comenius calendar 2013/2014

COMENIUSPROJECT COMENIUSPROJECT COMENIUSPROJECT COMENIUSPROJECT COMENIUSPROJECT

YEAR 2013/2014

COMENIUS PROJECT


DECEMBER

2013

SUMMARY OF MEETING IN GUESTROW

On Saturday the 15th of December students and

teachers from Italy, Ireland and Sweden met up in

Berlin. We visited a Christmas market, Berliner Dom

and the Pergammon Museum. We had a nice dinner

together near the Sony center. On Sunday we met up

with the Spanish students and teachers at the central

station. We went then by bus to Güstrow and met up

with our host families. On Monday we went to the

school where the students had prepared a lesson in

German. Later we had a welcome ceremony. After that

we were divided into different groups and worked until

lunch time. After lunch we had a guided tour around the

city center. In the evening the German hosts had

prepared a welcome party with food, German

Christmas cookies and we also learned how to dance

Irish set dancing. On Tuesday we went to Rostock and

visited the Darwinian Museum. Then we had a guided

tour around Rostock, after which we visited the famous

Christmas market. On Wednesday we worked in our

groups and later that day we presented the work that

we had done. In the evening we saw a traditional

Christmas concert in the school. The Comenius group

participated. On Thursday we all said goodbye to

Güstrow and to our new friends and travelled back to

our home countries.


2013

DECEMBER SUMMARY OF MEETING IN GUESTROW

MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN

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German lesson Welcome ceremony

Trip to Berlin


2014

JANUARY NEW YEAR‘S EVE

(CATALONIA)

On the 31st December we all celebrate the arrival of the New Year. It’s a very beautiful tradition in our country because we celebrate it with our loved ones, with friends or family to end the year and start a new one with them. The main dish is shellfish, but here in Catalonia it is not a typical traditional food, so you can eat other things for dinner. Here, according to tradition, if you eat twelve grapes, one for each peal of the bell, you will have luck for the rest of the year. You have to eat the grapes very quickly. It’s also traditional to buy the cotillon bag, which contains different accessories (masks, hats, streamers and little trumpets made of carton), and when the clocks finish striking, we open it and we celebrate New Year’s Eve with our loved ones drinking wine, cava or champagne. Usually, teenagers have a party at home or go out to a discotheque with their friends.


2014

JANUARY NEW YEAR‘S EVE

(CATALONIA)


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2014

Ivrea’s Carnival is an event about history and tradition. The Carnival goes back to a medieval episode: the expulsion from the town of the baron because of a young lady. Ivrea’s Carnival is full of colours, music, dances and banquets. The most interesting part of the festival, and probably the thing which made it so famous all over Italy, is the “Oranges Battle”, a sign of the people’s rebellion against the tyranny. The people are divided into two parts: someone walks and throws oranges to the other group, on some wagons, who are allowed to wear protective clothing. The whole experience is amazing but you must be careful, in order not to receive an orange in your face…it is not funny at all!

FEBRUARY CARNIVAL IN IVREA

(ITALY)


2014

FEBRUARY CARNIVAL IN IVREA

(ITALY)


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2014

MARCH ST. PATRICK DAY

(IRELAND)

MEETING IN IRELAND - 2013

Saint Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17th March. It is named after Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland. It is celebrated around the world. Small parades are held in most towns in Ireland, as well as a large parade in Dublin city centre. In 2013 it was attended by over half a million people. Parades are also held in London and America, showing how many Irish people have emigrated there. The largest parade is in New York where it is said they even dye the river green. The events also include people wearing green, dressing like leprechauns and going to pubs to watch Irish dancing and listen to traditional Irish music.


2014

MARCH ST. PATRICK DAY

(IRELAND)

MEETING IN IRELAND - 2013


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2014

APRIL ST. JORDI

(CATALONIA)

The St. George's Day commemorates the death of this saint on April 23th in 303. Traditionally and from the fifteenth century in Catalonia St George's Day is the day of love, and it is a tradition that couples give each other a red rose "like blood" and a book. The woman gives the man a book and the man gives to woman a rose. The day is very important for the Catalan culture and balconies are adorned with the flag of Catalonia, la senyera. In some towns it is typical to eat a cake called cake of Sant Jordi that has the shape of a book. There is a legend which explains the story of a dragon who wanted to eat the princess of the town, but a knight called St Jordi saved the beautiful princess by killing the dragon. With the blood of the dragon St Jordi made a rose. There are some songs which are created especially for the Saint Jordi days.


2014

APRIL ST. JORDI

(CATALONIA)


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2014

MAY VALBORG (SWEDEN)

This festival is held during the evening of 30th of April.

Traditionally it is celebrated with a big bonfire and

dancing. The original reason why the bonfires started

was that the spiritual movement believed that witches

were extraordinarily active during the last day of April

and that the fire would keep them away.

Sweden isn’t the only country which celebrates Valborg.

The Czech Republic, Holland, Estonia, Finland, Germany,

Latvia and Lithuania celebrate it as well but every

country has its own traditions.

In Uppsala hundreds of students from the university

sing Swedish traditional chants which are broadcast all

over Sweden. In Gothenburg (where the Swedish

Comenius-group lives) it’s celebrated with a big parade

(cortége) that Chalmers University of Technology works

hard on every year. It’s a long caravan with everything

from trucks and remodelled cars to motorized bathtubs

and chairs. The brilliant twist with this is that every

group has their own theme, with a humorous angle to

the big news of the past year.


2014

MAY VALBORG (SWEDEN)


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2014

JUNE MIDSUMMER

(SWEDEN)

Midsummer is a typical tradition in Sweden. It’s the second last Friday in June. This day is important to Sweden, because Sweden is located on higher latitudes. This means we don't have as many sun hours as other countries. Midsummer is the day with most sun hours. On midsummer we eat a lot, dance around a pole and drink loads of alcohol. During midsummer a lot of people use these wreaths as a symbol of the summer. The pole we dance around is created by flowers and grass. The pole symbolizes the male sex. Among the dances we dance and sing is a dance called little frogs and a famous Swedish song called “Idas Sommarvisa”.


2014

JUNE MIDSUMMER

(SWEDEN)

MEETING IN ITALY - 2013 MEETING IN SWEDEN - 2014


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2014

JULY HOLIDAYS IN EACH COUNTRY

Germany In our country the summer holidays are the longest school-free period . They last for 6 weeks and start in June or July. It is different every year. Many students use this free time to travel to other countries. The most popular destinations are the Balearics (especially Mallorca), Italy and Turkey.

Sweden The summer holiday for the Swedish children is about 8-9 weeks long, and is very longed for by everyone. For the most part it is spent in free time, just swimming, spending time in the sun or maybe going to Liseberg, though some children get summer jobs to earn money.

Italy Our summer holidays last for 3 months more or less, from June to August. Many Italians during this period go on holiday, choosing many different places to spend their free time. Some go to foreign countries, while others prefer to stay in Italy and go to the seaside or to the mountain. Regarding young people they usually go together to have more fun.

Catalonia The holidays in Catalonia start on the last days of June. We have two and a half months holidays so we can rest a lot. We like going to the beach with our friends or with our family and to the swimming pool. Every village does a local festival during the summer where all the teenagers like to go, because there are different concerts and activities for people of all ages. On the evenings, after 6 p.m., it is typical to go with the friends and have an ice-cream or a typical refreshment called “orxata”.

Ireland In Ireland, summer holidays begin in early June for 8-12 weeks and end in late August when another school year begins. During the summer, people like to travel to other countries for holidays, spend time with their friends and play sports. If the weather is good, people also go to the beach.


2014

JULY HOLIDAYS IN EACH COUNTRY


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2014

AUGUST FERRAGOSTO

(ITALY)

The term Ferragosto derives from the Latin expression feriae Augusti (Augustus' rest) indicating a festivity set up by the emperor Augustus in 18 BC. This was in addition to the existing and very ancient Roman festivals which fell on the same month. The Catholic Church celebrates this date as a Holy Day of Obligation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the present day, Ferragosto is mainly a short holiday when most Italians take short vacations at the beach, and enjoy large communal meals. People celebrate on the streets in many cities of Italy. People also often have a barbeque.


2014

AUGUST FERRAGOSTO

(ITALY)


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2014

SEPTEMBER GAA FOOTBALL FINALS

(IRLAND)

Gaelic football is one of the most popular sports in Ireland. The 32 counties of Ireland submit a team. The All Ireland Senior Football Championships, the premier competition in Gaelic Football, is an annual series of games that is usually played in Ireland during the summer and early autumn. It is organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association, also called the GAA. This tournament has taken place every year since 1887. The competition concludes on the third or fourth Sunday in September with the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. The winning team receives the Sam Maguire Cup. The final has been played at Croke Park in Dublin since 1913. The most successful football team in the history of this tournament is Kerry, who have won the competition on 36 occasions.


2014

SEPTEMBER GAA FOOTBALL FINALS

(IRLAND)


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2014

OCTOBER Reunification Day

(GERMANY)

The events of World War II led to the division of Germany into East and West Germany. In a process that started in 1948 the German Constitution was established, which was highly significant for the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany in May 1949. In October 1949 the second German state, the German Democratic Republic, was founded. When the Berlin Wall was built in August 1961 citizens of the East were prohibited to enter the West without a compelling reason that would justify special permission. Journeys to most of the countries in the Western World were almost impossible from that moment on. This went on until the year 1989. In the late 80s people started to demonstrate peacefully for their freedom. The first and biggest demonstrations were in Leipzig. On November 9th 1989 the borders were opened. One year later on October 3rd 1990 Germany was reunited as one state. This was a very big and important event in Germany, thus it was made an official holiday.


2014

OCTOBER Reunification Day

(GERMANY)


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2014

NOVEMBER St.Martin‘s Day

(GERMANY)

St. Martin’s Day is on November 11th. It is the last day before the period of fasting and also the beginning of carnival. It is also known as Pay Day. In the Middle Ages poorer people paid their bills and debts with geese, because they were not able to feed them during the winter anyway. St. Martin was the Saint who helped the poor. Thus today it is typical to eat a so-called “Martin’s goose” on that day to remember him. And there are special St. Martin’s processions in which a man rides on a white horse and children go together with him while singing and holding lanterns. The highlight of the procession is a big bonfire.


2014

NOVEMBER MARTINS DAY (GERMANY)


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2014

DECEMBER CHRISTMAS IN EVERY COUNTRY

MEETING IN SPAIN-2013

Germany Here in Germany we celebrate Christmas from December 24th to December 26th and get our presents in the evening of December 24th. Santa Claus who we call ‘Weihnachtsmann’ brings the gifts for all on Christmas Eve. Most families decorate their Christmas tree with tinsel, baubles, stars and lights and the Christmas tree should be kept up until January 6th. Traditional German Christmas dishes are potato salad with sausages and a roasted duck with red cabbage. Besides this we like to bake and eat biscuits and ‘Stollen’ which is a rich cake with raisins.

Sweden Swedish Christmas is celebrated all through the month of December, starting with Advent, with is usually the first Sunday in the month, and ending usually the 6th January when the big celebrations have finished, and most people start working again. The majority of the Swedish folk think the 24th is the big day, since that is when you have a Christmas table,

and give gifts to your closest. In Sweden Santa Claus is called Tomten.

Italy Christmas is the most important festivity in Italy. It was initially begun as the celebration of the birth of Christ, and in fact many people still go to the church on Christmas Eve. Italy has also absorbed traditions from other cultures so that now children believe in Santa Claus. On Christmas day families usually meet together and have a big lunch, after having opened the presents obviously. Though this is what usually happens, sometimes instead of lunch families have a large dinner after midnight mass.

Catalonia Students’ Christmas holidays starts on 22nd of December and finish on 7th of January. During the night of the 24th children hit a log of wood which has a face and is covered by a blanket. This log of wood is called “tió” (shitting log). The children believe that this log of wood produces presents but actually the older family members hide the presents under the log’s blanket. Then, on the 5th of January we celebrate “els reis de l’orient” (the three kings) where they give presents to everybody during that night.

Ireland Christmas is celebrated on the 25th December. People may go to mass in the morning then families come together for Christmas dinner which traditionally consists of turkey and ham followed by Christmas Pudding. They exchange presents during the day. The day after Christmas is called St. Stephen’s Day when horse races are held and retail sales begin.


2014

DECEMBER CHRISTMAS IN EVERY COUNTRY

MEETING IN SPAIN-2013


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comenius calendar 2013/2014

Documents

new friends

new years eve catalonia

german christmas cookies

traditional christmas

welcome party

german hosts

famous christmas market

loved ones