1/4 Christel de Laat and Bart Storcken investigate the similarities and differences of Carnival and Vastloavend.
In barely six weeks it will start again: the party of the south. In Brabant we talk about carnival, Limburgers call it Vastlaovend. In the run-up to the party, comedian Christel de Laat from Schijndel and singer Bart Storcken from Heerlen investigate the differences and similarities. But are they there? The six-part documentary series O(n)s Feest can be seen on Omroep Brabant from January 2.
Introduce. Comedian Christel de Laat is one of the faces of Omroep Brabant during carnival. She talks about various programs in a fun way for four days. Bart Storcken from Heerlen is a musician and writes songs for the Vastloavend. A carnival celebrant through and through.
“It is not a competition about the differences between Brabant and Limburg.”
Both look for the differences and similarities between Brabant and Limburg during the Feast of the South. But are they there too? Isn’t the feeling for the party actually the same in both provinces? Christel and Bart give each other a look into their kitchen. “It is not a competition between the provinces. We try to surprise each other,” says Christel.
For example, Bart shows Christel how the Eleventh of the Eleventh is celebrated in Roermond. “The grandeur of the event really surprised me,” says Christel. “In Tilburg and Den Bosch, everyone immediately goes to the pub afterwards, but here it is really a large outdoor event on a square with music and other performances.”
“In Brabant, talking is more like cabaret, in Limburg it is telling jokes.”
Bart visits the performance ‘The soul of carnival’ by Bjorn van der Doelen and Mike Weerts in Brabant and goes to an evening with top talkers. “In Brabant it is much more cabaret and the audience is more involved. With us it is more about telling jokes,” says Bart.
Christel finds other differences between Limburgers and Brabanders to be the music and clothing of the Limburgers and Brabanders. Christel: “There is much more dialect music in Limburg. Limburgers really go all out with clothing and make-up. We Brabanders are more into ski hut music, smocks, carnival costumes, emblems and colors of the city or village.”
“The series is about solidarity and equality.”
But left or right: don’t the feeling of carnival and fasting amount to the same thing? “We have a drink and talk about sensible and nonsensical things in life,” Bart describes his carnival feeling. “We celebrate it a little differently in many places, but for the same reason: fraternization and the love for the party.”
Christel: “Carnival does not stop at the border of Brabant and Limburg. The party is about solidarity and equality. Ranks and positions disappear by dressing up. Everyone does their utmost in advance to make carnival a success again. They do this in Brabant is no different from Limburg.”
The six-part series can be seen from January 2.