Pentecost Holidays (2)

Sunday: Outdoor Eating

On the Pentecost Day (Whitsunday), we went to the Outdoor Eating in De Kemphaan, a very interesting initiative to promote the local caterers and restaurants. I like this kind of events because everybody wins. The city organizes a pleasant activity, the local caterers and restaurants have a great marketing opportunity and the inhabitants can discover new tastes and flavours, products and services.
Besides, the weather was great, perfect to enjoy a cocktail, eat an ice-cream and listening to very good music outside. 

Two pics of this event...

These mushrooms were quite delicious!

From Outdoor Eating Almere 2012

This is a photo of the Dutch Classic Rock music, Vandeband. I was quite pleased with the way they played.

From Outdoor Eating Almere 2012

Helps a lot in the integration process in a new society to participate in the local events and to live the city not as a tourist but as local, don't you agree?

Saturday: a BBQ with our friends from Poland

Our 4th BBQ of the season was on Pentecost's Saturday, a splendid shinning afternoon that we enjoyed with our friends from Poland. As usual, when we have friends for a BBQ, we went afterwards for a stroll nearby the canal and the lake.

A BBQ in the achtertuin (backyard) is something very Dutch, like a ritual and tradition that marks the start of the Spring /Summer season. This year we were the first of our neighbourhood, so I guess I can say we are well integrated in the Netherlands. ;-))
There is nothing better than the sunshine and to be with the ones we love, just enjoying each other's company, nice talks, many laughs and a relaxing day. I love this time of the year!

From Sábado Pentecostes 2012 & BBQ

All our backyards are displayed in a row, so you can imagine how amusing it is when we and our nearest neighbours are doing BBQ's at the same time. In a certain way, especially because of the smell of the grilled meat and the patio's atmosphere, it reminds me Saint Anthony's Festival in June in the Medieval districts of Alfama and Castelo in Lisbon.

From Sábado Pentecostes 2012 & BBQ

These four Pentecost days were really, really great! The Luilakmarkt on Friday, a BBQ on Saturday, the Outdoor Eating on Sunday and the outing to Almere Haven on Monday...Fantastic! :-)
I'm so glad we enjoyed the Sun to the fullest! Lately, it has been cold and rainy...
We should never forget to enjoy the little pleasures of life, don't you agree? ;-)

Luilakmarkt in Almere

May, 25th

Luilak Jaarmarkt Almere

This year, Luilakmarkt in Almere was not only about flowers and plants. We could also buy antiques, brand clothes for very affordable prices and interesting handmade objects related with personal hobbies.This Pentescost's Friday was quite amusing and the weather was gorgeous. We even enjoyed a delicious BBQ in our backyard, after having bought some flowers, especially daisies, and small handmade kabouters for our frontyard.

From Luilakmarkt 2012 & BBQ

As far as I understood, by reading the Wikipedia article, there is a similar market to this one in Utrecht and it seems that the oldest Luilak market in Dutch history took place in Harlem in 1890.

Luilak (which means Lazybones in English and Dorminhocos or Preguiçosos in Portuguese) is a folklore festivity especially celebrated in the Western part of the Netherlands between the island of Texel and the city of Delft. The most famous celebrations take place in Zaandam, a town nearby Amsterdam.

From Luilakmarkt 2012 & BBQ

Luilak isn't a Christian based celebration in spite of occuring at the same time as Pentecost. Everything starts when groups of young people begin whistling, beating on pots, kettles and pans and ringing doorbells at four in the morning on the Saturday before Pentecost or Whitsunday. As you can imagine, everybody wakes up and nobody can sleep anymore with such a noise. Those who don't join the fun will be called "Lazybones" throughout the coming year, being the butt of all sorts of jokes, teasing and taunts. Moreover, they must treat their companions with candies and cakes.Funny, don't you think? ;-)

From Luilakmarkt 2012 & BBQ

" Zaandam and Haarlem children celebrate Luilak by making little wagons which often are shaped like boots and sometimes are decorated with green branches and thistles, known as luilakken. The youngsters trundle their wagons over the cobblestones until the wheels become smoking hot and finally catch fire. The children either watch their wagons go up into flames or else dump them into the canals. This rite represents an ancient spring fertility ceremony which long since has been forgotten."
(Source: http://sacred-texts.com/etc/fwe/fwe09.htm)

From Luilakmarkt 2012 & BBQ

Must be very amusing to participate and watch these celebrations in Zaandam. I would like to experience it, wouldn't you? Meanwhile, I can only share with you the photos of the market usually held in the Pentecost's Friday in Almere and these videos I have found in Youtube. Enjoy! :-)

 If you are from Zaandam and whish to share with us your experience at Luilak festivities, please do. :-) We would like to hear from you.

Flores de Pentecostes na Varanda

Gostam? :) é a mesinha da nossa varanda com as flores que fomos buscar ontem ao mercado anual de Sexta-Feira de Pentecostes e que desta vez se realizou em frente à Câmara.

From Pinksterdag 2009

No final da tarde de quinta-feira, aspirei a varanda e limpei as teias de aranha e o pó das paredes com o extensor. Queria a varanda limpinha para receber as flores do Pinksteren (Pentecostes) :)

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

Eis algumas fotos do Luilakmarkt, no final da tarde de ontem...

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

From Pinksterdag 2009

Pinkesterdag

No próximo domingo, dia 11 de Maio, é o dia de Pentecostes ou Pinkesterdag. A celebração da descida do Espírito Santo junto dos Apóstolos ocorre no sétimo domingo a seguir ao Domingo de Páscoa.

Hoje, tem estado a decorrer um mercado de flores, o Luilabloemenmarket, na praça principal, o Grote Markt. Este mercado, dedicado a esta época específica, só ocorre na sexta-feira anterior ao Pentecostes.
Nós fomos lá e comprámos vasinhos pequenos com flores:begónias, hortênsias e malmequeres.
Cada vasinho custou um euro. Um preço  meramente simbólico.
No caminho, lanchámos uns gelados saborosos e grandes!
Por fim, sentámo-nos na esplanada a escutar um grupo de música muito bom, chamado High 5 que faz "covers" excelentes dos U2,Tom Jones, Mica, Radiohead,etc..
Ontem, antes do filme, fomos à quermesse. Giríssimo!