Carbid Country

We're going to Drenthe, on Oudejaarsavond, and if you don't know what carbid is yet, you are about

to find out. Carbid schieten is one of those Dutch New Year's traditions that nobody quite prepares

you for. You take calcium carbide, you drop it into a milk churn, a melkbus, you add a little water

and then you ignite the gas that builds up inside. The lid blows off with a sound like a cannon.