of orange blood
Holland is a frenetic orange mess this month – the European Football Championship (soccer for you yanks) is upon us!
A few weeks ago, I started noticing whole neighborhoods stringing up orange flags and flyers, plastering their windows with HUP HOLLAND HUP and ORANJE BOVEN. The frenzy has crept from the suburbs to the cities: McDonalds is turning out special burgers shaped like footballs, the grocery stores are selling orange football player collecting cards and orange cake bites, and billboards ads are reserved for products sponsored by the handsomest Dutch players.
On the night of a game you carefully clothe yourself in the most bombastic orange ensemble you can assemble, then careen over to your favorite pub to snatch a seat before the viewing party gets crowded. A DJ is spinning energetic, pulsing pre-game tunes and the air seems to pulse, too. With orange pride.
I’m a cultural mutt and patriotism usually confuses me, but THIS? This I get. 
On that note, I must away! Our match against Germany is starting in 5 minutes and things are about to get fierce.
Who are you rooting for this year?
Superimportant match for Holland. They need 3 points against Germany!
Poland of course! LOL! I did not go out to any of the fan zones in Warsaw today but I’m sure there were a lot of Oranje supporters. If I’ve been to the fan zone I could have took some photos of them :( There were a lot of Russian supporters here yesterday.
After the way our team just bombed their match, I may be looking for a new one to champion! I’m up for suggestions. (:
Looks like Germany is on the lead for Group B now. Well, some of my guy friends suggested Germany and he also said that many girls support Spain. If I’m not mistaken, Germany has won 3 times and Spain 2 times in the Euro Cup. But anything can happen. As for now, I’m supporting Poland :D
We’ll be supporting Italy tonight, but not holding out much hope of them going far. I can’t stand the Spanish team, so I’m hoping they don’t get far. I do actually like the German team, despite losing to them last night.
Still, last night’s loss didn’t seem to dampen the celebrations afterward too much, judging by the noise and crowds around the three bars at the end of our street! :) I also love all of the orange, so I hope we manage to pull out a miracle with the last game so the oranjegekte can continue.
great colors, or is it just a color i.e. orange?