nPostednon December 15, 2013
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nWhenna custom is designed to ward off bad spirits, and you no longernbelieve in bad spirits…what happens to the custom?
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I am glad to say that many people still carry on old-time traditions, often with a more fun,nless fearful, attitude. One tradition is Midwinterhoornblazen,nwhich is Dutch for Midwinter Horn Blowing.
I am glad to say that many people still carry on old-time traditions, often with a more fun,nless fearful, attitude. One tradition is Midwinterhoornblazen,nwhich is Dutch for Midwinter Horn Blowing. n
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n(I love how German andnDutch people glue all their words together into one long word. That’snnot confusing at all!)
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nChecknout the horn blowing here and here. Notice that atnleast some of the horn blowers are wearing traditional wooden shoes!
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nThenhorns are made from one-year-old elder saplings and are three to fournfeet long. Many Dutch people make their own horns. Apparently out innthe country, many Dutch farmers stand by their wells as they blowntheir horns, and the deep wells magnify the sounds. I imagine thatnyou could hear the faint, haunting sounds of horn blowers from farnaway; I read that as farmer wait until their neighbors’ songs arenending before they pick up the tune and continue.
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nEven though it isn’t even winter yet – winter begins on December 21 this year – let alone MIDwinter, the Midwinterhoornblazen begins in early December and continues every day until Christmas.
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nYouncan do some midwinter horn blowing yourself, if you have a horn. Ifnnot, you can use a recorder or whistle, or you can make a horn fromntoilet paper rolls or drinking straws.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nCat Herders Day
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nEngineernGustave Eiffel’s birthday
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nBillnof Rights Day
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nAnniversarynof the discovery of the Andromeda Galaxy
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on:
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nDecembern holidays
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nDecembern birthdays
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- Historicaln anniversaries in December
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuaryn holidays
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in January
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