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...

[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*

[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

[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!

[duniazade.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that - lovely tradition!

Happy Easter to you.

[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!

[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.

[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 . . . .