Category Archives: Tradition
589. Percussionist Roël Calister
Roël Calister was raised on a steady diet of percussion. Cardboard boxes, Nido powdered milk cans, buckets of plastic… no household object was spared. His father would saw sticks out of old brooms and he would spend hours pounding away
589. Percussionist Roël Calister
Roël Calister was raised on a steady diet of percussion. Cardboard boxes, Nido powdered milk cans, buckets of plastic… no household object was spared. His father would saw sticks out of old brooms and he would spend hours pounding away
603. Curaçao’s ‘Forbidden’ New Year’s Tradition
Prolific Dutch writer Jan Brokken once described this forbidden new year’s tradition in all its culturally sensitive glory: “though man and woman don’t touch each other during tambú dance, they move more provocatively than a Dutch couple making love.” This form of recreation and
603. Curaçao’s ‘Forbidden’ New Year’s Tradition
Prolific Dutch writer Jan Brokken once described this forbidden new year’s tradition in all its culturally sensitive glory: “though man and woman don’t touch each other during tambú dance, they move more provocatively than a Dutch couple making love.” This form of recreation and
605. Pan de Jamón
Throughout the month of December, Curaçaoan bakeries bake countless loaves of pan de jamón: sweet dough rolls containing ham, olives, raisins and sometimes bacon (!). Served alongside ayakas, pernil (roast pork) and ponche crema (eggnog) on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve), pan de jamón hails from Venezuela. It is relatively simple to prepare
605. Pan de Jamón
Throughout the month of December, Curaçaoan bakeries bake countless loaves of pan de jamón: sweet dough rolls containing ham, olives, raisins and sometimes bacon (!). Served alongside ayakas, pernil (roast pork) and ponche crema (eggnog) on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve), pan de jamón hails from Venezuela. It is relatively simple to prepare
606. Ponche Crema
Curaçao’s version of eggnog is originally of Venezuelan descent. Though recipes vary by family — much like it’s savory companion, the Ayaka — main ingredients typically include milk, eggs, sugar, rum, and other minor ingredients such as vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and
606. Ponche Crema
Curaçao’s version of eggnog is originally of Venezuelan descent. Though recipes vary by family — much like it’s savory companion, the Ayaka — main ingredients typically include milk, eggs, sugar, rum, and other minor ingredients such as vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and
609. Tambú on Steroids
Broadwayworld.com writes: “Tradition is a tricky beast. There are those who would leave it as a dusty, living museum exhibit. Then there are others who see further, into the possibility of tradition, a line that runs through history all the way to
609. Tambú on Steroids
Broadwayworld.com writes: “Tradition is a tricky beast. There are those who would leave it as a dusty, living museum exhibit. Then there are others who see further, into the possibility of tradition, a line that runs through history all the way to
632. Curaçao’s Modern Sinterklaas and Pete
This week my Facebook News Feed resembles a picket line protesting ‘Zwarte Piet’ (Black Pete) and it’s not the first time. The same articles are shared (The Guardian’s Black Pete exposes the Netherlands’ problem with race, Associated Press’ ‘Black Pete’, Netherlands
632. Curaçao’s Modern Sinterklaas and Pete
This week my Facebook News Feed resembles a picket line protesting ‘Zwarte Piet’ (Black Pete) and it’s not the first time. The same articles are shared (The Guardian’s Black Pete exposes the Netherlands’ problem with race, Associated Press’ ‘Black Pete’, Netherlands
674. Curaçao Back to School
Nothing quite like a new haircut, hairdo, or hair color to reset us, boost our confidence, pep our step, make us feel refreshed and energized… ready to take on the world. So for the past three years Fundashon Pro Souax has
674. Curaçao Back to School
Nothing quite like a new haircut, hairdo, or hair color to reset us, boost our confidence, pep our step, make us feel refreshed and energized… ready to take on the world. So for the past three years Fundashon Pro Souax has
677. Curaçao’s Sephardic Sand Floor
A visit to Curaçao’s majestic Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (“The Hope of Israel”) should be on many bucket lists. Built in 1732 as a tropical replica of the Esnoga (Amsterdam’s oldest synagogue, 1670/71) congregants’ ancestry dates back to 1651 when the first Portuguese Sephardic Jews settled
677. Curaçao’s Sephardic Sand Floor
A visit to Curaçao’s majestic Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (“The Hope of Israel”) should be on many bucket lists. Built in 1732 as a tropical replica of the Esnoga (Amsterdam’s oldest synagogue, 1670/71) congregants’ ancestry dates back to 1651 when the first Portuguese Sephardic Jews settled
713. Orange Kingdom
April 30, 2013 marked a particularly historic day for the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Willem Alexander of the House of Orange-Nassau became our first king in 123 years as his mother, Queen Beatrix — the third successive Dutch queen to abdicate — ended her 33-year
713. Orange Kingdom
April 30, 2013 marked a particularly historic day for the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Willem Alexander of the House of Orange-Nassau became our first king in 123 years as his mother, Queen Beatrix — the third successive Dutch queen to abdicate — ended her 33-year
725. Curaçao Hospitality in a Nutshell
Most yu’i Kòrsou, particularly on the western side of the island, are avid peanut growers. Tradition has it that hosts would offer their guests handfuls of ‘pinda pa kaminda’ (peanuts for the road), so as to hold them over as they journey back to
725. Curaçao Hospitality in a Nutshell
Most yu’i Kòrsou, particularly on the western side of the island, are avid peanut growers. Tradition has it that hosts would offer their guests handfuls of ‘pinda pa kaminda’ (peanuts for the road), so as to hold them over as they journey back to
729. Curaçao’s Spirited Cow Horn
Before trumpets, trombones and loudspeakers, we had our ‘Kachu’ (pronounced: ‘Ka-choo’) or ‘Kachu di Baka’ (cow’s horn). We can’t take full credit, we probably imported her from Central Africa, the Bantu people would make her out of antelope horns. Our
729. Curaçao’s Spirited Cow Horn
Before trumpets, trombones and loudspeakers, we had our ‘Kachu’ (pronounced: ‘Ka-choo’) or ‘Kachu di Baka’ (cow’s horn). We can’t take full credit, we probably imported her from Central Africa, the Bantu people would make her out of antelope horns. Our
730. Curaçao’s Thanksgiving Parade
Our annual harvest festival, Seú, dates back to the 17th century when slaves would gather together in the kunuku (countryside) to pick the harvest at the end of growing season. A good harvest consisted of sorghum stalks, pumpkins, peanuts, watermelons, cucumbers, peppers, and other vegetables. Some
730. Curaçao’s Thanksgiving Parade
Our annual harvest festival, Seú, dates back to the 17th century when slaves would gather together in the kunuku (countryside) to pick the harvest at the end of growing season. A good harvest consisted of sorghum stalks, pumpkins, peanuts, watermelons, cucumbers, peppers, and other vegetables. Some
732. Curaçao’s Strong Female Hands
Straw hats were Curaçao’s single most important export in the early 20th century. In fact, they’re the only rural product to achieve that status. International demand was predominantly driven by two distinct markets: 1. wealthy, fashionable American and European businessmen happy to
732. Curaçao’s Strong Female Hands
Straw hats were Curaçao’s single most important export in the early 20th century. In fact, they’re the only rural product to achieve that status. International demand was predominantly driven by two distinct markets: 1. wealthy, fashionable American and European businessmen happy to
737. Curaçao Passover Charoset
Last week I found myself making a Passover favorite, Garosa (Charoset), just like my mama and her mama and her mama and her mama before her. Meant to symbolize the sticky-and-strong mortar Hebrew slaves used to build clay bricks in Egypt
737. Curaçao Passover Charoset
Last week I found myself making a Passover favorite, Garosa (Charoset), just like my mama and her mama and her mama and her mama before her. Meant to symbolize the sticky-and-strong mortar Hebrew slaves used to build clay bricks in Egypt
738. Easter in Curaçao (Part 2)
People of all walks of life pack their beach bags and stock their BBQ to celebrate Dia di Wèspen (more intimate version of Fuikdag) on Easter Sunday at Playa Forti… One big awesome, boisterous family!!!
738. Easter in Curaçao (Part 2)
People of all walks of life pack their beach bags and stock their BBQ to celebrate Dia di Wèspen (more intimate version of Fuikdag) on Easter Sunday at Playa Forti… One big awesome, boisterous family!!!
1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao 