Figure 1.-- This photograph sows children in the province of Zeeland on New Years in 1930. The children all have the rommelpot noisemakers. Notice the berets and sailor cap.
|
Figure 1.-- This photograph sows children in the province of Zeeland on New Years in 1930. The children all have the rommelpot noisemakers. Notice the berets and sailor cap. |
A Dutch reader tells us about a tradition shared by Belgium and Holland. "The HBC description of German Sternsingen vividly reminds me of what our children do
either at New Year’s Eve (Nieuwjaarzingen = New Year Singing) or just before Epiphany (Driekoningenzingen, Driekoningen = Three Kings). When and what they
do and sing varies somewhat according to local tradition. Essentially they roam from house to house, sing one or more songs, whish people a happy New Year and
are given an orange or some sweets or a little money in return. There are a number of traditional songs that are known all over both countries and others that are
limited to a certain region or even village. Also, some of the brighter kids will paraphrase well-knowm texts or adapt them to local circumstances, sometimes even
touching on topics that have recently occupied the local community. In some places it involves making a primitive musical instrument called foekepot or rommelpot,
called rumbling pot in English I think. It is essentially a cylinder covered at one or both ends with a membrane through which a hollow rod of some kind is passed. If
you rub it with wet fingers it will produce a buzzing or humming sound. Formerly, wooden or stoneware jars were used and covered with a pig’s bladder, nowadays
an tin can and rubber will do the trick."
A Dutch reader tells us about a tradition shared by Belgium and Holland, "The HBC description of German Sternsingen vividly reminds me of what our children do
either at New Year’s Eve (Nieuwjaarzingen = New Year Singing) or just before Epiphany (Driekoningenzingen, Driekoningen = Three Kings)."
The Dutch traditions are shared with Belgium, especially the Flemish areas of Belgium.
There is no one Dutch New Years tradition. Our Dutch reader tells us that rather, "When and what they do and sing varies somewhat according to local tradition."
Our Dutch reader tells us, "Essentially they roam from house to house, sing one or more songs, wish people a happy New Year and are given an orange or some sweets or a little money in return. There are a number of traditional songs that are known all over both countries and others that are limited to a certain region or even village. Also, some of the brighter kids will paraphrase well-knowm texts or adapt them to local circumstances, sometimes even
touching on topics that have recently occupied the local community. In some places it involves making a primitive musical instrument called foekepot or rommelpot, called rumbling pot in English I think. It is essentially a cylinder covered at one or both ends with a membrane through which a hollow rod of some kind is passed. If you rub it with wet fingers it will produce a buzzing or humming sound. Formerly, wooden or stoneware jars were used and covered with a pig’s bladder, nowadays an tin can and rubber will do the trick." The image here shows the children with their rommelpots (figure 1).
And this is a well known song:
Driekoningen, driekoningen!
Koopt mij een nieuwe hoed,
Mijn oude is versleten;
Mijn vader mag 't niet weten,
Mijn moeder heeft het geld
Op den rooster geteld.
Three Kings, Three Kings!
Please buy me a new hat,
The old one is worn-out
My dad mustn´t know,
My mom has paid out
The money on the grid
Our Dutch reader writes, "Over the past decades these traditions have been waning somewhat and they are now largely confined to the smaller towns and villages. When I was a boy, we dressed up as smartly as we could and chose or props very carefully as there was a certain amount of competition. My dad taught me how to make a star that could turn around its axis if pulled by a string. Also we hardly expected any money and most of the fun was in roaming the town and singing. I have the impression that today kids are a little too keen on collecting money, as when they let it be known in the local paper that funds received will be saved up for a school outing or a summer camp. Perhaps I´m just getting too old and grumbling too much!
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Dutch religious page]
[Return to the Main Dutch page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Girls]
[Holidays]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Dutch glossary]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Dutch pages:
[Maiken Island]
[Dutch boys bangs]
[Dutch choirs]
[Dutch school uniform]
[Dutch catalogs]
[Dutch post cards]
[Dutch royals]
[Dutch youth groups]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main countries page]
[Australia]
[Belgium]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Ireland]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[Korea]
[Mexico]
[Netherlands]
[Scotland]
[United States]