Whatsit Wednesday: Carnaval

Yes, I know. It is Valentine’s Day. But to be honest, Valentine’s Day is an import in Europe. It is a much more recent thing that only entered the culture because of the commercial possibilities of selling all sorts of things to people. In our section of Europe there is a much more important and embedded holiday at this time of year: Carnaval. 

Mind you, not everywhere celebrates Carnaval. In the Netherlands it is only the provinces of Brabant and Limburg (“below the river” is what they say) where the general population is culturally and historically Catholic. In Belgium, which is almost completely culturally and historically Catholic, Carnaval is also not celebrated everywhere. It is certainly celebrated in Belgian Limburg where we live. 

Carnaval actually begins in November. On the 11th day of the 11th month, things kick off. The “11” is considered the crazy number or hour - since it is not 12. There is a good sermon in there somewhere about why 12 is considered perfect, but that is for another time. In November all of the Carnaval organizations make their plans and start things off. And there are lots of organizations: schools, the scouts, ladies groups, activities for seniors and more. Each neighborhood or village has their own Carnaval group. 

In the winter months leading up to February the time is filled with readying the float, making your costume, planning what you will do, visiting other groups, choosing a prince and saving some money for the big day. Everything really starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday. Carnaval is tied to Easter. Ash Wednesday is 42 days before the Passion and Easter. For several days, there are parades, festivals, loud music, dancing and lots of drinking. Everyone can do all sorts of crazy (and unholy) things on these days before the days of fasting begin. 

You might be familiar with some of this if you ever watched the Disney version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. In the movie, Quasimodo is chosen as Prince Carnaval and they go to unmask him - but it is not a mask! This is a time to poke fun at the government or institutions. It was historically the one time of the year that criticism could be made of such institutions without fear of attack. 

Some people enjoy the music, the color and the frivolity. But I have been told that you have to be born into it. I was not. It clashes with principles in my life with God as King, my desire to serve Him in every aspect of my life. But it is a reality that one has to deal with in this area. The stores close down, the streets are blocked for the parade (and every village closes on a different day) and one can see people in various-colored costumes heading to a party somewhere. During the day it is often whole families. In the evening it is always young people and adults. 

Today, Wednesday, all of the frivolity ends and the time of fasting begins. Many will go to a Catholic Church to get their ash cross on their head. Some will truly consider fasting and thinking about other things in this time. It may last about as long as some of the New Year’s resolutions lasted. But Carnaval will be put away until it is awoken again on the 11th of the 11th this year. 

Haunted Halloween?

I remember several of my costumes as a kid for Halloween. My mom was amazing at coming up with some really creative solutions. We always had great costumes made of pretty much everyday things. I was a scarecrow, a cowboy, an astronaut. The knowledge that creativity can get you quite far has always stayed with me and served well for youth activities and more. 

I also remember the year that we all had to dump our candy out together on the table at home after trick-or-treating because some wacko was putting razor blades in candied apples. That was pretty much the end of homemade candy. It was the beginning, for me, of realizing how nasty the world could be. 

When I gave my life to Christ, my view on a lot of things changed. One of them was Halloween. I like dressing up in costumes, but it seems all of the holidays that do that are a bit deranged. Halloween in the US and Carnaval here in Belgium are examples. But 1989 changed my whole outlook on Halloween. That was the year we received a very special gift. 

Shirley had struggled all day and was tired. In the end, forceps had to be used, but our son, Stephan, was safely welcomed into the world. I remember standing in a room in the maternity section with windows on two sides so that family could see the newborns. My attention, however, was fully on this wonderful new life that God had given us. Even the surprise of seeing all sorts of masked individuals tapping on the glass (another father was with me in the room and his family was greeting him) could not throw me off. But it did remind me that this was still Halloween. 

Not long after that we moved to Belgium, where there was no Halloween. For years we did not even have to think of any of it (although we of course did have to deal with Carnaval - in February or March). It was only later when the boys were older that they realized they might be able to get something from neighbors by going trick-or-treating. They didn’t dress up, just went door to door. People didn’t know what to do, so they gave them money (a practice done here on January 6 at the celebration of Three Kings). Their friends were impressed. 

Not too many years later, stores started figuring out that money could be made off of this new American holiday. Costumes could now be sold in October as well as in February (for Carnaval). Candy could be sold. Presents could be given. Okay - presents aren’t part of Halloween, but who knows? 

So Halloween made its entrance into Belgian and Dutch culture with an economic vengeance. Kids still don’t go door to door to get candy (people would not know what to do), but haunted houses and the scary bits have definitely entered the calendar if not the culture as yet. 

This day for us still means that little boy cradled in the palm of my hand and the man he has become. We are so thankful for Stephan, for his wife, Natalie and for the life they have together. 

(The picture is of Stephan with neighborhood friends on his birthday in our backyard)