Monday 29 December 2008

Dutch Traditions for “That’s My World”









New Year's traditions in the Netherlands involve family, friends and food. The traditionally Dutch foods are oil dumplings and apple slice fritters. Plus, there is a performance of one of the Dutch cabarets on television which is combination of stand up comedy and political satire.

There is a lot of FIREWORKS and that causes sometimes terrible fires. Last year several schools were deliberately burnt down. This was not only caused by fireworks. It was never that bad in the previous years.
On New Year’s Day a great number of people are taking a swim in the icy cold North Sea, but not me!!! My husband did it once though.

As soon as the clock strikes twelve we embrace our relatives and friends, wishing them a happy New Year, then we drink a glass of red wine or glühwine. After this we go to our neighbours and walk about in the streets ,wishing everybody a prosperous new year.

OLIEBOLLEN
An oliebol (plural oliebollen is a traditional Dutch food. Oliebollen (literally oil balls) are traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve and at funfairs. They are also called smoutebollen in Belgium. Sometimes it is referenced in English as Dutch donut.
Oliebollen are a variety of donut made by using two spoons to scoop a certain amount of dough and dropping the dough into a deep fryer filled with hot oil. In this way, a sphere-shaped oliebol emerges.
The dough is made from flour, eggs, yeast, some salt, milk, baking powder and optionally some sultanas or currants or raisins and sometimes apple pieces and zest or succade. The dough needs time to rise for at least an hour. Oliebollen are usually served with powdered sugar.
They are said to have been first eaten by Germanic tribes in the Netherlands during the Yule, the period between December 26 and January 6. The Germanic goddess Perchta, together with evil spirits, would fly through the mid-winter sky. To appease these spirits, food was offered, much of which contained deep-fried dough. It was said Perchta would try to cut open the bellies of all she came across, but because of the fat in the oliebollen, her sword would slide off the body of whomever ate them. ( Wikipedia)

That's my World is hosted by Klaus,Sandy,Ivar,Wren,Fishing Guy & Louise - a Team of experienced bloggers, whom we thank for this wonderful meme. You can see more of the world of other bloggers by clicking on the logo in the side bar

19 comments:

SaraG said...

Great post and picture. They sure look yummy!!
Happy New Year to you and your family!!
Take care and thanks so much for sharing your part of the world with us!

Leora said...

Wow, your doughnuts look a lot like the sufganiyot I posted last night! Except mine have no baking powder. I guess a variety of people in the world like eating this kind of food in December.

Jane Hards Photography said...

This is my kind of post. I just love myths and legends wrapped up in tradition and history, of how food arrived on our shores.

EG CameraGirl said...

I like your New Year's tradition, Wil!
Happy New Year!

bass said...

I love eating oliebollen....hhhmmm yummy!

kayleen said...

They sound yummy. Happy New Year!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Wil: That looks like a wonderful tradition. Thanks for sharing.

Janice Thomson said...

Oh my that does look tasty!
Enjoyed reading about New Years in your country.

Arija said...

Very European tradition.In Latvia in the country people went aroud in animal costmes to chase away the evil spirits. It sometimes got quite interesting when a wild bear jined the imitation!
I tried accessing your blog from MY WORLD and it kept coming up as ads., no idea how or why.

PS no crocodiles down south although sharks can be a problem.

Brenda said...

Your New Years celebration sound so nice. We just stay home because we don't drink and party like we did when we were young, oh so many years ago. That sounds so nice to be able to go from neighbor to neighbor. The doughnuts sound good also. I always enjoy reading your posts. Happy New Year to you if I don't talk to before then.

Gigi Ann said...

It's interesting to read how traditions get started. But, I'm not into any of the celebrating that goes on this time of the year.

MumbaiiteAnu said...

Looks so tasty. The perfect season's dish.
Happy New Year!

Lilli & Nevada said...

Love your post and that looks so good, i want some
Happy New Yr

The Weaver of Grass said...

Why is my mouth watering at the thought of those delicious sounding goodies! We are having a dinner party for eight and will then sit up and see in the new year and sing Auld Lang Syne. Happy new year to you reader wil.

Gaelyn said...

That looks yummy. Hope you're safe from the godess. An interesting post for MWT.

Happy New Year!

Cloudia said...

Great post! I want to eat those "Dutch Donuts"
Happy New Year, Wil; aloha-

Gordon said...

I haven't eaten oliebollen for years; we had Dutch neighbours when I was growing up and they sometimes treated us with some.

??? said...

Yummy. It's great to read about different traditions. In Germany, Berliner are a traditional New Year food, they are similat to oliebollen (such a cute word)

Barbara Martin said...

I like learning about food from different areas and cultures. These look very tasty.