What to do on Pinksterdag?
Yesterday Sunday and today Monday is the Dutch’s version of Pentecost Day, fondly called Pinksterdag in the Netherlands. I have no clue why it is called that way, nor does the Dutchman know. All I care is that we have NO WORK!
A typical thing here in NL, which could be a European characteristic, Christian holidays are always celebrated 2x. We have FIRST Christmas Day and SECOND Christmas Day, FIRST Easter Day and SECOND Easter Day, and now, FIRST Pentecost Day and SECOND Pentecost Day. The explanation for this strange observance can be found HERE.It refers to certain articles of religious orders, but I dare not explain anything, it’s quite complicated for the non-religious me.
When I asked Dutchman what the Dutch usually do on days like this, he casually said, “They go to attraction parks, to the home boulevard, visit friends and relatives, or go to concerts, such as PinkPop”
PinkPop is a big concert event here in NL, some kind of a rock ritual celebrated during Pentecost, with the presence of famed bands, coming to play solely for this special day, from all over the world. This year it was held in Landgraaf, Maastricht (south of NL).
“What about going to church? It’s Pentecost for crying out loud?” I said.
“Oh yeah, the religious people, they do go to church.” corrects the Dutchman.
FACTS: About 52% of the Dutch population doesn’t believe in God, says a survey I think in the Time Magazine (or Wall Street Journal) I read on board to Manila last December (2004). OK, I hope no one is scandalized with this stirring revelation...
A quick stop on the road for a quick photo shoot. That’s my precious bike, a homecoming gift I received from the Dutchman in 2002.
We previously planned to take our bikes to nearby Rhijnauwen in Bunnik, a quaint town, which I have been to in the past, and where you can find this cozy pannenkoekhuis (pancake house) and sample their finger licking delicious pancakes. It was not the pancakes we were eyeing for, just had to mention that since it’s the specialty of the place, but we badly need BIKE THERAPY. We ate yesterday 300g sack of Bolognese Lay’s potato chips! Boy, do I feel guilty with that...
Taken in Nedereindseplas, an open nature park in Nieuwegein en-route to IJsselstein. See that tall tower in the photo... that is our destination. During Christmas, they transform the tower into a huge lighted Christmas tree.
On our way back to Utrecht, with trees lining up on each side of the road.
Much to our disappointment, the weather didn’t cooperate. It was quite cold, the sun was timid hiding from the clouds, and the wind... bloody wicked. But I surprised myself with the stamina I had, cycling up and down the bridges, and even with the wind against me, it was relatively easy. The Dutchman was fairly impressed. He didn’t have to push me from behind like a little kid, hehe.
We made quick change of plans, decided to skip Bunnik, and took a shorter cycling course to IJsselstein via Nieuwegein (where we used to live) and visited the two sisters in laws. We were welcomed with tea. That was refreshing.
Hmm, maybe we should kick ourselves out of our lazy routine and do the biking exercise every weekend. It feels really good to have biked for more than an hour. Not only that, it is healthy, especially for us being 30-something.
Tomorrow Tuesday, it’s back to work... oh well...
Visit Period: May 2005
A typical thing here in NL, which could be a European characteristic, Christian holidays are always celebrated 2x. We have FIRST Christmas Day and SECOND Christmas Day, FIRST Easter Day and SECOND Easter Day, and now, FIRST Pentecost Day and SECOND Pentecost Day. The explanation for this strange observance can be found HERE.It refers to certain articles of religious orders, but I dare not explain anything, it’s quite complicated for the non-religious me.
When I asked Dutchman what the Dutch usually do on days like this, he casually said, “They go to attraction parks, to the home boulevard, visit friends and relatives, or go to concerts, such as PinkPop”
PinkPop is a big concert event here in NL, some kind of a rock ritual celebrated during Pentecost, with the presence of famed bands, coming to play solely for this special day, from all over the world. This year it was held in Landgraaf, Maastricht (south of NL).
“What about going to church? It’s Pentecost for crying out loud?” I said.
“Oh yeah, the religious people, they do go to church.” corrects the Dutchman.
FACTS: About 52% of the Dutch population doesn’t believe in God, says a survey I think in the Time Magazine (or Wall Street Journal) I read on board to Manila last December (2004). OK, I hope no one is scandalized with this stirring revelation...
We previously planned to take our bikes to nearby Rhijnauwen in Bunnik, a quaint town, which I have been to in the past, and where you can find this cozy pannenkoekhuis (pancake house) and sample their finger licking delicious pancakes. It was not the pancakes we were eyeing for, just had to mention that since it’s the specialty of the place, but we badly need BIKE THERAPY. We ate yesterday 300g sack of Bolognese Lay’s potato chips! Boy, do I feel guilty with that...
Much to our disappointment, the weather didn’t cooperate. It was quite cold, the sun was timid hiding from the clouds, and the wind... bloody wicked. But I surprised myself with the stamina I had, cycling up and down the bridges, and even with the wind against me, it was relatively easy. The Dutchman was fairly impressed. He didn’t have to push me from behind like a little kid, hehe.
We made quick change of plans, decided to skip Bunnik, and took a shorter cycling course to IJsselstein via Nieuwegein (where we used to live) and visited the two sisters in laws. We were welcomed with tea. That was refreshing.
Hmm, maybe we should kick ourselves out of our lazy routine and do the biking exercise every weekend. It feels really good to have biked for more than an hour. Not only that, it is healthy, especially for us being 30-something.
Tomorrow Tuesday, it’s back to work... oh well...
Visit Period: May 2005
was that the native bag you bought in your latest business trip in cebu? ;) you got a lot of compliments while carrying that bag :D
ReplyDeletemariz
europeans get so many holidays. i remember hearing from the european team a few years ago, "you won't be able to reach us for most of july to september, so make your requests now! and be nice about it or you'll have to wait to october!"
ReplyDeleteand they weren't kidding. glad i was one of the nice ones, as i got my requests for fiscal plans delivered before they ditched for the countryside.
Wow, nice nature environment! Really beautiful, it reminds me of the times I cycled to Hoofddorp, it's also a nature route (I live in Haarlem)!!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I couldn't help but smile when I read that the Dutchman has to push you on the back when you cycle at times... But it is understandable since you come from a no-bike culture and have to cope with the wind here...
Mariz, No, that's a copy of the original one I bought last October. Dutch destroyed strap, he pulled the thing from the cabin compartment of the plane and it gave way. I almost cried! I told him: "You better replace that OR ELSE..." Well he did replaced it hehe. Yeah I remember those women from Manila who ran after me asking where I bought the bag and the people at Starbucks gossiping about it, haha!
ReplyDeleteNam LaMore, Standard vacation days in Europe I think is 25/26 days + the regular holidays. That explains why many Europeans travel a lot, they usually go on holiday 2x a year... in summer (beaches), and in winter (wintersport or they go to warmer countries). It's true, would you believe that some small scale business closes their shop during summer for a month! Thats pretty normal here! Hehe. I think I got the European bug, I long for holidays from time to time. We are off to Portugal in a few weeks. Can't wait... but what about you? You need to take some days off too!
elentári, You know how it is here in NL... the environmentalist will go crazy if nature is not preserved! :-) Ya, Dutchman always pushes me from the back when we ascend bridges especially if we are against the wind. But he did say that my biking is getting better and better. In the past I panic in the crossroads, and I always stop and get down on my bike, I always brake, and I keep watching on my speed. He said, I have to let my body and cycling adapt to the rhythm of my stamina... and I have to feel it, not force it.
ReplyDeleteMrs Frivolity, Hahahaha, I know! "Sit and beg bike" have probably 90% of the market share here! And it sure darn easy to ride in them :-)
Tarkheena, There is an explanation to the 2x celebration, has something to do with religious edicts in the past. Hey, they WERE religious in the past!!! But I guess now, you could be right, it has become an excuse. The churches here are less visited. Did you know that PinkPop goers have declined in the past years? Strange...
I can't help but notice your bag it's so orig btw, you look georgeous in this pic:)
ReplyDeletePinksterdag is called 'Pfingstfest'in german
DL, Who else? ME!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheH, I bought that native bag in Cebu, in Ayala Mall in the mezzanine area where you see those tiangge's selling pearls and native stuff. 3 sets (3 bags) was P350 I think, was originally P400 something but as usual I bargained!
Sha,
ReplyDeleteSshhhh!!! I need to lose off a few pounds so I am ready for my beach holiday. You know, we women always want to look fabulous hahaha. The bag was CHEAP, bought it in Cebu. I cant remember anymore about Pentecost but did you know I was once a Pentecostal? Well one of the many church orgs I joined in the past. It didn't burn the calories but it made me feel good!!!! At least. I am cutting off on snacking as we speak. I should maintain this for 2 weeks and I will be trimmed. The pancakes are waiting for ya when u come here to Holland my dear.
"YESTERDAY THE WIND WAS NASTY NEARLY LIFTED ME, NOT MY SKIRT WHICH I WISHED LIKE MARILYN MONROE.." - WELL, NEXT TIME WEAR A SKIRT AND NOT PANTS!!!! =))
the netherlands was hugely affected by the protestant reformation during the 1500s spearheaded by martin luther(an ex catholic augustinian monk) and john calvin --- they revolted against the universal catholic church.
ReplyDeleteprotestantinism is very big in the netherlands, and i'm not surprised that this religious revolution had also led to agnosticism and atheism among its people.
Damn, that picture of you with the bike...
ReplyDeleteRik
Rik, Damn!!! Silly, haha.
ReplyDeleteMilkphish, Hi, welcome! I really do not tackle much about religion in m blog because like politics it can easily make people excited (now its making me excited haha).
But anywho... think it was in the 1600s that the revival in NL started. Though many nobles were followers of martin luther, majority of the Dutch christians are Calvinists. There are more protestants (Calvinists) in NL than Roman Catholics. And the impact of John Calvins teaching can be seen in the current Dutch culture and soceity. I can name many things that they have adapted up to now but that would be too long to write, probably good for an entry (on an objective and not subjective manner).
BUT, i think (in my opinion) that the religious revolution in the face of "protestantinism" didn't lead the Dutch to become agnostic and atheist. The church and state are separate here since the 1800s. And I also think that religious revolution was a. to be freed from spain b. just a trend at that time that lasted a few centuries.
However, my conclusions why the Dutch are not into organized religion is that, they have always been very independent people separate from the hulabaloos in the south where organized religion started. Think their individualistic-practical-you-have-to-make-it-and-think-on-your-own attitude came from their neverending survival from water. The Dutch had to build and re-create land all by themselves to have a country to live. 60% of the population still lives below sea level. Because of this survival, I can say that they are probably the MOST PRACTICAL people in the world, they tend to see things SIMPLY - survival, and that means you survive on your own ith or WITHOUT the help of anybody, they do tend to focus on the later individually... but for group concerns (society and even at work), they prefer to make decisions by referedums something like teamwork. We call that here polder model, which actually means "decision based on concensus".
Anywho those are just my thoughts. Got carried away!
Sha, Yeah Swiss people are conservative and they are also VERY nationalistic.
ReplyDeleteJuly 1 is also the EU Constition referendum here if NL: Yes or NO. Looking at the mock results from Elsevier (a popular economic magazine in NL), about 79% will be voting NO. The Dutch regretted joining the Euro, the Guilder was undervalued for I think close to 20%... and the so-called big European countries were undermining the policies set by the EU such as "going over the debt limit" and "immigration crack". Those are just some of the examples. Guess, the Dutch woke up and do not want anymore to be bullied. They are now behaving like the Swiss!?
From Lolo Michel, why there is ascension and pentecost religious holidays.
ReplyDeleteAscension: 40 days after christ died.He went up to heaven.
Pentecost: 50 days after Jesus went up to heaven, he sent his holy spirit to the Hebrew congregation of Jerusalem.We now celebrate is and called the day of Pentecost.
Im looking forward sa 60days, para dami holidays natin...
vacation? that's for the weak! just/kidding.
ReplyDeletei'm not really into short vacations. i'm more of, "time to quit the job and go on a journey/walkabout for a few months!" :-)
Francesca and Lolo Michel, Thank you for the great religious explanation!!! Hehe. Yeah we integrate so quick Amy to the European culture, we now want MORE holidays!
ReplyDeleteNam LaMore, Hey theres a lot of people like that, quitting their job and they journey for a few months, some a year to the unknown parts of the world. I bump into them in Lonely Plant forum. Since they travel for a a long stretch of period, they travel on budget as backpackers. But if you've got the bucks, then its always better to have a nice bed to sleep! You should do an entry soon about the places you want to spend your 3 or 6 months journey.