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This painting depicts the traditional Flemish celebration of Whitsuntide, the first day of Summer. It shows a procession of children standing before the door of a home. Still observed in some parts of Flanders today, the festival centres around a girl chosen to be the Whitsun Bride (Pinksterbloem). She wears a crown decorated with wild flowers in her hair, a pink apron over a white dress, and is adorned with jewellery. Leading a procession of youngsters singing traditional songs and playing instruments, the bride stops at each house to collect donations for the local parish.
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