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Fashion Fine Arts Food Gods, Goddesses, and Mythical Heros Netherlands

Our Lady of Leiden

Our Lady of Leiden — The Herring Sentinel Let us introduce you to Our Lady of Leiden – the mythological icon heroine who represents the bravery and fortitude of the people of Leiden when besieged by the Spanish in 1574. This story was featured in yesterday’s blott. Domains: Appearance & Iconography [ed. note: Our Lady […]

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Food Fun and Games History Netherlands

3 Oktoberfeest / Leidens Ontzet

A herring and a round loaf of bread walk into a bar in Leiden.The bartender says, ‘Sorry, we can’t serve you.’The herrings reply, ‘That’s okay — we’ll serve you’ll serve you – every October 3rd!’- This knee-slapper was brought to you by Elder G. There’s a dark history behind the festival, because the Spanish were […]

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Heros Musings Netherlands

Anne’s Tree

There was a tree, a horse chestnut tree, that grew outside of the Secret Annex in Amsterdam, where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis. Anne described the tree in three different entries in her diary. For Anne, the tree symbolized continuity, seasons, and hope amidst confinement—an image that dovetails with Laudato Si’’s […]