Vastelaovend in ut Zuide
Yep, it's us,
Nicole and Boi, in Maastricht, during Vastelaovend (=carnival) 2002.
The suits we're waring are inspired by Mardi Gras Injuns of New
Orleans. Well, actually it was Dr John's
CD "Going Back to New Orleans", but later we heard he had it from the
Injuns.
Mardi Gras is New Orleans' Carnival. The (french) name means: Fat
Tuesday. It's on the same three days as everywhere else in the world,
but just like Rio, Venice, or, for that matter, Maastricht, it has it's
own unique identity.
We've never been there, first because we always go to Maastricht, and
second because Mardi Gras is way too expensive. we asked around during
one of our earlier trips, and hotel-prices triple (!) during that week,
and you have to make reservations 1½ years beforehand! No,
thanks, we just as well stay in Maastricht.
The Mardi Gras Injuns have their parades earlier in the season,
starting in january. A Cabbie, one-time Big Chief (leader of a group of
Injuns), told us he made a new suit every year. And traditionally the
suits were burned on the day Mardi Gras was over! We never before heard
about that burning thing, might as well have been Cabbie Big Talk, but
we know for sure that most injuns really do make a new suit every year.
It took them a year to make it.
The suit Boi is wearing was made in 1993, and it still is with him
every year. It grows a bit every year. The hat for instance, was a lot
smaller then, and the trousers are at mark 3 now. The first edition
took three months of sowing and "building".
Nicole's suit was made in 2000, and it took us a couple of weeks to do
that.
Down here are some links to some photo-pages, with pictures of
Vastelaovend in 2003. This is the first year the digital camera goes
along, that's why.
(Note: Boi suffered from an imflammation of the sinuses this year. That
hurts like hell! We only had a couple of hours each day before we had
to go home. Next year more and better pictures, promised!)
Saturday march 1, 2003: the parade in
Bingelder
Sunday march 2, 2003: the parade
in Maastricht
Monday march 3, 2003: the träöte-konkoer in Sittard
(=band "games")
Tuesday march 4, 2003: the Zaate Herremeniekes-konkoer in
Maastricht (=same)
Väöl plezeer! (Have Fun!)
Some pictures of Vastelaovend 2004:
Saturday february 21, 2004: the parade in
Bingelder
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