Carnival Festivities
By
Gypsy Joy.

Oeteldonk aka the City of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands and Venice in Italy have many  carnival customs in common. Both cities celebrate carnival long before the actual carnival time of three days before Ash Wednesday aka the first day of Lent. In both cities the people love to dress up in costumes, design and build floats, sing, make music and be merry. During festivities both cities like to make use of their waterways.

Enjoy Venice and the exquisite carnival masks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-r-dzzjQKc

As well as Casanova and more of the Venice Carnival fun on this last day before Lent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u939CE6RJzA

Carnival fun in Oeteldonk…

Sweet Gerritje

was, and I trust still is today, a popular carnival figure. Many years ago a folk song was composed for her.

Since recent years the Oeteldonk Carnival City also enjoys the visits of the

Princess of Oeteldonk’s Heart

and

her entourage.

Have fun watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DlI7OaY4tw

Many of the Dutch are fond of cycling especially in costume during carnival.

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS8DLAnbEz4

The day of the parade of the floats is always on the Monday before Lent. In another post I hope to be able to include a Dutch carnival video featuring some of the best Carnival floats of 2014.

Enjoy the weather and Mother Nature during the season of Lent!