Herfsttijd

Herfsttijd is a liminal state that appears in Frisian folklore, similar to the concept of harvest season in other cultures. It is characterized as a period of transition between the summer and winter seasons.

According to tradition, herfsttijd is a time when the boundary between the living and the dead becomes blurred. It is said that during this time, spirits and ancestors return to the world of the living, and communication with them is possible. This phenomenon is often associated with the harvest season, when the crops are ripe and the cycle of life and death is most apparent.

Herfsttijd is also connected to the idea of the year's cycle and the passage of time. It is seen as a time of reflection and remembrance, when the community comes together to honor their ancestors and the cycles of nature.

In the context of Frisian culture, herfsttijd was an important part of the traditional calendar, and was often linked to festivals and rituals. While the significance of herfsttijd has faded somewhat in modern times, it remains an important part of Frisian cultural heritage, and continues to be celebrated in various forms.

The concept of herfsttijd has also been compared to other cultural and folkloric traditions, such as the Gaelic festival of Samhain, which marks the beginning of winter. Like these traditions, herfsttijd represents a time of transition, when the line between the natural and supernatural worlds is at its most porous.