Today it is November 11th. Where I am from it is the opening of a season which I don't even know has a name in English. It is 'vasteloavend'. And in Dutch we call it 'Carnaval'. But it is nothing like the English word carnival. vasteloavend is a three day's party in February, but November 11 (11-11) is the opening. People dress up funny and have a lot of fun.
The history of this feast comes from religion. Before Easter when we remember the resurrection of Jesus there is a period of fasting for 40 days. Before this period starts people enjoy for the last time all those things they cannot do during the fasting period. As everyone of these holiday's (think Christmas and made up Santa Claus by Coca Cola), vasteloavend has become commercialized(?) into a three day feast of dressing up, drinking beer and singing songs in dialect.
Ciao!
Ixis
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