Eleventh of the Eleventh

There are three traditions in Holland involving November 11 - or 'Eleventh of the Eleventh' as we Dutchies call it. 

One is the Official start of Carnival at exactly 23:11 o' clock on which event the local Prince Carnival and his council of 11 men are announced and crowned. 
Note: It's been said it's the origin of eleven being the Dutch 'number of fools'. Could this also be the reason that a football team consists of eleven players? ;-))) Tell me!

Another is St Maarten, an event for children in which they parade from door to door with Chinese Lanterns to sing songs and collect candy (a bit like a Halloween, but way less horrific and actually really very cute) 
Note. In some parts of Holland it also involves big bonfires and Romans leading the parade.

And last, but not least, Divali - a Hindi light party to celebrate the good winning over the bad. As we are an openminded multicultural country this is also celebrated over here. 

I was in Museum Meermanno in The Hague where they have a room full of Chinese Lampshades and considered it very appropriate for my 11th of the 11th journal entry.

Ps. There is another angle at the same lanterns in the extra photo ;-))