Carnaval is only celebrated in the Catholic southern regions of the Netherlands. However, its reputation as a silly and colorful celebration certainly makes its way to the North. While it may baffle those in the North, it is wholeheartedly embraced in the South. One of the Fulbright English Assistants who lives in Bergen op Zoom (southwestern tip of the country) was already invited by Dutch locals to attend the festivities! Carnaval begins the sixth Sunday before Easter and comes to an end the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. I was told that the purpose of the holiday is to mark the start of Lent, although it’s also an excuse for Dutch people to take off from work and enjoy good company. In 2019, the heart of the festivities will take place March third through fifth. I intend to travel south to the town of Maastricht to see why Carnaval has such an impressive reputation. The holiday began back in the Middle Ages, however, it has changed significantly since World War II (1939-1945). It has evolved to be more colorful and lively and now borrows from the traditions of other European countries, like Germany.
This tradition is not connected to the physical environment. That being said, there are no limitations to the costumes. So, people can dress up as things from their environment, such as cows!
