Hands on the shoulders of their predecessor and off they go. The polonaise is an early habit for the lower grades at De Wingerd primary school in Zwaag. The carnival weekend traditionally kicks off with a visit to the schools, to get the youngest youth excited for the big party.
Sunny messages for the future of the ‘carnival capital of North Holland’. Because both the children’s parade – later today – and the adult version – tomorrow afternoon – have never had so many participants before. “It looks very nice,” says Peter Entius, chairman of carnival association Het Masker with satisfaction.
“Let’s be honest: this is Zwaag. This is where carnival is taught from an early age. That also happens here at school. Many of these children also participate in the children’s parade.”
Prins prefers to eat kale
Every year they visit the five primary schools in Zwaag and Zwaagdijk-West, to kick off the weekend for the youngest carnival celebrants. And no matter how young they are, they can celebrate. There is a lot of dancing in the gym and questions are asked to Prince Carnival. The children find out that the Prince prefers to eat kale.
But there is more than just fun. For Het Masker it is essential to involve the youth in the massive celebration at an early age. Entius: “We see that many young people between the ages of 12 and 25 form the core of the participants in the parades. There needs to be an increase. This applies to the children’s parade, but you also want to allow that category to progress to the big parade and to the party itself, of course. That is super important.”
Carnival parade Zwaag can be seen live
The big carnival parade in Zwaag can be seen live on TV this Sunday from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM on NH (Ziggo channel 30 and KPN channel 509 and regional broadcaster WEEFF (Ziggo channel 45 and KPN channel 1359).
The registration can also be viewed live via both our websites, apps, Facebook and YouTube.