An Old Romanian Spring Tradition- “Alexiile” March 22, 2008
On the 17th of March, the Orthodox Church celebrates St. Alexie, the patron saint of insects and reptiles. This day is known among people under the name of “Alexii” or “Alexiile” and it has been celebrated in Comanesti and Humoreni for a long time. My pupils have asked the old people in the village about the origin and significance of the Alexii and this is what they found out:
- people make fires in the fields or in their orchards because they think that the smoke will flick away from their homes the insects and the reptiles which wake up in spring;
- children jump over the fires in order to be in a good physical condition all the year;
- women put some polenta, a bit of salt and some coal in a small box and throw it into a river because the superstition is that the insects and reptiles will have enough food and they will not go to people’s houses;
- this is a purification ritual;
- people burn rubber and hay to make smoke
(Andrei-Laurentiu, Andrei, Daniel- 5th form, Comanesti School)
Easter cards from Italy! March 20, 2008
Classe 4^B – Scuola Primaria “A. Ciancia”- Francavilla in Sinni (PZ) – Italia
Easter cards from Italy! March 20, 2008
Classe 5^A – Scuola Primaria “A. Ciancia”- Francavilla in Sinni (PZ) – Italia
The “pëccëllætë”: a typical Easter recipe from the south of Italy March 20, 2008
During Easter time our mums and grandmas prepare at least one “pëccëllætë”. It’s an Easter ring shaped cake made by flour, water and eggs, with or without sugar that we eat on Easter. Here you are the recipe!
You need:
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1 kg of flour
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250 g of sugar
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Water (how you need)
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7 eggs
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100 g of melted lard
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1 piece of brewer’s yeast
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1 grated lemon peel
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1 glass of “Martini” liquor
Mix the ingredients on the pastry board and and work well. Cover the dough and let it rice for ten or more hours( it depends on the temperature), better for one night. Work the dough on the pastry board giving it a ring shape. Cover and let it rice again for 5 or 6 hours. When it’s well riced bake in the oven for about half an hour.
If you like making the salt version, leave the sugar and the “Martini” liquor and add 1 glass of white wine.Before baking insert in the ring shaped dough four boiled eggs with around some blessed olive leaves as a decoration. You can eat it during the Easter lunch instead of bread.
Some photos of a “pëccëllætë” wiyh sugar:
Happy Easter!
Classe 5^A – Scuola primaria “A. Ciancia” – Francavilla in Sinni (PZ) – Italia
Bells at Easter March 20, 2008
In Italy, Church bells ring joyfully during the year . But the bells stop ringingon the Thursday before Good Friday (“Venerdì Santo” in Italian). They are silent for a few days while people remember the death of Jesus.
On Easter Sunday at midnight the bells ring out , telling the people that Jesus is alive again.
When people hear the bells, they kiss and hug one another
Alberto Scuola Media Vivaldi Alessandria
The “lavurjèllë”- a South Italian tradition March 19, 2008
Another typical Easter tradition in our town and in the South of Italy is to make “lavurjèllë”. They are yellow little wheat plants grown up in the dark and offered Jesus during the Holy Week.
During Lent people , especially children, at home and at school put wheat seeds on wet cotton in containers and keep them in a dark place. Slowly Little yellow plants grow up and when are ready, generally at the beginning of the Holy Week, people decorate them with coloured ribbons and spring flowers and bring them to the church to adobe the altar where Jesus the Crucifix is shown.
Also this year in some classes children made the “lavurjèllë” and brought them to the church.
Here’s one of them!
Scuola Primaria “A.Ciancia”-Francavilla in Sinni (PZ) -Italia
Palm Sunday in the south of Italy March 19, 2008
In our town we also celebrate “La Domenica delle Palme” as in other part of Italy. On the Sunday morning, the priest followed by all the people waving palms, goes in procession from the church to the Calvary and there he blesses the little branches that everyone brings at home and keeps devoutly. Afterwards the procession comes back towards the Church to celebrate the Mess. As in the South of Italy and,of course around our town, there are many olive trees the palms are made mostly using branches of olives. Once upon a time making palms was an art. On the day before the Palm Sunday women used to prepare branches of different sizes and decorated them with ribbons, spring flowers and holy pictures. Someone worked then in a very artistic and particular way: They braided the branches and the leaves giving them a circular shape just like some little green suns with the rays around and then threaded in them flowers of different colours. They were really paricular! Nowadays we can’t see many of these palms, mostly people wave only a simple olive branch in sign of peace.
Here are some of our palms!
Classe 5^A – Scuola Primaria “A. Ciancia” – Francavilla in Sinni (PZ) Italia
What do families do during school holidays ? March 19, 2008
Our children wrote about what they did during the last school holidays. Sometimes the day might have been spent visiting grandparents or playing in the local park but they usually have one special day during each vacation when the whole family might spend some “quality time” together. Here are a few of their stories:
Last week was half term. I am going to write about a super day out. On Wednesday I went to Weelock Farm. I went with my mum, sister and Bryn’s mum and two sisters. While we were there we saw some animals such as cows and played in the park. My favourite part was when I went in the park. I wish I could go there again. Adam
I am going to write about a super day out. On Tuesday I went to the community farm, I went with my mum and my brother. While we were there we saw farm animals such as pigs, cows, goats and sheep. When it was time to come home I felt sad. The best thing about today was feeding the goats. I hope I go again because it was exciting, fabulous and fantastic. Next time we have a break from school I would like to go again. By Brandon
On Wednesday my family and I went to Great Yarmouth and it was fun because we went to the swimming baths but the water was cold. My dad said “oh, this water is as cold as an ice cube.” Then on Friday I went to my mum to ask her if I can go to Alton Towers. She said “only if you do your room”. And I ran up stairs and I tidied my room. Then on Saturday I went to the African Zoo and I saw the rhino but my brother was poorly. So we had to go back to the caravan. By Chelsey
In the half term holidays my mum and I went to my Aunty Jane’s for a little bit and I said to Lucy “do you want to sleep?”. Lucy said “yes please” so we went to my house and played in the back garden. But Lucy fell over and I said “are you OK?” she said “yes I am OK”. As soon as we started to play my mum shouted us in for tea. Lucy said to me “what are we having? I said chips and peas and fish Lucy said “yum yum”. I said to Lucy “look at the time.” Lucy said “it is 7 o’clock.” My Mum said I had to go to bed. “OK” I said. The next morning we went to Aunty Jane’s again. Aunty Jane said to me “do you want to sleep” and I said “yes please.” The next day I said “goodbye and thank you for letting me sleep.” The next day my Mum took me to the park. I went on the swings and everything else. It was fun but when I got home I said “I am going to bed for over 5 hours.” By Caitlin
I am going to write about a super day out. On Tuesday I went to MacDonald’s. I went with my mum, nanny, cousin, 3 sisters and me. While we were there we all had a micflurry. When it was time to go home I felt unhappy and miserable. The best part about the day was that my nanny bought me a new Nokia phone from Argos and she bought us each a happy meal from MacDonald’s. I hope I go there again because it is an exiting and amazing place. It was even better than going to youth club. I would describe the day as fun and exiting. Next time I have a break from school I would like to go to Alton Towers, it would be great if I could take Mac and Tilly with me. When I was at McDonalds I wished that I could go there every day and I asked if I could go tomorrow but she said no and I kept on saying it. I said please mum please but she kept on saying no. The next minute she said yes I said thank you mum. I said to my mum I love you loads because you’re the best mum in the world. By Geri
On Friday I went to Manchester Airport. I went with my mum and dad and sisters. While we were there we watched the planes take off and land. When it was time to go home I felt sad. The best thing about the day was watching the jets go off. I hope I go there again because it was brilliant. It was even better than going to Blackpool. By Bryn
Last week it was half term and it was my cousin’s birthday and he invited me to his party. Here are a few things which I did with my mum and dad. On Sunday we went to the swimming baths, while we were there we splashed about and it was fun because I was learning to swim. The best part was that I swam a bit. On Tuesday my mum and dad took us to the Brewster’s pub. When we got there all we did is play but I was scared of going down the pink slide. When I got home I went into my bed and fell asleep. When I woke up I went down to see my friend Jay and I played with him. By Jordan
Last week it was half term. I’m going to write about a superb day out. On Sunday I went to Westport Lake. I went with Simon, Ryan, Reece and my dad. While we were there we played on the round about. Then it was time to go home I felt tired and I went to watch a film and then I went to bed. The best bit of the day was the chair because it spins around really fast. I hope I go there again because I like feeding the ducks. It was even better than going to the cinema because I nearly fell asleep. I would describe the day as exciting & fantastic. Next time we have a break from school I would like to go to Blackpool. It would be amazing to take Ryan and Simon with me and when I’m older I would like to be a teacher. By Liam
One super day I went to Argos and got a game called Super Mario Brothers and my sister got a toy. I went with my dad and Mum, I saw a big toy in the book but they did not have it in the shop. The best part of the day was going home and playing on my new game, it was lots of fun. I also visited my nanna in her bungalow. By Robert
