Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Sinterklaas is coming to town


Rhinebeck has a Sinterklaas extravaganza on this Saturday 4th December which revives (amongst other things) some of the ways the 17th century Dutch would have celebrated St. Nicholas' Day, December 6th. This is a great cross-cultural community event that seeks to put creativity and authenticity before the commercialization of the holiday season.

Shows and other events take place all day and into the evening. The Starlight Parade draws on any and every tradition including ancient Winter Solstice celebrations. Who's in it this year? Well, there's Sinterclaas on his white horse, the Grumpuses (his wild sidekicks ), the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance (which dates back to the 11th century), St. George and the Dragon, and a Snow Goose, to name but a few. We'll be baking some authentic Dutch Spekulaas cookies for our guests this weekend to honor this time of year.

"If you have never experienced a town fully immersed in celebreation - that would be most of us - this would be something magnificent to observe and participate in..." The Huffington Post

Friday, November 12, 2010

Fall wedding.......

Our garden, perched high above the Esopus Creek, made a perfect spot for the wedding this October of Andrea and James, from Minnesota.
"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you."
(Native American)
We wish both of them every happiness. Thank you for sharing this very special day with us!