What a fun festival! Nothing against Pride, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, etc, but I wish big cities in America had festivals dedicated to individual produce - something very "inclusive" about that. :')
An added benefit of reading about these festivals is I learn a bit of German vocabulary - or at the very least, what my Jewish peers' surnames mean. Zweibel = "onion," but also I was surprised just how many definitions there are of "Abzug" !
...I'm a bit embarrassed to admit, as someone who's read the Onion for two decades now (and works at what's arguably one of its offshoots!) that I somehow never put two and two together with the name "T. Herman Zweibel" !!
I love the energy and the rituals, or festivals, you write about in Switzerland. When staying in Le Diablerets I remember what seemed like pop-up festivals happening filled with incredible community spirit. There was even an Americanized weekend that celebrated “Cowboys and Indians”, though it was strange to experience that in another country.
Festivals and rituals are important for a society, as I experienced in Crested Butte as a kid, where the town celebrates what is called Flauschink. I have included this Spring festival in the play I am writing, where these kind of rituals help sustain a towns resolve in difficult times, or remind us why community is important.
What a fun post! I haven’t wandered into any festivals during my travels, but I did just read Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to an Onion.” He elevates onions to supernatural status and the whole poem makes my mouth water. Three cheers for the humble onion and festivals celebrating the unexpected.
What a fun festival! Nothing against Pride, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, etc, but I wish big cities in America had festivals dedicated to individual produce - something very "inclusive" about that. :')
An added benefit of reading about these festivals is I learn a bit of German vocabulary - or at the very least, what my Jewish peers' surnames mean. Zweibel = "onion," but also I was surprised just how many definitions there are of "Abzug" !
I recently saw a joke that the satirical news site the Onion was founded by a Dr. Zwiebel. Tee hee!
...I'm a bit embarrassed to admit, as someone who's read the Onion for two decades now (and works at what's arguably one of its offshoots!) that I somehow never put two and two together with the name "T. Herman Zweibel" !!
Me neither!
I love the energy and the rituals, or festivals, you write about in Switzerland. When staying in Le Diablerets I remember what seemed like pop-up festivals happening filled with incredible community spirit. There was even an Americanized weekend that celebrated “Cowboys and Indians”, though it was strange to experience that in another country.
Festivals and rituals are important for a society, as I experienced in Crested Butte as a kid, where the town celebrates what is called Flauschink. I have included this Spring festival in the play I am writing, where these kind of rituals help sustain a towns resolve in difficult times, or remind us why community is important.
Thanks for the stories!
Flauschink sounds like a fabulous festival!
What a fun post! I haven’t wandered into any festivals during my travels, but I did just read Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to an Onion.” He elevates onions to supernatural status and the whole poem makes my mouth water. Three cheers for the humble onion and festivals celebrating the unexpected.
I love this comment! And I love all festivals that honor the humble and quotidian—like onions!