It is cold here in northern Nederland, aka the Netherlands. The darkness already is here, but you can see a lot of little lights outside. Moving back and forth just above the ground.
And when these lights move closer, you can see that tiny humans are carrying little lanterns. Many are self made at school or at home. The smallest kids are with mom or dad. Some in groups, or with brothers and sisters.
They go from door to door, singing songs, for treats. It is a religious tradition from origin that was embraced as part of our shared culture. It is about caring and sharing, known as Saint Maarten's day.
Every year on the 11th of november our streets are filled with lanterns and songs. And kids getting mostly candy. Enough sugar to kee them awake and jumping for days. :-)
We have a lantern outside, so they kids can find the way to our door. This guiding light is from an older northern cultural heritage, but I'll post about that some other time. At some point it all is connected, I guess.
photo cc-by-sa @oaldamster
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