-smoking female companions, looking like they just spilled out of a nightclub, were equally fetching in their ill-fitting nurse’s uniforms. With unquenchable thirst, they drained their beers in between belting out nationalistic ditties, like “Brabant”. Strategically, they had also positioned themselves within 8 feet of one of those urinals. Obviously, these folks were Carnival veterans.
For an hour, we stood in the cold and watched giant floats lumber past, the first one, of course, celebrating the very reason for Carnival in the first place – beer-drinking. Except that it’s not – like the raucous Mardis Gras in New Orleans to the pancake feast on Australia’s Shrove Tuesday, Carnival and its other international versions is supposed to be the last big indulgence before the traditional fasting of Lent. Or something like that. But, back to the parade – lots of confetti, silly string, projectile candy, and stocking-clad, tap-dancing 6-year olds (why are they in every parade?) Finally, hunger prevailed and we were able to peel the kids away with promises of waffles, hot chocolate, free toys and a visit to Disney Paris.
The day before, their school dispatched crossing guards to close off several area roads, and the costume-clad students skipped around the neighborhood in their parade. Hanieka was “Pippi Longstocking” and squealed uncontrollably when she saw me aim my camera. Sawyer, a pirate (again! – same as Halloween), shuffled past with the uplifting “you forgot to give me the hat.” The teenager in him is making appearances every now and then. Can’t wait. Here are shots of Pippi, and, the one above, Sawyer today in Eindhoven, complete with parade detritus.
“Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during January and February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.”
Nicely put. It also involves copious amounts of Bavarian beer, consumed openly and with gusto from the crack of dawn. Furthermore, Carnival seems to involve the liberal placement by publics works personnel of ‘relief’ centers, 4-station open urinals. Think of a giant plastic collection tank with four funnels on top at each corner. Discretion, I guess, is not part of Carnival. There’s one in front of a McDonald’s in the outdoor mall and another next to the post office down the street. Hey, who cares about privacy and that stiff, open breeze when you really, really gotta go. I wonder how they lift the tanks back on the truck. I’ll have to get up early Sunday morning to find out.
I’d like to see the local municipality’s pre-Carnival organization department's ‘to-do’ list… “Hang festive banners between light poles in the old square – CHECK” … “Assemble crowd gates along parade route – CHECK” “Drain urinal tanks and re-position across town – CHECK”…
The “public celebration or parade” seems to be one and the same. Wading through the crowd to get a ‘good’ spot to catch some of the floats, Scarf and I found ourselves next to a group of giants. They wore 70s costumes which looked like they were sewn from my mother’s polyester blend curtains. Predictably, they sported oversized afro wigs and staggered out of line in leopard skin platform shoes. Their chain-smoking female companions, looking like they just spilled out of a nightclub, were equally fetching in their ill-fitting nurse’s uniforms. With unquenchable thirst, they drained their beers in between belting out nationalistic ditties, like “Brabant”. Strategically, they had also positioned themselves within 8 feet of one of those urinals. Obviously, these folks were Carnival veterans.
For an hour, we stood in the cold and watched giant floats lumber past, the first one, of course, celebrating the very reason for Carnival in the first place – beer-drinking. Except that it’s not – like the raucous Mardis Gras in New Orleans to the pancake feast on Australia’s Shrove Tuesday, Carnival and its other international versions is supposed to be the last big indulgence before the traditional fasting of Lent. Or something like that. But, back to the parade – lots of confetti, silly string, projectile candy, and stocking-clad, tap-dancing 6-year olds (why are they in every parade?) Finally, hunger prevailed and we were able to peel the kids away with promises of waffles, hot chocolate, free toys and a visit to Disney Paris.
The day before, their school dispatched crossing guards to close off several area roads, and the costume-clad students skipped around the neighborhood in their parade. Hanieka was “Pippi Longstocking” and squealed uncontrollably when she saw me aim my camera. Sawyer, a pirate (again! – same as Halloween), shuffled past with the uplifting “you forgot to give me the hat.” The teenager in him is making appearances every now and then. Can’t wait. Here are shots of Pippi, and, the one above, Sawyer today in Eindhoven, complete with parade detritus.
Hello there, Balints, especially Sawyer and Hanieka!
ReplyDeleteWe all miss you back here at Tamarac but are happy to be able to keep track of you through the blog and pictures. I'm glad to see that Sawyer's hat and Hanieka's American Girl doll (and Mom's Scarf)are enjoying the sites of Europe.
Janice Toomajian
Hey, wonderful to hear from you! Wasn't sure how far my blog was reaching, but the school library is a great location. We're in Amsterdam right now - back to Eindhoven tomorrow, and school on Monday after a week off. Kids are having a wonderful time - learning Dutch, typing, swimming and skiing (in Austria). It's a tough life. See you in May. Elise
ReplyDeleteI'm speechless. First, let me apologize to the Tamarac community for all my inappropriate comments...both thus far and to follow. Second, I have some questions. Why is there a man in a cage behind Hanieka? What CAN you DO at Carnival that's bad enough to be publicly caged. And, where are the women expected to "relieve" themselves? Perhaps the same public urinals...now there is a pretty picture. And how convenient for you that there was one outside of your favorite McCafe!
ReplyDeleteHa - didn't even notice the caged man. Zero tolerance for bad behavior?? Actually, the gate is wide open, and he's standing between the fence and gate. Question II - women have to pay to relieve themselves - McDonalds, KFC etc have bathroom attendants. It keeps the rif-raf out, and makes for a sparkly clean toilet experience.
ReplyDelete