“In Kerkrade it is normal for every association to make its own packages,” says Ralf Mulders of carnival association Oes de Moas. “Our packages cost approximately 100 euros in materials, excluding hats and accessories. The time it takes is difficult to estimate.”
Carnival is celebrated extensively every year in the traditionally Catholic provinces of North Brabant and Limburg. But places in Gelderland and Overijssel also have a carnival tradition.
“Almost every association makes its own packages. That has always been the case since ancient times,” Mulders reflects. “Nowadays you can celebrate carnival anywhere, but in the past the festival mainly took place in small villages, where there were no shops. You had to make your own clothes.”
Way of living
Mulders is 42 years old and cannot remember anything else. “My mother converted pajamas into a fantastic suit. In our club, almost everyone wears a different suit.”
Carnival is a way of life for Mulders. Three weeks after the end of the festival, Oes de Moas already starts preparing for next year. “We started in 2001 with 20 people. Our association now has sixty adults and 42 children. We have had a stop for years,” he points out the popularity of Oes de Moas.
“Our philosophy is that partners and children can automatically become members. You can only become a member if a member has referred you. This is how we safeguard the group feeling. We have recorded with the notary that we will walk in parades in self-designed outfits.”
At Oes de Maas, as a member you remain the owner of your package. It has been decided that if there is interest, all clothing will only be sold as a group. “But that is difficult, because with us the packages are really tailor-made, which makes reselling difficult. At other associations this is done to reduce costs.”
Ugliest package
In the beginning of Oes de Moas, the clothing was often sold. “The funny thing was that we had a bad year in terms of clothing: a dragon suit and a hat with Christmas baubles in it, which blew away when the wind even raised its head,” Mulders looks back with a smile.
“Years later we watch a parade in a community and we see a group with those packages. We see our ugliest package again eight years later! That was fun.”
Sjiek Wa is another carnival association from Kerkrade and was founded in 2009 by Ido Bodeliers and a group of friends, after Ido had been city prince in Kerkrade the year before. “We have seventy-six members and adult members pay a monthly contribution of 12.50 euros. We charge 9 euros for children,” Bodeliers explains.
Every year, Sjiek Wa takes part in the parade in Kirchroa, the name of Kerkrade in the local dialect. “We rent a float, in recent years in Hasselt, Belgium. The float is built according to a theme and we adjust the costumes accordingly.”
This year the float looks like a fun beer brewery with moving beer barrels and barrels underneath. “We have linked Oktoberfest as a theme. We dress in lederhosen in carnival style with bright colors. We have a seamstress who sews all the suits for us,” says Bodeliers.
“The production price is around 40 euros and that includes the fabrics and accessories. The entire costume costs about 100 euros.”
Regular buyers
The costumes remain the property of the association. After the festivities, Sjiek Wa collects all the clothing and prepares it for sale. “We already have a number of regular customers. Last year we had an underwater world theme and half of it was purchased by the association we rent the car from. And recently ten packs from last year were sent to Zwolle.”
The price depends on how the costumes emerged from the carnival violence. “Sometimes we ask for 40 euros, other times 50. But it’s nice that we still get something for it, which reduces the costs again.”
Lieke Kuipers from the Oranjewijk in Tubbergen has the same motivation. The carnival association will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary next year and has been building its own floats from the start. “And we have always made the clothing ourselves. That is tradition, but it is how we remain distinctive. By making something unique together with the clothing and building committee, we create a very unique atmosphere during carnival.”
Kuipers tries to produce clothing as cheaply as possible. For example, a women’s suit costs about 50 euros to make. “The Oranjewijk consists of two hundred households with families. We believe that everyone should participate. We do not ask for a contribution. Adults pay a one-off fee of 35 euros and for children we ask 30 euros. For this amount, everyone can participate in four parades.”
Shell in hand
The packages remain the property of the association. The resale price varies every year. “Due to the rising production costs, it is great that we can sell suits. This year our theme is underwater world,” Kuipers explains.
“The ladies have a shell in their hand, the children a jellyfish and the gentlemen a homemade diving tank and a fishing net with colored foam fish.”
Kuipers hopes to be able to sell everything at once. “Sometimes people come to us immediately after the first parade to ask if the suits are for sale. Sometimes it takes longer, but there is always demand for them.”
What will help is the success that the Orange Association achieved after the first parade last weekend in Tubbergen. “We became number 1! And the first potential buyer for our clothing has already come forward,” she laughs.
2024-02-08 14:41:56
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