I think these carnival parades starting late is something global. I can't remember anything else than during my whole life, the carnival parade starting hours late. Being in February in Holland, this always meant we were freezing our butts off and I never understood how some kids went dressed in these extremely thin carnival outfits which you can still find today.
It's nice if you have a premium spot from the inside to watch it though, that reminds me of our first nights in Spain some years ago when the Halloween parade we didn't know about started right in front of our balcony. Music super loud and the whole town walked in the parade so it seems. It gives a special vibe if you're sort of "in" the parade, doesn't it?
I wonder is this the only carnival there? Or will there be some similar thing in February as there is in Holland? I don't know the ins and outs about this in Holland but I know the 11-11 is always a special date for the carnival season, but the end days (what they're all working towards) is in February.
Thanks for sharing :)
This particular festival is always in November, said to originate from the days when a person called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up our parliament, and hence we have bonfire night nowadays, don't know if it's celebrated in Europe as well.
Some of the performers in the floats were wearing very thin costumes they looked so cold to me, but maybe the lights, andreline and dancing helps to keep them warm.
You guys have a very long carnival season, that's like 3 months!! Lucky you! We definitely need that to cheer us up over the winter especially after Christmas when everything gets so depressing
Lol, it's not like there are parades all three months. The Dutch southern and eastern parts of the country kick off the season on 11-11, but that is only a small part. The 'tonproaters evenings' and show sessions then slowly start to get underway, and the carnival princes and princesses for the villages and towns are announced. But it is not the case that the Dutch constantly have festivities in the period up to February. The majority of Dutch people who celebrate Carnival only start doing so during the 'real' Carnival. In those 4 / 5 days you have parades in almost every town/village in the Southern and Eastern parts of The Netherlands. And for most Dutch people that lasts 4 to 5 days in February. At that time you could say that many southern and eastern Netherlands seemed to have become disconnected from reality. I have no experience with Carnival in the Northern and Western parts of The Netherlands, so I honestly don't know if it's really a thing there too.
Here is a bit of history about Carnival in the Netherlands.
Wikipedia Carnival in The Netherlands
LOL I thought I forgot to answer here, as I read it when I didn't feel well. Then I opened this comment and saw your reply thinking "I don't remember sending a link" LOL, then I noticed it was your comment :)
Ah, the guy from the masks, I read about him earlier this week once more. I never knew the history behind it though so thanks for sharing!
They may have been warm enough but the only thing I can remember is that those wearing thin clothes were always ill after carnaval in Holland, those that wore the thicker scars and such were the smart ones, even though their costumes weren't as cool as the others, haha.
It's not that we have a full 3 months carnival though, it's the start of the season and meanwhile the builders build their trucks and some other things as @hetty-rowan below explained in her comment.
I never liked it really, I always hated waiting for the parade, usually cold, often also rain, lots of REALLY drunk adults, annoying for a child to be honest.
But I agree on the winter cheer up. I love how everything is already decorated with lights even here in Spain now, really lifts the spirit during the colder evenings (even though they're not nearly as cold here as they are in Holland or UK).