Halloween party in Portugal
Told by Vera - on 10/31/2008 11:55:00 PM - 1 Comments
Hello everyone!
Here are some pictures of our Halloween party this year in Portugal!



All the best from Portugal!



Happy Halloween from Penamacor - Portugal
Told by Vera - on 10/31/2008 11:45:00 PM - 0 Comments

video






Italian children having fun
Told by lou64 - on 10/15/2008 05:40:00 PM - 0 Comments


Or are they English ones?
Can you identify our clothes? What are we wearing? Where are these things from? Try and guess :-)


Saint Martin in Reichenbach
Told by A. Ste. - on 10/11/2008 07:47:00 PM - 0 Comments
This year we are celebrating Saint Martin in Reichenbach on Monday the 10th Nov.
First there are processions with lanterns from different points to our school yard. On the procession the children are singing special songs : "Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne", "Laterne, Laterne",...
On the school yard there is always a group of children playing the story of Saint Martin, which is the same Lucia from Venice described and there are again songs. As well some persons of the band of Reichenbach are playing.
After all the children get a special bread "St. Martins-Weck" donated by the municipality.
The group "Höllteufel" (carnival) sells mulled wine for the adults.


The pupils in Reichenbach are playing the story of Saint Martin
Told by A. Ste. - on 10/11/2008 07:44:00 PM - 0 Comments


Saint Martin in Germany
Told by A. Ste. - on 10/11/2008 07:38:00 PM - 0 Comments


Told by lou64 - on 10/11/2008 06:04:00 PM - 0 Comments

Here in Venice very soon we are going to celebrate Saint Martin festival - have a look!


Saint Martin’s day is celebrated throughout Italy in honour of St Martin – a soldier of the Roman Empire who became Saint for his generosity and charity.
It is celebrated in occasion of the Indian Summer – called Estate di San Martino in Italy – a short period of time characterized by the fine warm weather of the first day of November in most of the Mediterranean countries.
It seems we have such a beautiful weather every year in this period thanks to a charitable deed of St Martin – according to the legend, on a cold and rainy 11th November Martin was out riding when he came across an old man on the road.
The man was stumbling along and stricken by the freezing winds: Martin wanted to help the old man in some way but he had no money or cover to offer him.
So he took out his sword, cut in half his cloak and then gave half to the man.
Martins heart was full of joy and… suddenly through a break in the clouds sunshine appeared
That very night Martin dreamed that Jesus, with his cloak in hand, thanked him for his kind-hearted gesture.

In Venice St Martin’s day is celebrated on the 11th November and children, with their teachers or parents enjoy themselves going round the town making a lot of noise with things such as pots, pans and spoons asking passengers-by for some money and singing rhymes:

San Martin xe andà in sofita
A trovar ea nona Rita
Nona rita no ghe gera
San Martin col cùeo par tera
E col nostro sachetin
Viva viva San Martin

Sometimes children make a horse of cardboard and dress up as Saint Martin on this day.
In some schools – especially in the mainland (where we live) a man, who dresses up as Saint Martin, goes to visit pupils and brings special soft shortbread biscuits depicting Saint Martin on horseback with his cloak and sword.
They are decorated with icing , sweets, candies and chocolates.



What a wonderful welcome
Told by A. Ste. - on 10/03/2008 04:58:00 PM - 0 Comments


yep we are a great team!
Told by lou64 - on 10/02/2008 04:02:00 PM - 0 Comments

We are a wonderful team aren't we? Just have alook at our smiling faces :-9
all the best
lucia