THE CHILDREN FROM SPAIN WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Sunday 27 December 2009
Tuesday 22 December 2009
A Sicilian legend: Proserpina’s kidnapping
Proserpina’s kidnapping
Proserpina,( the Greek Persephone), is the Roman goddess of the underworld. She was the daughter of Ceres, (the Greek Demeter, goddess of the earth and agriculture).Pluto, the god of the underworld, fell in love with her. As her mother didn’t permit their marriage, Pluto kidnapped Proserpina while she was collecting flowers on the mount Etna, and took her to live with him. A single mother, Ceres felt abandoned by her daughter's absence. Proserpina ate six pomegranate seeds, an action that could have sealed her fate to live in the underworld forever. But Ceres, being a shrewd mother, was able to negotiate through Iuppiter with Pluto for her daughter's custody. Proserpina would spend half of the year with Pluto in the underworld and half of the year living with her mother. During the time Proserpina was in the underworld, Ceres was so grief-stricken that she refused to allow anything on Earth to be beautiful or fruitful, and these are the winter months. When Ceres has her daughter to look after, she is happy and the earth brought forth crops, giving food, so we have summer and the autumn harvest.
A Sicilian poem: “Apuzza nica” - LITTLE BEE.
Tell me, tell me, little bee
Where are you going so early in the morning?
Not even a top of the next mountains
Is becoming red for the sunlight, yet.
The dewdrops are still trembling,
They are sparkling in the grass,
Take care, do not get wet
Your gentle golden wings!
The sleepy little flowers
Inside their green buds
Are still closed and curled up
Keeping their heads leaned.
But your little wings are getting tired!
But you are flying and going on!
Tell me, tell me, little bee
Where are you going so early in the morning?
This poem was written in Sicilian language by the poet Giovanni Meli in the 18th century.
Friday 18 December 2009
Lucia
SANTA LUCIA
The Advent- and Lucia tradition goes way back in time and there are many different stories. One is about a mother who wanted her kids to have something nice to look forward to every day in December, until Christmas Eve. She created a calendar and the kids got to open a hatch every day. On December 13th, there was always a girl in a white dress with candles in her hair in the calendar. This is LUCIA.
In the northern countries the darkness is so overwhelming, usually it gets dark around 3PM in December. When Lucia is celebrated she is called “the light” and she gives hope and joy to all the people. By singing Christmas carols and offering the audience coffee and gingerbread cookies, she makes everybody feel good and happy.
In our pre-school we celebrate LUCIA every year. The children are Lucia or star boys or elves. Everybody gets to choose a character. You dress up and the Lucia’s have candles in their hair and in their hands. The elves carry lantern lamps. The children sing a lot of traditional Christmas carols and the parents enjoy the performance. After the singing it is time for a snack. Coffee or Glögg (a very spiced warm drink sometimes with alcohol) gingerbread cookies and “Lussekatter” wheat bread with saffron- are available for the parents. Usually we celabrate early in the morning.
There is also a Lucia for every town in Sweden. Sometimes she is riding in a slade, if there is snow on the ground. In the church there are a sermon and many people join. Usually the church is not so well used during the rest of the year.
1927 the newspaper called “ Stockholms Dagblad” started the first Lucia.
In one of the Christmas carols we sing about a Saint called Staffan- Sankt Stefanos” . Who is helper in the stable.
The Advent- and Lucia tradition goes way back in time and there are many different stories. One is about a mother who wanted her kids to have something nice to look forward to every day in December, until Christmas Eve. She created a calendar and the kids got to open a hatch every day. On December 13th, there was always a girl in a white dress with candles in her hair in the calendar. This is LUCIA.
In the northern countries the darkness is so overwhelming, usually it gets dark around 3PM in December. When Lucia is celebrated she is called “the light” and she gives hope and joy to all the people. By singing Christmas carols and offering the audience coffee and gingerbread cookies, she makes everybody feel good and happy.
In our pre-school we celebrate LUCIA every year. The children are Lucia or star boys or elves. Everybody gets to choose a character. You dress up and the Lucia’s have candles in their hair and in their hands. The elves carry lantern lamps. The children sing a lot of traditional Christmas carols and the parents enjoy the performance. After the singing it is time for a snack. Coffee or Glögg (a very spiced warm drink sometimes with alcohol) gingerbread cookies and “Lussekatter” wheat bread with saffron- are available for the parents. Usually we celabrate early in the morning.
There is also a Lucia for every town in Sweden. Sometimes she is riding in a slade, if there is snow on the ground. In the church there are a sermon and many people join. Usually the church is not so well used during the rest of the year.
1927 the newspaper called “ Stockholms Dagblad” started the first Lucia.
In one of the Christmas carols we sing about a Saint called Staffan- Sankt Stefanos” . Who is helper in the stable.
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Thursday 10 December 2009
SPANISH NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
This week we have celebrated two national spanish holidays which are the spanish constitution and the Immaculate Conception. The students made a spanish flag with the rights and duties of all the spaniards written in both languages spanish and english. And today we went to a park with other schools to do opendoor activities about the human rights. That was fun...
The Constitution of Spain is regarded as the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. It was enacted after a referendum on 6 December 1978 after approval by 88% of voters.
Spanish Constitution is one of the few Bill of Rights that has legal provisions for social rights, including the definition of Spain itself as a Social and Democratic State.
The Immaculate Conception is, according to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain (macula in Latin) of original sin.
The Constitution of Spain is regarded as the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. It was enacted after a referendum on 6 December 1978 after approval by 88% of voters.
Spanish Constitution is one of the few Bill of Rights that has legal provisions for social rights, including the definition of Spain itself as a Social and Democratic State.
The Immaculate Conception is, according to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain (macula in Latin) of original sin.
Thursday 3 December 2009
Polish legend, song and poem
Polish Legends :
The Dragon of Krakow (Cracow)
Long ago in Poland's early history, On the River Vistula, there was a small settlement of wooden huts inhabited by peaceful people who farmed the land and plied their trades. Near this village was Wawel Hill. In the side of Wawel Hill was a deep cave. The entrance was overgrown with tall, grass, bushes, and weeds. No man had ever ventured inside that cave, and some said that a fearsome dragon lived within it. The young people of the village didn't believe in the dragon. The old people of the village said that they had heard their fathers tell of a dragon who slept in the cave, and no man must dare waken it, or there would be dire consequences for them all. Some of the youths decided to explore the cave and put an end to such foolish talk. They thought that they knew better and dragons were just old stories from the past. A group of these young people took some torches and went to the cave. They slowly entered the cave until they came to a dark mass of scales blocking their way and the sound of heavy breathing. The boys ran as the dragon awakened and roared. Fire came from it's mouth warming the boys heels and backs. When they were far enough away, they looked back and saw the dragon at the entrance of the cave, very angry being awakened from it's sleep. From that day on, the people knew no peace. Every day the dragon appeared and carried off a sheep or preferably young virgins. The populace made many attempts to kill the dragon but nothing succeeded and many of those that attempted were killed. The hero in this part of the story differs. In the village lived a wise man, or a shoemaker or a shoe makers apprentice named Krakus or Krac. He got some sheep and mixed a thick, yellow paste from sulfur. Krakus smeared it all over the animals. Then led them to a place where the dragon would see them. The dragon came out as expected, saw the sheep, roared, rushed down the hill and devoured the sheep. The dragon had a terrible fire within him, and a terrible thirst. It rushed to the River Vistula and started drinking. It drank and drank and could not stop. The dragon began to swell, but still it drank more and more. It went on drinking till suddenly there was a great explosion, and the dragon burst. There was great rejoicing by the people. Krakus, was made ruler of the village, and they built a stronghold on Wawel Hill. The country prospered under the rule of Krakus and a city grew up around the hill which was called Krakow, in honour of Krakus. When Krakus died, the people gave him a magnificent burial, and erected a mound over his tomb which can be seen to this day. The people brought earth with their own hands to the mound, and it has endured through all the centuries as a memorial to the person that killed the dragon of Krakow.
The large 200-foot-long cave in Wawel Hill, Krakow, which has been known for centuries as the monster's den, now attracts thousands of visitors each year. Whatever the truth of the dragon legend, the Dragon's Cave (Polish 'Smocza Jama') is Cracow's oldest residence, inhabited by man from the Stone Age through the 16th century.
A girl was walking
A girl was walking to the forest
To the green, to the green, to the green
then she met a hunter
Very handsome, handsome, handsome
Where is this street, where is this house
Where is this girl that I love
I found the street, I fund the house
I found the girl that I love
Oh my hunter I am very happy
I would give You bread with butter, but I ate it
But I ate it, but I ate it
Where is this street…
Katechizm Polish Child
written by St.Bełza
- Who are you?
- Little Pole.
- What is your sign?
- White eagle.
- Where do you live?
- Among mine.
- In which country?
- On Polish ground.
- What is this ground?
- My fatherland.
- How reached?
- With blood and scares.
- Do you love it?
- Yes, I do honestly.
- In what do you believe?
- In Poland I believe.
Long ago in Poland's early history, On the River Vistula, there was a small settlement of wooden huts inhabited by peaceful people who farmed the land and plied their trades. Near this village was Wawel Hill. In the side of Wawel Hill was a deep cave. The entrance was overgrown with tall, grass, bushes, and weeds. No man had ever ventured inside that cave, and some said that a fearsome dragon lived within it. The young people of the village didn't believe in the dragon. The old people of the village said that they had heard their fathers tell of a dragon who slept in the cave, and no man must dare waken it, or there would be dire consequences for them all. Some of the youths decided to explore the cave and put an end to such foolish talk. They thought that they knew better and dragons were just old stories from the past. A group of these young people took some torches and went to the cave. They slowly entered the cave until they came to a dark mass of scales blocking their way and the sound of heavy breathing. The boys ran as the dragon awakened and roared. Fire came from it's mouth warming the boys heels and backs. When they were far enough away, they looked back and saw the dragon at the entrance of the cave, very angry being awakened from it's sleep. From that day on, the people knew no peace. Every day the dragon appeared and carried off a sheep or preferably young virgins. The populace made many attempts to kill the dragon but nothing succeeded and many of those that attempted were killed. The hero in this part of the story differs. In the village lived a wise man, or a shoemaker or a shoe makers apprentice named Krakus or Krac. He got some sheep and mixed a thick, yellow paste from sulfur. Krakus smeared it all over the animals. Then led them to a place where the dragon would see them. The dragon came out as expected, saw the sheep, roared, rushed down the hill and devoured the sheep. The dragon had a terrible fire within him, and a terrible thirst. It rushed to the River Vistula and started drinking. It drank and drank and could not stop. The dragon began to swell, but still it drank more and more. It went on drinking till suddenly there was a great explosion, and the dragon burst. There was great rejoicing by the people. Krakus, was made ruler of the village, and they built a stronghold on Wawel Hill. The country prospered under the rule of Krakus and a city grew up around the hill which was called Krakow, in honour of Krakus. When Krakus died, the people gave him a magnificent burial, and erected a mound over his tomb which can be seen to this day. The people brought earth with their own hands to the mound, and it has endured through all the centuries as a memorial to the person that killed the dragon of Krakow.
The large 200-foot-long cave in Wawel Hill, Krakow, which has been known for centuries as the monster's den, now attracts thousands of visitors each year. Whatever the truth of the dragon legend, the Dragon's Cave (Polish 'Smocza Jama') is Cracow's oldest residence, inhabited by man from the Stone Age through the 16th century.
A girl was walking
A girl was walking to the forest
To the green, to the green, to the green
then she met a hunter
Very handsome, handsome, handsome
Where is this street, where is this house
Where is this girl that I love
I found the street, I fund the house
I found the girl that I love
Oh my hunter I am very happy
I would give You bread with butter, but I ate it
But I ate it, but I ate it
Where is this street…
Katechizm Polish Child
written by St.Bełza
- Who are you?
- Little Pole.
- What is your sign?
- White eagle.
- Where do you live?
- Among mine.
- In which country?
- On Polish ground.
- What is this ground?
- My fatherland.
- How reached?
- With blood and scares.
- Do you love it?
- Yes, I do honestly.
- In what do you believe?
- In Poland I believe.
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