Mass path

During the Midwinter horn walk of last Sunday we passed the Ten Arloër kerkepad (Ten Arloër mass path), a very old pedestrian track leading from the hamlet Ten Arlo to the church and cemetery of Zuidwolde.  Farmers were not allowed to herd their cattle along this mass path as it had to be accessible at all time for 'four men carrying a fifth'...

Midwinter tradition

A still very much alive tradition in the eastern part of the Netherlands is called ´midwinterhoornblazen´ or ´blowing the midwinter horn´, that takes place during the period from Advent through Epiphany on January 6. More than 2,000 years ago people believed that the sound of the horns would scare off evil spirits that came in the darkness, but later it was used to announce the coming of Christ.
On this first Advent Sunday the midwinter horn group from the village of Zuidwolde organised a midwinter horn walk. Along the route of 11 km there were 15 different groups like the one on the photo.
It was wet, it was muddy, but a wonderful tradition to experience!

Midwinter horn stroll

This is a photo from last year´s ´Midwinter horn stroll´ in the area around the village of Zuidwolde. Midwinter horn blowing is an ancient tradition in the east part of our country, and is practiced during the period from the eve of Advent through Epiphany on January 6. The blowing of the horns was thought to rid the earth of evil spirits, and announce the coming of Christ.

banners

Following up on the previous posts these are 2 more photo's from last Sunday's Midwinter horn stroll, showing 2 banners in local dialect that say it all. First: 'Mooi da'j d'r bint' which means 'It's wonderful that you're here',

and near the end: 'Onmeunig mooi da'j der wann' means 'It was really great that you were here'.

Linking to signs, signs.

blowing the midwinter horn #2

Following up on yesterday's post: the hornblowers wait their turn, as it is 'not done' to blow simultaneously. The melody that is played depends on the ability of the blower, while the pitch depends on the horn that is used. 

A midwinter horn is not just 'a midwinter horn'. They can have different shapes and length, and can be made from differents types of wood like birch, alder, or willow. The mouth piece, like on the dark brown one, is called 'happe'.  

Most hornblowers were dressed for the occasion, and some even had a miniature midwinter horn on their hat, like this gentleman from a midwinter horn blower's group from Nieuw Schoonebeek.

If you would like to hear the sound of the midwinter horns, I found -THIS- on YouTube.

blowing the midwinter horn #1

The custom of 'midwinterhoorn blazen' (blowing the midwinter horn) during the period from the eve of Advent through Epiphany on January 6, is believed to have originated more than 2,000 years ago. The long horns produce a piercing wail that carries for miles over the countryside. Although in pagan times the blowing of the horns was thought to rid the earth of evil spirits, today they announce the coming of Christ.

The ancient tradition is still very much alive in the eastern part of the Netherlands, in a region called Twente. However there are more towns that honour the horn blowing. These pictures were taken near Zuidwolde, where a 10 km hike was organised. At several spots along the route men were blowing the midwinter horns.

It was very well organised, and a hot drink like coffee, tea or hot choco was included. For those who liked something stronger there was a kind of brandy, served in small glasses.

 The route was named 'Midwinterhoorn Kuiertocht' (Midwinter horn stroll). At each spot where the horns were blown on there was a banner like this one.

A few more photo's tomorrow..