On February 27 starts the Carnival in Europe...
Here, Mardi Gras will be on Tuesday, March 1, it is mainly celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Also called Fat Tuesday, the final day of the Carnival Season and the day before Ash Wednesday.
Horst aan de Maas, my birth town with their VERY FIRST CARNIVAL PRINCE: Prince Rinus I (Janssen) and jester Teng Jeuken in the front.
Pieter's Mom is standing to the right of Prince Rinus I.
Remember my previous post: The Silver Bond Pin was awarded to Mrs. Vedder-Peer ←click link.
Pieter's Mom was the 1st secretary of the local Catholic Association for the Elderly, started in November of 1961...
SO, she was deeply involved in the Carnival for the elderly as well!
Strange to see all 65+ women dressed in black, versus what we wear at present.
Pieter's Mom was not yet 68 in the above photo.
Stepping back in time...
Photo by Studio in Arnhem, Pastoorstraat 9 in The Netherlands.
1898 when Maria Margaretha Peer (seen on the left) was just three years old.
She is in this very old picture with her cousin Gerarda Uffing who seems to be almost identical in age.
Well, after some research I found out that Grada was 1.5 years younger... hence her kind of 'baby–hair'.
A cute three year old that had to live through so many hardships.
Being the eldest of 11 was already tough.
Then WWI came and the Depression Years...
Next WWII and all their greenhouses got shattered.
They had to evacuate with very little what they could take with them on the horse wagon.
Their house got bombarded and severely damaged...
Husband Pieter recalls that for weeks they had to collect the glass shards from the fields and then start all over with new glass that they obtained from Belgium.
A woman that worked hard, alongside her market gardener husband.
Out in the fields and in the environment.
She also overcame colon cancer and enjoyed her life for some two more decades.
1968 Pieter's Mom, now being a widow, with Prince Jan II Keijsers.
1968 in the center is Pieter's Mom and to her right (for viewer) is my Paternal Grandmother.
My Mother-in-law and my Paternal Grandmother, Oma Lamberdina Van den Munckhof were best friends!
Both of their husbands served as border guards during WWI when The Netherlands remained neutral, hence no military service during those years...
Here, Mother Vedder is seen to the right.
She wears a sign that reads 1971...
It is the very same hat she wears as in 1968 but we have no information.
This is the famous 'Boeren Bruiloft' or Farmers Wedding that is celebrated when the new Prince has been elected.
What a wonderful souvenir of years gone by and of people who played such a vital role in our up-bringing. Thank you Mariette.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and Pieter.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, this is indeed a wonderful souvenir and I felt honored for being able to write about it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Lovely memories. It's great to know who's in the picture.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, all those old pictures do reveal part of the puzzle about who we are today.
Hugs,
Mariette
Loved this walk down memory lane with you, Mariette. Have a wonderful Mardi Gras!
ReplyDeleteDearest Martha Jane,
DeleteIt indeed is a wonderful walk down memory lane.
Both of us have never celebrated much of Carnival, let alone Mardi Gras...
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh how fun to see these old pictures. Pieter’s Mom was certainly involved in her community which is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThose old pictures do tell quite a story and Pieter's Mom was quite daring in being involved. She did not grow up in this community but moved some 90 km or 64 miles south.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Although everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, there is a mix of those in costume and those not. I personally don't think I could wear a costume like these--I would probably have been one of the drab ones in the background.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteFor Pieter it has been the one and only one time he'd wore a costume. Guess his two friends did persuade him...
As for both of us, we're too sober for actually going all in with that. It is a fake world for quite a time as it starts already on November 11 with the songs and on and on. They have parade, mocking some political events and other local highlights.
A lot of money and time goes into that.
Those beginning years when Pieter's Mom was active, it might have been great for the elderly to sit enjoying the humor by certain local comedians.
Hugs,
Mariette
What bloody cool memories
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThey sure are!
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow! Great memories for Pieter I'm sure! I admire people who find fun in carnival type gatherings - never been something I've really done. I love New Orleans but have never been for Mardi Gras.
ReplyDeleteDearest Mary,
DeleteThis was Pieter's one and only 'dive' into anything related to Carnival.
His Mom seemed to enjoy attending the 'Boeren Bruiloft' with the elderly.
Not my thing either, never have and never will.
Hugs,
Mariette
Nice memories for Pieter all those old photographs with his mother! I had the chance to listen to very old carnival songs this afternoon on the radio! In Greece, our parents were also celebrating much more than we do now. Personally, I never wore a costume after the age of 12!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you,
Marie-Anne
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteYes, those old photographs are certainly nice memories for Pieter and for me as well.
Most of our friends would 'escape' Carnival and go elsewhere on vacation.
Just like you, I've never worn a costume since school years either.
Hugs,
Mariette
Bellissimi ricordi,adoro le foto vecchie!
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteCi sono bei ricordi dalla famiglia.
Abbracci,
Mariette
Such wonderful memories for Pieter, Mariette.
ReplyDeleteCelebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans is on my bucket list!
Thanks for sharing these lovely photos.
Dearest Veronica,
DeleteIndeed wonderful memories kept alive through photos.
You are still young enough for going to New Orleans!
Hugs,
Mariette
It's good to have these photographs to better tell the events. I really like old photographs. And how good your Pieter looks.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteYes, those are definitely treasures for telling a life's story.
Pieter indeed liked great wearing his cap.
Hugs,
Mariette