Multilateral partnership: Romania,Bulgaria,Italy,Portugal (2/8/2009- 31/7/2011)
MULTICULTURALISM THROUGH TRADITIONS AND ECOTOURISM
By Antonia La Gioia Teacher I.S.I.S.S. Crispiano Italy
When I joined the Comenius Project,
Multiculturalism through traditions and Ecotourism,
multilateral partnership with Romania, Bulgaria and
Portugal, which our institute is one of the partner
schools, I didn’t know what could have been the
results and the outcomes, but I was interested in
taking part to an experience to develop
knowledge and understanding among young
people and educational staff of the diversity of
European cultures and languages and its value.
This magazine, from the emblematic title “Face to
Face”, represents the result of six months of
activities, during which Italian students collected
articles written by teachers and students
participating to the Project, focused on their own
environment, traditions and culture. We try to offer
to our readers an idea of the current multicultural
European society, in which diversity is a value to
praise and respect. But, what does Multiculturalism
mean? In the “era of globalization” it is likely to
meet people coming from distant and sometimes
undeveloped countries to find better living
conditions and above all a deign job. As it is
natural, they often do badly paid low profile works,
live in poor conditions, in order to send their gains
to their families in their countries of origin. Every
day we have to face several episodes of
intolerance and prejudice against people
belonging to different cultures, believing in
different religions, having different traditions and
customs. They are different for the colour of their
skin, their way of dressing, and their poor
existences. They are “strangers” in the
etymological sense of the term, outsiders, not
integrated people. Their diversity sometimes scary
the hosting society and that’s the origin of
prejudice. How can we fight against it? How can
we contribute to improve our society? How is it
possible to build an inclusive wide-ranging society?
In the small centres of our countries, the
difference, the diversity is seen with more suspicion
and doubt. How can we promote integration? The
first step is interest in foreign expressions of culture.
If you are open minded, respectful and tolerant,
to be continued at pag.19 you easily meet people who have another cultural
background next door or across geographical
borders. Curiosity is another important factor, it
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makes you want to experience foreign cultures
and become familiar with different cultural habits.
In this way culture can be a tool for initiating
By: Ianos Alice, Alexandrescu Madalina, Campeanu Livia
Students Clasa a VIII-a BScoala “Elena Cuza” Piatra Neamt, Romania
Art sewing and embroidery has a long tradition throughout our
country. Testimony about length of embroidery and decorative
pieces are artistic skills and the costumes are worn in all villages
of our country, and are also in different museums and private
collections. The variety of traditional motifs, inspired by everyday
life, as well as decorative patterns arising from the creative
imagination of women, the harmony of colors, make these
objects performed in over centuries to form true masterpieces.
Our teacher of sewing combine old with new patterns, she is
passionate about the depth of ancient Romanian folk culture,
trying to penetrate the mystery of her mind and heart, thereby
further purpose and meaning, spirit and traditions alive.
The Neolithic and up to now, people were surrounded by
beautiful, decorated objects around in various techniques:
painting, inlay, weaving and sewing, using the same fundamental
motifs, only transformed into other shapes and decorative
compositions. The most common motifs are straight, spiral,
diamond, zig-zag, the sun and tree of life, and for colors we can
speak of a millenary predilection for white, black and red.
Weaving and sewing for a traditional family were part of the
occupations of basic Romanian women. From daily costumes to
those for feast or holiday are done from textiles made at home,
all being worked by country people with their hands, carefully
and in craftsmanship. From generation to generation this art is
preserved by women and girls who learn inside the family art of
weaving. Most start at 6-7 years to scythe first flower on canvas or
to help their mother to do weave war. And so each girl will learn
art of weaving and sewing, trying to make songs about their work
and to be proud living in the village.
To defend the inexplicable, the creations of its fears, the man
struggled with the material and spiritual means they deemed it
more effective and as a result he invented a magic tool,
designed to protect him: the mask. The Mask making is a winter
habit, probably the most spectacular in presentation, mask -
used here mainly as props - occupy a leading role. Fireplace
village is the scene that takes place with masks popular games,
spectators are members of the community.
Therefore, Neamt county has preserved over the centuries a well
defined individuality ethnographic landscape of Romania. Here
was held a folk life full of charm and color, whose testimonies of
material and spiritual culture can be admired today.
At our Club of Traditions belonging to the project “Multiculturalism
through traditions and ecotourism” we learn these old crafts of
sewing and making masks. It is very fascinating about this working
at the workshop as we are discovering the past and the popular
culture through these crafts.
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By Antonia La Gioia
Teacher I.S.I.S.S. Crispiano Italy
Ecotourism is: "Responsible the world, is mistaken for
travel to natural areas that adventure tourism and, in
conserves the environment fact, some include the latter
and improves the well-being as well as other
of local people." (TIES, The classifications given to
International Ecotourism tourism (eg rural tourism,
Society 1990). Ecotourism is responsible tourism,
about uniting conservation, ecotourism, alternative
communities, and sustainable tourism, ecotourism, cultural
travel. This means that those tourism) as shares or
who implement and derivatives of a
participate in ecotourism generalization called
activities should follow the Ecotourism. It wants to
following ecotourism introduce a more respectful
principles: minimize impact, way to travel places, closer
build environmental and to their preservation, in
other words, more
cultural awareness and
environmentally friendly. If
respect, provide positive
we do not intend to
experiences for both visitors
environment only the nature
and hosts, provide direct of the place, but people
financial benefits for who live there, it is natural to
conservation, and provide extend this concept to
financial benefits and them. I mean that the
empowerment for local ecological aspect, rather
people, raise sensitivity to than social, is much more
host countries’ political, obvious, and sometimes
environmental, and social even this is limited to the
climate. The eco-tourism or simple fact of doing outings
in nature. But "ecotourism"
ecotourism is a focus for
can not mean only this:
tourism activities in which it
tourism in nature, can be
privileges sustainability, highly destructive to nature
preservation and itself. It’s therefore a
appreciation of the philosophy very close to
environment (both natural sustainable development
and cultural). Ecotourism and is opposed to the logic
respects and preserves the of predatory tourism. That’s
balance of the environment, why in our experience of the
fostering environmental Comenius Project, we have
education, so that it is a form associated ecotourism with
local traditions of our own
of tourism focused on the
respective countries. So
assessment of ecosystems in
that, we put the focus on
their natural state, with its the environment, traditions
wildlife and its native and local population.
population intact. The
activity, as currently
configured in many parts of
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Colégio Miramar – PORTUGAL
Torres Vedras’ Carnival is, without any question, one of
the greatest Portuguese traditions, therefore it is known
as “the most Portuguese Carnival in Portugal”. From the
moment it first came up until now, it is one of the best
events in the year, bringing great folia to people and
helping them to forget the problems during this period
of time. This tradition is so important that people come
from the entire country to this specific city, and always
enjoys it since it is always different. This tradition goes
back to the time of King Sebastian, having been
documented for the first time in 1574 by reports from
one of the city’s resident (at the time it was not yet a
city). In 1885, it is published for the first time an article on
a local newspaper, where there are references to this
event, which for many years consisted only of balls and
recitations in the communities and private houses,
almost without any street animation. At the beginning
of the century, there are some notes of political satire, a
characteristic that has ever since been a trait of Torres
Vedras’ Carnival, which began gaining greater
animation since the Republic was implanted. All these
events were extremely important, but this Carnival
gained another pulse in the early 1920s, when a
commission was created to organise the street
celebrations in a more serious way. In 1925 there were
created the famous King and Queen of the Carnival
and in 1926 the “matrafonas” were created, which are
a the most significant and original symbol of this city’s
Carnival. In 1931, there was the first Battle of Flowers
and the thematic cars, in which over 3000 people
participated. Since 1960, Torres’ Carnival started to take
place more regularly, setting itself apart from all the
others due to its unique characteristics. It has ever since
become a more popular and universal Carnival,
intended for everyone and in nothing compared to
other urban Carnivals. As an evidence for that, we can
mention the first “auto-trapalhão” (self-clumsy) walk,
which took place in 1971, and during which all
participants had to wear costumes. One of the most
important aspects in this event is that actors and
spectators are as one and the number of participants in
this event increases every single year.
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ISISS CRISPIANO ITALY By student Valentina Nisi Classe 2 E
The origin of the Apoulian “massaricie” dates back to
the formation of the latifondium (extended Roman
landed property). The “roman villae”, which were
already economic and administrative centers, took an
essential role in the renewal of productive activity, with
the help of Barbarian sovereigns during the Barbarian
invasions. In order to tame the land, land-owners
granted parts of the land to the monks, in order for
them to farm the land and build churches and
monasteries on it. This way we have “farm-houses” small
settlements with religious, agricultural and defensive
aims which will constitute the basic structure of the farm.
In Crispiano we have precious evidence of these
settlements in the Castello Cave, where it is still possible
to admire a XI-XII century Basilian fresco. The Normans
(XI century) changed the declining farmhouses into
village farms seen as agricultural-productive centers.
The Svevian made the “royal farms” arise, they were
large farms Devoted to farming and animal breeding,
placed along the sheep-tracks, used as transhumance
rest stops. Strategic position was chosen for these
houses, so that roads could be watched. It was
necessary to defend them from brigands’ assaults,
because, during some month of the year, farms were
deposits of wealthy. The landed properties had as
reference the “village farm” where the figure of the
“farmer” arises: he is the one who organizes farm
laborers work. As they were not allowed to use grazing
lands anymore they were obliged to work for the new
owners. Once the sheep-tracks, which were dedicated
to transhumance, disappeared and were replaced by
wine, olive, and almond tree farming, all the activities
were organized around the farm. This way the farm
acquired a defensive role and became the co-
ordination center of the property production. The
“country farms” granted work to a great number of
laborers: field farmers, cattlemen, cow and sheep
farmers. After the birth of the Italic Reign, the
brigandage burst out: the brigand was the
disappointed farmer who preferred to take justice in his
hands against the “gentleman”. During the 1900s the
farms were run by farmers’ family, they paid rent to the
owners who use the farms as a summer residence. The
farms took on different roles, depending on their
economical address (sowable land farms or sheep
farms), on its location (hill, mountain, plain), on territory
morphology and on local building materials. Another
classification concerns closed court and open court
farms and the presence of fortification elements. Rural
chapels are characteristic elements of the farm, and
they can be found on many of them, as an example of
the sense of religion of past centuries.
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Editor, Tanasa Isabela Mihaela
Student Clasa a VII-a B
Scoala “Elena Cuza” Piatra Neamt, Romania
This project took place on a couple of
Saturdays. On the first Saturday at
Tarpesti, I met Mrs. Draga Popa. I started
the work of paiting on the glass. Draga,
as a professional paiter explained to us
at the beginning how should wash glass
with alcohol and then cut the garlic
clove and cover the part which we
paint with a film of garlic. After the
garlic has dried remove debris left after
the start procedure of painting. First it is
painted the color of shadows and lights,
forming little black and blue and a lot of
water. After the shadows and lights
have to change to dry contour. After
colors shall outline the most open in the
dark. They are rather the procedures for
painting on glass.
On next Saturdays I started to work in
clay on Cucuteni culture. Cucuteni was
widespread in Moldova, north-eastern
Muntenia, south-eastern Transylvania
and Bessarabia and was characterized
by a high quality ceramic, painted rich
and varied. We began with Cucuteni as
a model of culture, as a suitable one to
starte working in clay. We had to work
quickly so as not to harden the clay.
After making the forms of culture
figurines Cucuteni I let it dry.
In the last Saturdays, I painted figurines
to give closer aspects to the real things.
I used black and white, but gray.
I wish this project has not be ever over.
This project helped me see how
interesting persons are those I work with
and helped me to know more about
old cultures.
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By Antonia La Gioia Teacher I.S.I.S.S. Crispiano Italy
Ravines, natural formations on the characteristics
unusual and exceptional are the hallmark of the
landscape and the morphology of the Province
Ionica. Ravines of the province of Taranto, Brindisi,
Lecce and Bari are over three hundred, and the only
province of Taranto it has more than hundred and
fifty. Ravines are formed at the orographic jump that,
from 400 meters high murgian plateau, leads to 50 -
100 meters where the coastal strip started. All along
the perimeter of the murgian plateau, valleys more or
less parallel branch off towards the Ionian Sea and to
the Adriatic and are characterized by a gentler slope
towards the Adriatic coast (and are called blades),
more steep and deep on the Ionian side. From a
vegetation point of view, the canyons are real
singularities, in that they are formed microclimatic
niches that allow the survival of rare and endemic
species. In the ravine of Laterza for example were
well classified 528 species of flora. The phenomenon
is also found in the ravines smaller, for example in the
ravine Riggio in Grottaglie, where they were
identified 321 plant varieties. The exceptional diversity
in the presence of vegetation can also be explained
by the fact that the canyons allow the coexistence
of several species at a very short distance between
their very different environments (from moist cavities
rocky platforms, from wooded valleys to the grassy
plains, from muddy swamps to clear up mirrors of
'water). The Gravina of Leucaspide is the most
impressive example of this phenomenon in karst area
of Crispiano. Leucaspide ravine, full of caves, rock
walls, soft easy to dig, vegetation and water (for the
presence of the sources of Valencia and Triglio), has
been used for human settlement since distant past.
The area of the canyon is indeed particularly rich in
archaeological remains attributed to different
periods: the prehistoric dolmens, located near
Masseria Accetta, represented by some megalithic
monuments (dolmens), an old Greek village with
adjoining cemetery on the hill of Masseria Amastuola,
numerous rock settlements of medieval origin. ). It is
also extremely rich the vegetation of the maquis and
garrigue found in more open areas of the canyon
and in the stands above: to mention, among others,
myrtle (Myrtus communis subsp. Tarentine), the
Paliurus spina-christi, mastic, the hawthorn and
perastro (also the state of small trees), the viburnum
(Viburnus tinus).
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Colégio Miramar – PORTUGAL
“My choice”. “Make the most of it at only
5 Euros”. A delicate blend of smells and
pregões (sayings) fills the air. Eyes shift
from product to product searching for the
best possible price..The voice of the
market vendor intertwines with those of
the crowd creating the magical
atmosphere of an ancient bazaar – it is
after all the weekly market of Malveira
where there is a little of everything for just
about anybody.
The market of Malveira descends from
the annual fair founded towards the end
of the XVIII Century whereby the buying
and selling of cattle was central to its
existence in Lisboa. As the market
outgrew the annual periodicity in March,
the market became then a weekly event,
every Thursday, from 1945 onwards.
With the advent of the great railway
system, bringing with it an expansive
effect on Malveira itself, the market
enjoyed its own significant growth with
merchants arriving from all over the
country.
Presently, the market of Malveira
maintains an impressive popularity in the
region whilst transactions occur with all
sorts of products, from tools to shoes,
whilst also including furniture, birds or
even antiques.
Every Thursday, the market of Malveira
is an obligatory destination where you
can purchase products from the region at
a good price – vegetables, animals, fresh
fish, flowers, electrical appliances,
clothing and anything else you may
imagine, exists in the marketplace. In
this specific type of commerce, the
pregões (sayings) are the most typical of
all.
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ISISS CRISPIANO student Martellotta classe 2 E
The term “Rock Civilization”
means a set of complex and
varied social and cultural
realities, civil and religious,
connected to the experience of
living in caves, which have
covered by the sixth to the
thirteenth century the whole of
Southern Italy, continental and
insular. In the cave-houses and
churches you will find a huge
cave-related documentation of
life, religious values, social
organization, building techniques
and expressions of Medieval
Apulia, who deserves to be
rediscovered and appreciated.
Of particular importance is the
phenomenon of rock art in the
medieval period, with two distinct
periods of maximum
development: the first is on the
first half of the tenth century,
during the second Byzantine
settlement, the second between
the end of the eleventh and
thirteenth century, during the
Norman and Swabian period.
The environment more important
than all the rock settlement is the
church.
Many rural churches are born in
the period of Byzantine rule or
shortly after, when they are still
alive the cultural legacies of that
presence: many of them are
therefore taking constructive and
iconographic patterns typical of
the Eastern churches. The
influence of Byzantium was very
strong in the sacred iconography,
even many centuries after the
expulsion of the Byzantines from
Puglia. Very common are the
icons of saints and devotional
pictorial subjects typical of the
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icons of saints and devotional pictorial
icons of saints of the Eastern tradition as
subjects typical and devotional pictorial
subjects typical of the the Desis, the
the Christ Pantocrator,Eastern tradition
as the Christ
Virgin and Child.Pantocrator, the Desis,
the Virgin and Child.
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Colégio Miramar – PORTUGAL
Christmas is synonymous for family festivities, the opportunity to
put feuds and disagreements to rest, return to the point of origin
and celebrate with parents, grandparents and other family
members. One of the most important facets of Christmas Eve is
the Supper. Throughout the whole day, Christmas Supper is
th
prepared and served on the evening of the 24 of December
symbolizing the preservation of abstinence on the eve of the
celebration of Christmas.
Boiled cod fish with vegetables is the most traditional dish;
however, the dishes served very much depending on the local
traditions observed. In the province of Minho, for example, it is
also common to serve “Mexidos” – a sort of “açorda” which is a
dish that comprises bread and water seasoned with honey and
Port wine. The Supper also distinguishes itself by the popular
sweet dishes that are accompanied with Vinho Verde (green
wine) as well as red wine. The Rabanadas, Sonhos, Filhós or
Broas are just some of the examples of delicacies of Christmas.
It is almost considered a sin not to decorate the typical
Portuguese table with dried fruits. The religious celebration of
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Christmas starts at midnight on the 24 of December with the
Mass of the Cock. The Mass celebrates the birth of Jesus
Christ, attributed to this day by the Catholic Church. The faithful
visit the church for the ceremony, returning immediately home
where they feast on the Supper and proceed to open their
Christmas presents following the meal. The Mass of the Cock
derives from the legend which recounts the singing of the cock
announcing the birth of Jesus Christ, baby Jesus.
th
Christmas Day, on the 25 of December, also marks the end of
some very special traditions. It is expected that the family
spends the day together sharing a special meal. Christmas
lunch or dinner, varies according to the different regions of
Portugal and reflects those families’ preferences – traditionally
roast goat. However, international customs, namely the English
and North American, have imposed the turkey. The Christmas
symbol is without a doubt the Bolo-rei (the King’s cake).
Originally, it was a special cake whose existence was to
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celebrate the Day of the Kings, on the 6 of January, which is
assumed to be the day the Wise Kings reached Bethlehem to
offer presents to baby Jesus.
The specific significance of the cake has ceased to be
associated solely to the Day of The Kings and is now consumed
throughout Christmas period.
Inside the cake, you used to find a small present and a bean,
presently not allowed owing to EU regulations for hygiene
reasons. The person who used to find the present would not only
have luck bestowed on him, and the person who used to find the
bean, would have to buy the next cake.
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Teacher Ciucanu Elena Scoala “Elena Cuza” Piatra Neamt, Romania
Bistrita River crosses the town of Piatra Neamt after
its starting from the heart of the Carpathian
Mountains. Located somewhere between
Transilvania and Bucovina regions, Bistrita Valley is
one of the most beautiful areas of Moldavia, where
old traditions and popular customs, having a huge
artistic value, have still resisted. The natural frame
guarding this beautiful region forms real natural
fortresses, offering people in the past shelter and
protection, maintaining a patriarchal life with a
remarkable local personality. Priceless wealth of this
region: mountains, water and forests, they all offer a
great diversity of resources by vegetation and
animals existing in the natural area. That is why, from
ancient times, people have settled on Bistrita Valley
since the far of the past, and endowed it with
artistic creations of a huge artistic and sentimental
value. Evidence regarding the existence of man on
these places, come out of the archeological
discoveries in some of the places (Hangu, Tarpesti,
Piatra Neamt, the city where our school is located in
Bistrita Valley is a real reservation of traditional
architecture, wherein the entire evolution of the
Moldavian popular constructions, with Transylvanian
influence, is emphasized. Old traditional houses,
those trumpets, huts, houses with porches and
pantries, all having chimneys and ovens, beds with
dowry, and festivity clothes, wools and pillows,
benches near the walls endowed with woven
carpets and towels, low and round table made of
wood, with little chairs around, are improved
nowadays with modern, big houses but keeping
some features of the old traditional houses. Basic
professions of the people living on Bistrita Valley
during last centuries were: growing animals, wood
transport and cutting, handcrafts and a little bit of
agriculture. These main occupations are completed
by some additional skills such as: fishing and hunting, picking forest fruits, bee culture, household,
practiced especially by women. The main arts were those related to wood procession: carpentry,
gabbling, wheelwright’s work, wood work, smithy- skills used by the local people for making
traditional household and decorative objects, of a great artistic value. These arts are also practiced
nowadays, but less than before, on Bistrita Valley, and in the house we may find vessels, barrels,
buckets, pails, casks, spoons, spindles, baskets made in traditional way. Procession of wools and
hemp was the main occupation of women on Bistrita Valley. By means of complicated weaving
techniques women used to make their own clothes for them and the other members of the family,
decoration objects such as: wall carpets, wool carpets, towels, doilies, counterpanes, textures and
curtains, with floral motifs. Nowadays, these skills are still practiced by old women trying to transfer to
young people this beautiful arts. Practicing these skills was an important source of folklore- shepard
creations, Romanian folk songs, ballads, in which we can see the entire thought and feeling
inheritance of our ancestors. Popular clothes were the most important element of traditional culture.
Traditional popular costumes were worn
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both at work and at the Romanian ring dance in
the village. Nowadays, these traditional jewels
are used only at some special events such as
traditional feasts. Male popular costume is made
up of a long hemp shirt for work, embroidered
shirt and skirt for feast, with a woollen or leather
belt, with tight peasant trousers and a fur cap,
sandals in their feet, sheepskin coat and thick
long coat. The female costume is made up of:
peasant skirt, straight or folded shirt on the neck,
towel or headkerchief, sandals, thick long coat
for winter, all these being woven in the house.
The customs are the traditions taken from the
past, some of the being kept until nowadays.
Customs connected to work-taking sheep to the
sheepfold in spring, sheep rummage in autumn,
groups when collecting potatoes or corn, corn
opening, in winter, socials wherein young girls
work traditional decorations, and they offer them
to their fiancées, combined with traditional songs
and games (Romanian ring dance, Romanian
folk dances), being practiced nowadays in some
villages on Bistrita Valley. At the same time,
around traditional holidays like Christmas, Easter,
the Romanian ring dances are always played in
the village, and the entire community is there.
Winter traditions such as: children going carol
singing on Christmas Eve, specific games with
masks (the bear, the horses, the ring dance, the
popular theatre, the peony), funeral traditions,
are a great resource of spirituality, coded in
rhymes, songs and dances, mimics and gestures,
costumes, and these are original and expressive
features. Funeral customs such as the death
watch and the moaning are specific to our
people. From all these information, it comes out
that this area of Bistrita Valley has been one of
the most important areas where old Moldavian
traditions are still kept and they are transferred to
the young generation for keeping and enriching
the Romanian cultural fund.
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ISISS CRISPIANO student D’Elia Andrea Class 2 F
The rites of Holy Week in Taranto have deep roots in time, as they are to be traced at the
time of Spanish domination in southern Italy. The events to commemorate the Passion and
death of Christ are still many similarities with those of some cities in Spain. They were
introduced by the patrician Taranto Taranto Don Diego Calo, who in the early eighteenth
century (1703), built in Naples statues of Jesus and of Our Dead. In 1765 the patrician
Tarantino Francesco Antonio Calo, heir and guardian of the tradition of the Good Friday
procession of the Mysteries, gives the Confraternity of Mount Caramel, the two statues that
made up the procession, receiving the honor and the burden of organizing and perpetrating
the tradition began about a century before. This procession starts in the afternoon of Good
Friday from the church of Carmine, bringing the statues that symbolize the passion of Jesus,
and proceeds through the streets of the Borgo Nuovo. The brothers are dressed in traditional
dress and carry out at a slow pace accompanied by funeral marches. The procession is
composed by Troccola, an instrument that opens the procession, the Banner or the flag of
brotherhood, the mysteries of the Cross, Christ in the Garden, the Colonna, the Ecce Homo,
Cascade, was crucified, the Holy Shroud the body of Jesus, Our Lady of Sorrows. Pardons
(the dialect Perdúne by Tarantino) are couples of brethren of the Carmine church, who on
Holy Thursday, leaving at intervals from the mother church to make a pilgrimage to the major
churches of the City. They are barefoot and dressed in traditional dress which consists of: a
white blouse tight at the waist and wrists, a black rosary hung at the waist with a crucifix and
holy medals, pending the right of the coat, a white cap with two holes at eye level, a black
hat trimmed with blue ribbon, a crown of thorns resting on the head, white gloves. The
Perdúne are so named in memory of the pilgrims going to Rome to obtain the forgiveness of
sins. A swing called in dialect "nazzecata", characterizes the slow gait of the members
penitents. The output of Pardon is the first act of Taranto Holy Week that involves the entire
citizenry.
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LISBON HITS THE STREETS FOR THE SANTOS
POPULARES’ (POPULAR SAINTS) FESTIVITIES.
Bonfires, coloured marches, smell of basil and pregões
(sayings) amuse the city. Colégio Miramar - PORTUGAL
Santo Antonio (Saint Anthony) was born in
Lisbon, Portugal, on the 13th of September of
1195 and died 36 years later on the 13th of June
1231, in the neighbourhood of Padua, Italy. It is
from this that the name Santo Antonio de Lisboa
and Santo Antonio de Padua emerges – one of
the most popular saints of the church. Leo XIII
referred to him as “the saint of the whole world”.
Protector of the poor, the saint aided in the
search for lost objects or people, often thought
of as the friend of the causes of the heart.
Santo Antonio, the patron saint of Lisboa, invites
to the folia during various nights, but specifically
th th
on the 12 and 13 of June, when the city
dresses up for the festivities and marches.
Months of work culminate in one joyful march
consisting of colour and light throughout the
main avenue. It is in the most popular and
traditional neighbourhoods from Alfama to
Castelo that the importance of the saint is most
felt and Lisbon ennobles the tradition. In the
open spaces where small alleys and steep
stairways meet and promenades emerge serving
caldo verde (traditional soup) and grilled
sardines accompanied by village music and
adorned with coloured ribbons. It is one of the
most picturesque aspects of Lisbon nightlife,
where young and old converge in joyful unison.
Santo Antonio is also thought of as the time for
matchmaking, a tradition with great following by
the residents of the city – the Santo Antonio’s
brides. Hundreds of soon to be married couples
await in anticipation for this day whereby the
Municipality offers them an unforgettable
wedding festivity.
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ISISS CRISPIANO student Dalila De Leo class 2 E
Pizzica is an Italian folk dance originally born in the Salento peninsula
(Lecce in particular) and later spread throughout all of the Puglia
region.
It is part of the larger family of tarantella dances. It is ascertained
from various historical sources that the dance and music of the
taranta are related to the cult of Dionysus in ancient times, then very
much present in the land of Salento. The cult in honour of the god
Dionysus was particularly rampant, and represented a collective
moment in which people were alienated from the constraints and
the moral standards of the community, a kind of liberating moment.
Disappeared with time the cult of Dionysus, the dances remained
and became the heritage of rural culture. In Salento many years
ago, the population was mostly rural and lived in close contact with
the earth and animals, including poisonous spiders, such as the
tarantula. During the harvest happened to suddenly feel sick and
faint. After many cases not treated by traditional medicine, it was
noticed that the person in question appeared in a continual state of
trance and had no reaction except for a dance during the playing
of certain instruments, including, most importantly, the tambourine.
The therapeutic ritual took place mostly in their homes where with
the help of the music, Tarantolata, that is the person who had been
bitten by the spider, hypnotized by the rhythm of the music, went
into a state of unconsciousness and danced for hours and hours to
fall to the ground exhausted, finally freed from the effects of poison.
The music thus had a considerable significance in this process,
because only through the pizzica, played with a violin and a
tambourine, the victim managed to overcome his unwell. The ball
would have the function to exorcise, through wild dancing, this state
of malaise and to heal the afflicted person.
The "tarantolata" the person to heal, was at the centre of a circle
formed by the musicians that accompanied the frantic dance,
during which the dancer's movements took positions that simulate
the behaviour of a spider.
Today Taranta is essentially disappeared, and it remains only a very
rich cultural background made of songs, legends, music and words
that have been rediscovered and "exported" elsewhere in Italy.
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Osnovno uchilishte “Hristo Botev “ Varna – BULGARIA
Botanical Park in Varna combines in
harmony natural and artificial
ecosystems.
It was created in 1977.Before that it had
been a nursery garden.
Its territory is 90 acres. In 2002 it was
opened for visitors and became the first
eco park in Bulgaria and in the Balkan
peninsula. Nowadays eco park has rich
variety of exotic trees and bushes –
abot 250 species from 4 continents.
From Europe they are 123 , from Africa-
87 , from South America -40 and from
Asia -1.
The most popular species are :
Horse chestnut ( Aesculus
hippocastanum )
It was cultivated in 16 th century. Today
it is extinct tree.
Spanish pine ( Abies pinsapo )
Naturally spreaded only in area
Malaga , Spain
Pinea ( Pinuspinea ) –
This tree is famous for its enormous
seeds. There are 1500 seeds in one kg.
Sequoia
It is the giant among the trees.
Ginko biloba
The last survived species , a member of
Ginko family.Darvin called it “Fossil
which has existed for 150 million years “.
In the end of spring or early summer
you can enjoy the magnificent
collection of 250 species of irises.The
most popular is Iris Germanica.
One of the most beautiful places in the
park is Rose’s garden.Here are
cultivated 32 species hybrid roses. In
the past these plants were grown in
Syria ,Babylon and Greece .
Today there are only two areas for their
cultivation. Bulgaria is one of them.
Bulgarian rose is famous for its
qualitative rose oil. The most imposing
and beautiful rose is Rosa damascene .
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Osnovno uchilishte “Hristo Botev “ Varna – BULGARIA
Zlatni Pyasatsi" Nature
Park was proclaimed
protected area in 1943. It
is located 17 km northeast
of Varna and to the west of
the resort Zlatni pyasatsi
(Golden Sands). It covers 1
320,7 hectares along the
sea shore; the lay is
hilly, with typical land
sliding and terrace-like
character. The forests
within the park cover 90%
of the park's territory and
represent the largest
massif on the northern
Black Sea coastline. the
trees are typical for
Bulgaria's lowlands - oak-
trees, hornbeam, maple,
lime-tree, intertwined with
liana - traveller's joy,
ivy, etc. There are dense
forests and rocky hills
where lilac-shrubs, jasmine
and thorny bush grow. Among
the herbaceous plants in
the park there are 17
protected species; 40
orchid species enrich the
forests' splendour. Natural
habitats of numerous wild
animals can be found in the
park. The forests are the
shelter for the wild-boar,
deer, squirrel, fox etc.
Among the reptiles
inhabiting the park 5
species are protected - the
European pond turtle,
Hermann's and green
tortoise and two species of
snake. 80 bird species
inhabit and pass over the
park during the spring and
autumn migration of birds.
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background next door or across
geographical borders. Curiosity is another
important factor, it makes you want to
experience foreign cultures and become
familiar with different cultural habits. In this
way culture can be a tool for initiating
interaction, it gives you the opportunity to
realize similarities and differences. Another
aspect is learning foreign language, it also
can be seen as an intercultural dialogue.
Speaking the same language, even if for
one it is not the mother tongue, is one way
to experience and use foreign culture, you
get used to informal expressions and you
have to change your point of view. it is
possible to experience methods to help
individuals and organizations to gain the
skills necessary to seamlessly integrate
effective diversity and inclusion practices
into their organizational culture. So, our
Comenius Project represents a remarkable
occasion to cooperate towards
integration, through the knowledge of
different cultures and habits. Through direct
knowledge, our students were able to
compete with their peers, to compare with
their lifestyles, habits, school systems, only
to find that, although different in language,
culture, traditions, they share the same
enthusiasm, have the same aspirations, the
same desire to be leaders.
They all, Romanians Bulgarians, Italians and
Portuguese pupils are willing to help to
improve the quality of life for themselves
and future generations in an increasingly
multiethnic and multicultural society. The
Project was a tremendous opportunity to
expand our geographic and cultural
horizons, and offered to our school the
opportunity to join in an international
context, more exciting and rich from the
cultural and professional point of view. The
atmosphere that has marked these days
has been of real sharing and we had the
feeling of being actual European citizens.
Our common goal is to create a society
that is strengthened and empowered by its
diversity and to enable people with
different perspectives, belief systems and
life experiences to find common ground
and common purpose.
Teacher La Gioia Antonia
ISISS CRISPIANO
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