Carnaval al estilo Holandés/ Carnival at the Dutch style

Es increíble que ya estamos en el segundo día de marzo, al parecer este mes pasara tan rápido como los dos meses anteriores y cuando menos lo pensemos estaremos en verano.

Ayer domingo 2 de marzo empezó oficialmente el Carnaval. Esta actividad solamente se celebra en el sur de Holanda. Las ciudades más populares que celebran esta tradición son: Maastricht, Eindhoven y Den Bosch y lo hacen por tres días consecutivos. Las personas más entusiastas y que les gustan las fiestas, solicitan dos días de sus vacaciones para poder celebrar como Dios manda, en holandés, tomar, bailar, tomar y seguir bailando.

El pueblo recibe con músicas y disfraces en la plaza del mercado al rey del carnaval. Todo el mundo está  invitado, la única condición es que debes ir disfrazado, no importa el disfraz, ni la edad.

Ayer estuvimos en el desfile de carrozas en nuestro pueblo, salimos un poco decepcionados, no habían tantas carrozas como en años anteriores, pero pudimos tomar algunas fotos.

Para todos lo que lo celebran está tradición Feliz Carnaval!!

It's amazing that we are in the second day of March, apparently this month is going to pass as fast as the previous two months and when we least expect it will be in summer.

Last Sunday begun officially in The Netherlands the Carnival. This activity only takes place in the southern Netherlands. Most Popular Cities that celebrate this tradition are: Maastricht, Eindhoven and Den Bosch and do so for three consecutive days. The most enthusiastic people asked for two free days to celebrate it. The Dutch way is: drinking, dancing, drinking, and keep drinking.

On Sunday the village received with music and costumes in the marketplace the Carnival King. Everyone is invited; the only condition is that you must go with a costume, no matter the age or the theme.

Yesterday we went to the parade in our village, we left a little disappointed. They didn’t have so many floats as in previous years, but we’re able to take a few pictures.

To all who celebrate Happy Mardi Gras!

I

Chinesse New Year (中国农历新年)

In January we got the opportunity to celebrate the Chinese New Year. I was really excited, because was the first time that I got the change to celebrate this event with a native.

This special tradition is very sumptuous. The table should be full of food to bring abundance to the rest of the year. 

The typical dish for the day is the fondue. In this fondue you cook your meat in a sort of soup in place of cheese of oil.

Inside the soup are different kinds of little balls made from powder stuffed with fish, chicken/cow/pork and sheep meat. After you eat the balls, talk and have a little bit from the soup, you are ready for next step to put the uncooked meat/clam to cook. That was a really mix of flavors meat and fish.

From desert we got strawberry mochi (“草莓麻糬”)        

Is made with rice powder, red beans and strawberry. For me was nice to try it once :). We also got sweet potatoes with caramel. I forgot to the a photo of that one :(

At the end of the diner the parents usually give to their children’s a red envelope with money a form of wishing them, good luck and blessing for the year that come. I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no, we didn't get a red envelop, maybe next year ;).

This year is the horse year and is considered a fortunate year. The horse brings luck and good things… Happy horse year (快乐的马年)