Carnival - Dutch

Hello! I am Carnival, a big and cheerful festival that people celebrate in the Netherlands. My celebrations are full of color, music, and fun. People enjoy my festivities for three whole days each year. My timing is special because it happens right before a quiet period called Lent begins. Because my dates are connected to Easter, the exact days people celebrate with me change every year. No matter when I arrive, I always come during the winter, bringing a burst of excitement and cheer to everyone before the spring season starts.

When I begin, a wonderful and silly change takes place in many towns, especially in the southern part of the Netherlands. For the three days of my celebration, these towns adopt new, funny names. It's part of the fun of turning the world upside down! For example, the city of 's-Hertogenbosch completely transforms. Its name changes to 'Oeteldonk,' which means 'Frog Hill.' During my visit, the usual, everyday rules are set aside, and everything is about having a great time and being playful. It's a special time when imagination takes over the town.

Every town that celebrates with me also chooses a very important person to lead the fun. This leader is called Prince Carnival. At the start of my festivities, there is a special ceremony where the real mayor of the city hands Prince Carnival a giant key to the city. This act is a symbol that, for my three days, the Prince is in charge. It is his job to lead all the parties, parades, and joyful events. He makes sure that everyone, from young children to grandparents, is included in the celebration and having a wonderful time.

My most famous tradition is the grand parade, which has a special name: the 'optocht.' It is a fantastic sight! For months before I arrive, groups of people work together to design and build huge, amazing floats. These floats are often very funny and might tell a story or poke fun at events from the past year. When the parade begins, the streets are filled with people in incredible costumes. You might see clowns, pirates, animals, and characters from stories all dancing together. Loud, happy music called 'carnavalsmuziek' plays, and colorful confetti rains down on everyone, covering the streets like a festive blanket.

Today, people in the Netherlands continue my traditions with a lot of excitement and pride. My celebrations are a way for communities to come together and share in something special. In many cities, people show their local pride by wearing specific colors. These colors appear on scarves, hats, and coats. In the city of Oeteldonk, for instance, the colors are red, white, and yellow. By celebrating me each year, communities keep their unique customs alive and create happy memories that connect them to their town and to each other.