Topics of the World
Picture Postcards: Colours of Argentina
Green
These lovely green olives were spotted by our Contributing Editor, Carrie, in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina.
Read more:
Carrie: “living abroad opens up my view of the world and exposes me to new ways of thinking”
Argentinian Customs: Roadside shrines
Tortas Fritas
The Netherlands – a country of many names
Even though it is quite a small country with a total area of 41.543 square kilometres, the Netherlands belongs to a select number of countries around the world which are known by many different names. So, what is the right way to call it – is it “Holland”? Is it “(the) Netherlands”? Are these two names interchangeable or not? Let’s shed some light on this matter.
Official name of the Netherlands as it shows on passports.
The official name of the country in Dutch is Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, which literally means, “Kingdom of the Low Countries”; a name that reminds us that the country was originally a confederation of independent provinces. For the sake of abbreviation, the country is often referred to as Nederland in Dutch. In English the country is officially known as the “Kingdom of the Netherlands”, or for short, “the Netherlands”. Sometimes the ‘t’ in the article “the” before the name is erroneously capitalised but this in theory should only happen at the beginning of a sentence.
“The Netherlands” is normally used in contrast to the “Kingdom of the Netherlands” to mark the difference between the territory that is in Europe and the kingdom that consists of the countries of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten (all three in the Caribbean) and mainland Netherlands.
Very frequently -though inaccurately- the Netherlands is also referred to as “Holland”, thus identifying the country with the most powerful province that formed the Republic of the United Netherlands in the period between 1581 and 1795. Strictly speaking, Holland is only the central western region of the Netherlands which comprises two of the twelve provinces that make up the country – North and South Holland. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is located in the province of North Holland; while The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, is in the province of South Holland.
The twelve provinces of the Netherlands. Holland is the central western region of the country.
The name “Holland” is often used colloquially by the Dutch people themselves, especially when it refers to sports teams such as the football national team. During international football competitions like the World Cup or the European Cup, Dutch fans at the stadium normally cheer their team by chanting, “Holland! Holland!” instead of “Nederland!” which would be more correct!
Yet another name which is commonly associated with the Netherlands is “Low Countries”. This name was actually historically used to identify the region which lies around the big delta formed by the rivers Rhine, Scheldt and Meuse and it comprises present-day Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. These three countries also form part of the “Benelux” [BE for Belgium, NE for Netherlands and LUX for Luxemburg] a customs union formed in 1948 which aimed to promote intergovernmental cooperation.
Confused? You don’t need to be! Here is a summary of all the names associated with the Netherlands:
Kingdom of the Netherlands: the official name of the country; it comprises mainland Netherlands (territory in Europe) plus the islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten in the Caribbean.
The Netherlands: short name for “Kingdom of the Netherlands”; it also refers to the territory in Europe.
Holland: the central western region of the Netherlands which comprises two of the provinces: North and South Holland.
Low Countries: the low-lying region in northern Europe around the delta of the rivers Rhine, Scheldt and Meuse which comprises the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.
Benelux: the economic and political union comprising the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.
Read more
Spring in the Netherlands: the tulip mania, old and new
From Argentina to the Netherlands for love
Winter treats in the Netherlands
Bucharest Seen From the Arch of Triumph
Tourists may not know, and its inhabitants may have forgotten, how beautiful Bucharest can be.
I’ve realized that, together with the people who lined patiently, last Sunday, waiting to get inside the Arch of Triumph, visited the small museum, got to the upper terrace and admired the panorama from 27 meters high.
The Arch of Triumph - Bucharest,Romania - May 2012 / People line waiting to visit the inside museum and upper terrace
Picture Postcards: Colours of New Zealand
Black
In October 2011, the All Blacks, New Zealand’s national rugby team won the Rugby World Cup. The crowd at the victory parade was a sea of black.
Read more:
Samoan food van in Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand Languages
Malaysia to New Zealand
April Frost and Three Saints known as Lune Rousse and Saints de Glace in France
April Frost – Lune Rousse
In France April Frost is known as Lune Rousse (Ginger Moon). It corresponds to the New Moon that starts after Easter, generally between April 5 and May 5, and lasts of course for the entire cycle of the moon. In 2012 April Frost will last from April 21 to May 20!
Night frost and cold winds are normally paired with this phase which is bad news for gardeners as new shoots get frost –damaged if not protected at night.
French calendar: 11-12-13 May 2012 with the Saints de Glace marked with a small SG*
The name of Lune Rousse – Ginger Moon doesn’t reflect the colour of the moon but the fact that all young shoots turn into a rusty colour under the effect of frost!
Any gardener will tell you that days without clouds and with a north-east gentle breeze are the worst as the temperatures can severely drop overnight!
Three Saints – Saints de Glace
In France April Frost is also associated with the Saints de Glace – Three Saints!
France is a Roman Catholic country; each day of the calendar corresponds to a patron saint that is still widely celebrated by those bearing the saint’s name. In fact it is more an occasion of offering a bouquet of flowers and a greeting card as the religious meaning is fading.
French calendar , 11-12-13 May 2011, the Three Saints days Ste Estelle, St Achille and Ste Rolande are marked at the end of May
The Three Saints – Saints de Glace corresponds to St Mamert, St Pancrace, St Servais on whose name days – May11-12-13- late frost occurs. Eastern France celebrates a fourth patron on May 25, St Urbain, who might also bring the last frost of the year in that region.
French names have evolved, so has the French calendar and you will find that since 1960 Mamert, Pancrace and Servais, which have become such obsolete names, have been replaced by Ste Estelle, St Achille and Ste Rolande.
This year Ste Rolande has been overlooked and replaced with Fête Jeanne d’Arc, a traditional celebration that is always celebrated on a Sunday.
The dates though always remain the same… so mind the frost on May 11-12-13!
Read more
May 1st, Labour Day and May Day in France
The good, the bad and the ugali
Sitting at Malawi’s Kamuzu international airport in this year’s already singeing summer has me bored, constipated and wishing I was somewhere else. I’ve been dropped off an hour and half early and am finding it difficult to breathe. This has nothing to do with my premature arrival, but with a rather wild weekend in Nairobi a few days prior that will remain a story for another day. I’m on my way back home though, which is good.
The reason I’ve whipped my laptop out is really a mixture of envy, nostalgia and arrogance.
I’ve just been watching someone whom I think to be a Malawian on his way out of his country for the very first time.
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