Thank You For The Flowers!

[therealsnape]

I know you didn't send me any. But it seems a good title for the following Little-Known Fact of No Particular Interest.

I'm full of those.

Besides, I always thought it was a widely-known fact, but then my two French students who try to get their tongues round Dutch had never heard of it.

Did you know that the floral arrangements on St Peter's Square are courtesy of the Dutch flower industry? And in the past, the Pope always acknowledged the gift when he says 'happy Easter' in a great many languages - when he does so in Dutch, "Zalig Pasen", he follows it up with "En bedankt voor de bloemen."

Around here, they're keeping their fingers crossed Franciscus I will do likewise.

The flowers left our region (I live in the heart of the flower area, as poor tetleythesecond found out one cold April afternoon) on Thursday. There's a pic of it in the local paper annually. It just wouldn't be Easter without it.

The local priest blessed the plants with sacred water, which had the owner muttering dark things about the freezing cold and what if the water would freeze on his flowers and Father had better be damn careful ...

But all went well. You can see the results today.



Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!

Comments

[minervas-eule.livejournal.com]

Oh my! I really did not know that the flowers get a blessing before they are shipped....even me thinks that is overdoing the good work a bit ;-). But as Franziskus (the saint, not the pope) called the animals and plants our brothers and sisters, it is probably proper and I am just too cool and scientific about it...

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a major promotion moment for our flower industry, so the little blooms had to perform well. Perhaps not so much Sister Daffodil as 'Flower, dammit!'

[tetleythesecond]

Well, the man has broken with a couple of traditions already (which in those cases I liked), but he better stick to this one. Or Else.

I bought a very pretty bunch of yellow tulips yesterday. And alas, I failed to renew my paid account yesterday when it expired, so I can't even illustrate this breaking news with a proper icon.

I hope next year I can find out even more about your flower area! I hear there are a few excellently-signposted routes. *g*

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Get your paid account back - we'd miss your feisty spinsters too much.

If you make it here in flower time, I'll drive you straight to the Keukenhof. With a pit stop at the stalls with the lovely souvenirs.

[lash-larue.livejournal.com]

A lovely tradition indeed.

My own Dutch bloemen continue to thrive, the first on the scene are fading a bit now, but it seems that more keep peeking out of the mulch. Ambitious lot, those bulbs.

L

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear they are doing well.

There truly was a host of golden daffodils in Rome; I quite enjoyed seeing the little buggers perform.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

I love the skepticism of the owner and the man standing there in the background with his arms crossed. God's already put a lot of work into those flowers, you can imagine him thinking. No need to mess with perfection.

Happy Easter, TRS!

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

The flowers did well - but they probably would have done anyhow. And colour me green with envy for that coffee with Kelly.

[duniazade.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that - lovely tradition!

Happy Easter to you.

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Hope you had a good time, too. I think it's as cold where you are as up here. If only spring would truly come.

[the-winterwitch.livejournal.com]

I'm not usually watcing anything Pope-related, but how fascinating that the flowers are from your corner of the world! :o) Thanks for sharing this. The Protestant in me can't help smiling a little about the fact that the flowers need to be blessed...
Happy Easter to Lord S. and you, too!

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

He did thank the Netherlands very prettily for them - and they looked jolly nice.

Hope you and the Winterwizard had a lovely Easter. And I know you're a Winterwitch, but how about some warning spells? For all of Europe, pretty please?

[the-winterwitch.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry the usual incantations and potions don't work this year. I cooked Dragon eggs, made Basilisk butter, both were dutifully eaten. I made that brain-erasing horseradish potion sauce, and everybody ate from it, even the small girls, but to no avail. The Easter Bread has risen beautifully, is delicous and was eaten on Sunday, too, but still low temperatures... *puts head in hands* *ponders* *remains perplexed*
Winter should have fled the latest when we grated the horseradish.
Suggestions, anyone?

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Horribly late in replying, but we grated horseradish, too. Around Easter.

So even our combined grating and incantations are powerless?

Could it be the third return of You-Know-Who (or the first rising of the Darkest Wizard of All Times 2013 version?)

In that case we might get 7 books of the teachers attacking and conquering him.

[the-winterwitch.livejournal.com]

Now for THAT I'd gladly suffer another winter like this. Just one, mind, and not worse. And only if they revive Snape or incorporate him (pun intended) in any significant way.
Lovely icon, btw.

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool, I didn't know they were from your region, how cool! Must be beautiful round your place when they're in bloom.

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

It is rather spectacular, and when the hyacinths are out it's like driving through perfume. All windows open to catch the scent.

[albalark.livejournal.com]

I hope you had a lovely Easter, my dear! Yesterday and today have been the first warm days in months, so our blooms (crocuses and miniature irises) have just begun and the daffodil flower stalks are just now emerging from the ground.

It was late summer the only time I've been to the Netherlands, and so we missed out on your beautiful fields full of spring flowers. One day . . . .

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

I did have a wonderfully-relaxed time - just the thing, because there was a teaching frenzy afterwards. That's unwinding slowly too, now, and I look forward to weeks of beholder fic in which I'll have time to follow the fest.

And I do hope one day you'll visit Holland again! Spinner's End awaits y'all eagerly.

[albalark.livejournal.com]

As do I - I'd really like to have time to see the countryside, since I spent what little time I had there only in Amsterdam proper. I have always longed to see those legendary tulip fields and and to get more of the flavor of the country than I got in my 3 day stay. I'm saving my pennies. :-)