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a Dutch celebration of the New Year (part 2)
Posted 01-11-2009 at 04:55 PM by itSFMe
31 December 2008 started of quietly enough. But that was soon to be changed...
For around lunch time we all set off to some grass land at the edge of the village. We were to see, but mostly hear the Carbide Shoooting (carbidschieten)
This is an Old Year tradition for more rural areas, for if you'd try to do this in the city you might end up killing people - you need some space for it 
A long time ago it was done to chase off spirits, just like fireworks were supposed to do. Nowadays, it is partly done to keep the youth occupied and to created the loudest "boom" of course. It is a lot like fireworks, but more for the noice and during daylight.
To create an explosion, carbide and water are put in a milk churn with a lid. Ignition is usually done with a torch. However, as a (metal) lid blasting through the air might be quite dangerous many villages have decided to use footballs instead. This does diminish the "boom", but it's safer and doesn't everybody wants to survive to live a next year?! The idea at this place was even that the children were put into the firing line to kick the soccer balls back... I wasn't too much of a fan of that idea - getting such a ball on your head can be quite hurtful. Of course, the kids were smart enough to stand way back 
Behind the lines one could warm at the fire and drink Gluhwein 
And of course have comments on the way the Carbide Shooting was done, for not every shot is a good one and the amount of Carbide used is quite critical for a good far shot. After having seen this happen four times I had enough of it. I think they've been busy shooting from 10 to 17! 
But we had other things to do... Like baking (or more frying 
) "Oliebollen" 
We put 4 frying pans outside and 10 bowls with dough and started baking 
My dad and uncle were quite happy working on this task, smoking their only cigar of the year and having their Beerenburg at hand 
I was happy to help. Well, and after it became dark it was "game time" again. I might mention that at 22h everybody was to be found in front of the TV, watching the "oudejaarsconferance". Every year a different comedian is chosen to make a show about the past year - this year it was Youp van het Hek. I can really laugh about his stuff, but that night I wasn't in the mood and I went into the kitchen, turned up the volume of the radio and started on the dishes. 
Quite a way to end the Old Year - I had a big smile on my face
Of course we counted down from 60 in the last minute. I know there was champagne, but I missed out on it as I ran outside to look at the fireworks and to help lightning some
. And don't worry, this year I didn't light any bushes on fire
Well, that is about it. I do want to tell something about the way home. I was allowed to drive the car, though that isn't the big news I'd like to share Ow, I wish I had pictures of it... Let's 
Ok, here it is (see spoiler below). On our way home we rode on a busy asphalt road and it was kinda foggy. I leave the highway and make a sharp turn when I look up at the street lights. Imagine what I see sitting there?! I couldn't believe my eyes! About 10 of them! I was all excited and told my parents and sister that we should really remember this for such a sight we would never see again. Of course, just to proof me wrong :roll_eyes: about 1km past that point we saw about the same amount of birds on the street lights again! Really amazing. This time they did move, so I couldn't wonder anymore whether it wasn't a prank of some sort... And 1km after that we saw another colony, this time on the traffic lights. Really an amazing sight 
For around lunch time we all set off to some grass land at the edge of the village. We were to see, but mostly hear the Carbide Shoooting (carbidschieten)
This is an Old Year tradition for more rural areas, for if you'd try to do this in the city you might end up killing people - you need some space for it A long time ago it was done to chase off spirits, just like fireworks were supposed to do. Nowadays, it is partly done to keep the youth occupied and to created the loudest "boom" of course. It is a lot like fireworks, but more for the noice and during daylight. Spoiler:
To create an explosion, carbide and water are put in a milk churn with a lid. Ignition is usually done with a torch. However, as a (metal) lid blasting through the air might be quite dangerous many villages have decided to use footballs instead. This does diminish the "boom", but it's safer and doesn't everybody wants to survive to live a next year?!
Spoiler:
Kinda sweet 
Spoiler:
And of course have comments on the way the Carbide Shooting was done, for not every shot is a good one and the amount of Carbide used is quite critical for a good far shot. Spoiler:
But we had other things to do... Like baking (or more frying ) "Oliebollen" We put 4 frying pans outside and 10 bowls with dough and started baking My dad and uncle were quite happy working on this task, smoking their only cigar of the year and having their Beerenburg at hand I was happy to help. Spoiler:
Quite a way to end the Old Year - I had a big smile on my face Of course we counted down from 60 in the last minute. I know there was champagne, but I missed out on it as I ran outside to look at the fireworks and to help lightning some
. And don't worry, this year I didn't light any bushes on fire Well, that is about it. I do want to tell something about the way home. I was allowed to drive the car
, though that isn't the big news I'd like to share Ow, I wish I had pictures of it... Let's Ok, here it is (see spoiler below). On our way home we rode on a busy asphalt road and it was kinda foggy. I leave the highway and make a sharp turn when I look up at the street lights. Imagine what I see sitting there?!
Spoiler:
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Thankyou for sharing so much with us FM...Lots of fire, food, drinks, and games...all sounds like a good time to me, hehePosted 01-11-2009 at 06:49 PM by Sandy0101
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You bunch of loons!
Thanks for telling, I didn't know about thatPosted 01-12-2009 at 02:23 AM by Jimborama -
Glad you had soo much fun!Posted 01-12-2009 at 11:25 AM by neija -
Just catching up with all the blogs...
And I had much fun reading yours, really learned something new there
Posted 01-16-2009 at 08:22 PM by Aventura
