Katuin Family Reunion 12th October 2013 in Onstwedde, Groningen, Netherlands Click on the link for photos: katuin.eu/joomla15/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=17%3Afamiliedag-2013&Itemid=60&lang=nl I have never seen so many old objects in one place. When you enter the Slaait’nhoes you can’t miss them. Literally tens of thousands of old things are hanging, standing or lying in the large barn of the old Saxon farmhouse. We are in the Westerwolde Museum of Local History where a miraculous collection of local objects is lovingly looked after by the Nieuwenhuis family. Let’s start at the beginning: Katuins from all over the country have come to Onstwedde in Westerwolde. This village is near Vlagtwedde in the area of the province of Groningen, the home of the first Katuins. Today people have come a few miles from the East and the North to Onstwedde. The family members who have come from the West and the South have travelled further. We meet some of them in the parking lot, the rest in the Slaait’nhoes itself. When everyone has arrived and hugs and kisses have been exchanged a glass of Fladderak goes down well. This is a traditional yellow Groningen liqueur made with lemon and cinnamon. Fladderak was the name of a tax collector in Onderdendam, a village to the north of Groningen city. A bowl of coffee followed, yes a bowl, not a cup. That is also traditional we are told. After the coffee we are given a demonstration called Spreekwoordelijke Rondgang. This means the explanation of proverbs and sayings. We can choose to hear the story in Dutch or in the Groningen language. We choose Gronings of course, although some of the people present have to ask for a translation whispered in their ears now and again. Geert Nieuwenhuis first of all tells us what slaaiten are: these are special poles laid next to each other under the barn roof. The corn used to be stored on top of them. Then a veritable stream of words begins to flow out of Geert’s mouth explaining the meaning of countless sayings and showing us the objects which are named in those sayings. A hot meal at lunch time is also a traditional farm custom, so at about one o’clock we sit down to a meal consisting of vegetable soup, schnitzel, fried potatoes, green beans with homemade sausage, stewed pears, apple sauce and chicory salad with apple. It is delicious. During dinner I look up and see no fewer than 15 pairs of old wooden Frisian skates hanging above my head. I assume they are securely fixed. After walking through the large barn filled to the brim with objects, and being amazed at some of the things we see it is time for a demonstration of old clothing. Geert tells his story with a straight face, but it’s full of jokes – especially when he talks about the underwear. It is time for a delicious cherry sorbet and then we watch yet another demonstration, this time of sand carpet sprinkling. This is an old folk art form that has almost died out. It used to be practised by many farmers to decorate the floors of their farms on high days and holidays. There was a lovely garden next to the farmhouse with chairs in groups – a nice place to have a drink on summer days, but now it is time to go home after another great family day. Special thanks to Grietje and Albert who organised this year’s family reunion.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:19:51 +0000
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