h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Grevenmacher, 14th September 2003

Festival of Grape and Wine

Now, only in Lux would you get a free bus to take you to a beautiful wine producing region to watch a parade where they give out free wine! (and water, and apples, and bunches of grapes, fresh from the vine which was probably a few hundred yards away)

Coming from Belfast, I'm always contrasting the parades I know from home with ones I see abroad.

The participants:

In Belfast, large tattoed sweaty men with their shirt sleeves rolled up.
In Lux, mainly elderly folk watching the parade, but the paraders very varied, young and old, male and female.

The repertoire:

In Belfast, The Sash, or any other anti-taig song. Accompanied by lambeg drums bashed as loudly as possible, and flutes blown as shrilly as poss.
In Lux, colourful bands playing poular tunes ( I recognised Smoke on the Water), while also carrying out choreographed moves. Such cissiness wouldn't get far in Belfast!

The purpose:

In Belfast, depending on who you ask, it's either a long and noble tradition, or the intention to be as annoying as possible to the locals.
In Lux, it was to celebrate the grape harvest and sample this year's wines. This is a major source of employment in the Moselle region, so a good harvest ensures jobs for the coming year.

The refreshments:

In Belfast, tins of whatever the cheapest lager in the offie is. Empty tins and bottles are just abandoned at the side of the road.
In Luxembourg, the band members not only have a special clip for carrying their music, they also wear a special wine goblet holder. Each band in the parade is alternated with a wine float from a local vineyard, with the produce being dished out into the eagerly proferred empty glasses of the bystanders ( and the bands). However, there was very little litter, extra portaloos had been provided and I didnt notice any overt drunkenness.

A very civilsed country indeed...

ha ha ha , very funny indeed so r u a catholic or a protestant im jokin [chill]

Me very chilled, ta.

How's the weather in Bonnie Scotland?

very chilled glad 2 hear that, the weather in edinburgh surprisingly good for the time of year