Fun fairs and feasts on the ice
Herman de Man (1989 - 1946)
Under normal circumstances the farmers, workers, the servant girls and the day laborers did their work and accepted the life as it was: there were rich farmers and honorable people who had a lot of money and there were poor people who had to work hard for their money. Everybody had his task in live and went for it day after day. But in the winter of 1890/91, the situation was rather different. There was very little work to do on the land, the daily habits of their life were gone and so they were looking for other activities. In normal times also the poorer people were skating and were especially interested in competitions of speed skating and elegant skating (Schoonrijden) with which money could be gained. Normally on the ice there were little shops improvised where one could buy drinks and little snacks but now the activities were extended. There were several fun fairs organized on the rivers in the middle of the country. The different fun fairs competed with each other in the activities they offered. One put a dance tent on the ice, the other did the same but with an elaborated kitchen. Then another created the same facility but included lotteries. Soon these fun fairs became known in the cities and across the country. The people from the cities started to visit them.
At some point in time a big feast was announced in Vreeswijk but the day before the party a person died of cholera in a village close to Vreeswijk and the disease spread to other villages as well. The local government tried to prevent the feast on the basis of the law of infectious diseases but the law only mentioned normal fun fairs and markets but no ice feasts. Although, the next day the bells of the churches rang again because of new deaths, the feast started. First competitions were held where especially people of the lower class participated in speed skating on short and long distances, artistic skating and elegant skating. Big prizes were offered for the winners. So even good skaters from Friesland came to receive their share of the prizes. There was a lot of public for the competitions but also for the drinks and the food. Many people were looking for partners to dance on the ice. The feast went on to late in the night.
The other day the feast continued. The norms were forgotten, the virtues for which the local people were known in the past, could not be kept up anymore. Women and men forgot for sensuality their shame completely, the ungodly rudeness was unseen before … and again rang the bells, this time also the bells of Vreeswijk and Schoonhoven because the disease crammed on at the emaciated people without resistance. The people thought: What could be done against it? Today still healthy, tomorrow dead, then we better feast. And there was feast. Exuberant women hung bestially in the arms of esquires, some felt ashamed, others did not feel that anymore. Marital fidelity did not count anymore. That was an old rule that hold for normal times. Therefore family fathers skated on the ice with women of bad morals from the towns. The housewives were sitting shamelessly in the bars on the laps of men from whatever other place. Everywhere they were dancing on their skates. Shameless songs, learned from people from the town, were loudly song. One song was about the end of the world and that the people should try to catch as soon as possible what they soon could not catch anymore.
Comment
This is an incredible story about a region which is known still now for its very severe religious orientation. This story illustrates how the living conditions and the climate can completely change such a community. All this happened also on the ice and skates while others were skating the “Elfstedentocht”.
The other day the feast continued. The norms were forgotten, the virtues for which the local people were known in the past, could not be kept up anymore. Women and men forgot for sensuality their shame completely, the ungodly rudeness was unseen before … and again rang the bells, this time also the bells of Vreeswijk and Schoonhoven because the disease crammed on at the emaciated people without resistance. The people thought: What could be done against it? Today still healthy, tomorrow dead, then we better feast. And there was feast. Exuberant women hung bestially in the arms of esquires, some felt ashamed, others did not feel that anymore. Marital fidelity did not count anymore. That was an old rule that hold for normal times. Therefore family fathers skated on the ice with women of bad morals from the towns. The housewives were sitting shamelessly in the bars on the laps of men from whatever other place. Everywhere they were dancing on their skates. Shameless songs, learned from people from the town, were loudly song. One song was about the end of the world and that the people should try to catch as soon as possible what they soon could not catch anymore.
Comment
This is an incredible story about a region which is known still now for its very severe religious orientation. This story illustrates how the living conditions and the climate can completely change such a community. All this happened also on the ice and skates while others were skating the “Elfstedentocht”.