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| COMENIUS
WEEK
here you will find
what each school does to celebrate “Comenius week” togheter
with Europe. |
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During
this week we worked with children and teachers of all the participating
countries to build a multilingual
dictionary and we focused on EU structure. |
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WINTER
TIME
Here we want to
show what each school does during winter and Christmas time.
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| November
S.Martin
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On 11.November we
celebrate Saint Martin.Marin was born 316 in Hungary as son of
a Roman official and became himself a Roman soldier. Being a horse
riding soldier , he was transferred to Gallia (France). There
he knew the Christian believe for the first time and let baptize.
In the legend he shared his coat with a beggar in a cold winter
night. Therefore children do a parade with lanterns on 11. November
evening. They are singing songs about Martin and a man ,disguised
as a Roman soldier (Martin), riding on a horse is accompanying
them. At the end of the parade Martin shares his coat with a beggar
and children share gingerbreads, breads or other little things.
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4
December
S.Barbara |
On
4 th of December is the day of St. Barbara. She was martyr in the
time of the persecution of Christians.Her symbol, which she is carrying,
is a tower with tree windows.On Barbara’s day we cut off twigs
of cherry or apple –trees and put them into a clay-vase with
warm water. If the twig is in blossom at Christmas Eve, it meansluck
for the next year. |
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For
(young) ladies who want to marry it means that the next year could
give her a present in form of a bridegroom.Tip: If you want to do
this you should refill the water every two days but you mustn’t
change the water. |
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6
December
St Nikolaus |
The
four weeks before Christmas, which are called “Advent”
in our country, are a very special time for everybody, especially
for children. One of the most important customs
is the celebrating of St. Nikolas ‘ Day on the 5 th evening
or the 6 th of December.Nikolas was a bishop at Myra ( in the present-day
country of Turkey) at the beginning of the 3 rd century, which was
a time of cruel persecution for early Christians. He, too, was imprisoned
and tortured.He has always been worshipped as an outstanding figure
in the Eastern Church, but his fame spread to the west very early
as well. In 1087 his bones were stolen from Myra by Italian merchants,
who took them to Bari, were they still rest in the crypt of the
Romanesque basilica S.Nikola.Since the Middle Age, Nikolas has been
patron of many churches in Germany. In Munich a fair even used to
be held in his honour. This is the origin of the Munich Christmas
Market. LLegend characterizes Nicolas as a very kind man who liked
to help people in need.Today, in his memory , on the 6 th of December
or on the evening before, men dressed as the holy Bishop Nicolas
go round the houses, awaited by the children with mixed emotions.
The Bishop is usually accompanied by a rather evil fellow called
Krampus or Knecht Rupprecht, who carries a rod and a chain and makes
frightful noises. |
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The
family awaits them in the living-room, where the children greet
them with a song. Then Bishop Nicolas reads from a golden book about
the children’s behaviour during the past year. He seems to
know all about the good and bad sides of each child. Now and then
his companion shakes his rod to frighten the children. In some cases
he even uses it on a naughty little boy who is not taking the situation
seriously enouth.But in the end “Nikolaus” opens a large
sack, which contains oranges, apples, Christmas cookies, chocolates
and small toys for each child. The children thank him and promise
to do their best to be good during the next year. Then he leaves
with good wishes to everybody. |
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| December |
Knock
at the doors (“Klöpfeln”)
On the first three Thursdays in December groups of children or adults
go from house to house, knock at each door, say rhymes, sing special
songs and wish luck to the inhabitants. Disguised in dark clothes
they were supposed to expel demons and ghosts and to bring health
and wealth. They them get money or/ and natural gifts like apples
, nuts , oranges or sweets for their good wishes. Thus in the past
poor people were allowed to beg for something to eat for to survive
the cold season. Nowadays people preferably ask for money to give
it to social services, to poor people in the village or for another
certain purpose.I (Luzi) may not forget to say : The “modern
adult beggars” get nearly in each household a glass of beer,
wine, wisky..etc. and it is really stressful to “work§
about 8 hours, like my group does… You can imagine..!! |
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Advent and
Christmas
Unlike Christmas in the English-speaking world, Christmas celebrations
in Germany start on 1 December and continue into the New Year,
ending only in January.
Celebrations begin
with Advent – the four weeks leading up to the celebration
of the birth of Jesus. A wreath holding four
candles has pride of place in the home, with a new candle being
lit each Advent Sunday, when carols are also sung. Children have
an Advent’s calendar and each day can open
one of the twenty-four windows to retrieve a treat. In churches
and some homes nativity scenes show Jesus in a stable. He is in
a manger surrounded by Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, sheep,
ox, donkey and the Three Wise Men.
In town and city
squares, Christmas markets offer traditional crafts and delicious
foods such as grilled sausages, mulled wine and all kinds of gingerbread.
At home, children also help bake gingerbreads and other Christmas
biscuits.
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exciting is 6 December which celebrates the bishop Saint
Nicholas. Saint Nicholas travels from house to house dressed
in his Bishop’s robes and hat and carrying his staff. He visits
the children and rewards with presents those who have been good
all year and admonishing those who have been naughty. |
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In
Germany, the
main Christmas celebrations occur on Christmas Eve
when families get together. A fir tree is dressed up with candles
and decorations such as straw stars, apples and angels. After a
delicious family meal, gifts are exchanged, and Christians of all
denominations go to church for midnight mass to celebrate the birth
of Jesus. The churches are alight with candles and are filled with
the sound of carols such as “Silent Night” and “O
Christmas Tree” being sung.
Festivities
continue on Christmas Day and Boxing Day which are both religious
holidays. Traditional meals such as duck or goose are prepared,
and families enjoy the festive spirit. |
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On
Sylvester (New Year’s Eve) the incoming year
is welcomed with fire works and parties. The 6 January is the last
day of the Christmas season and Christmas trees are taken down.
More importantly, however, this day celebrates the occasion of the
Three Wise Men visiting Jesus to bring him gifts.
In some villages this event is re-created when the “three
kings” go from home to home blessing the houses and marking
their front doors with chalk.The school holidays continue until
7 January and children enjoy the winter and the joys it brings,
such as building snowmen, skiing and ice-skating. |
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STUDENTS'
CORNER
here
is a collection of pen pals’ letters and other experiences:
can be hand written or emails. |
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| My
exciting travel to Cyprus – April 2005
My travel to Cyprus began with an exciting experience because Sarah
has forgotten her passport and came a day later to Cyprus. But when
I met my guestfamily for the first time all difficulties were solved.
After saying goodbye to my teachers at the airport, me and my family
drove to their house, where I lived for a week.
Hardly arriving and bringing the luggage in, I have been getting
a tour through the marvellous house. The woman where I lived was
an artist and her paintings were everywhere in the house. I liked
this very much.
Of course I had to go to school in Cyprus.There I had to talk in
English to everybody. It wasn`t easy but nice. Friday was my first
day at school. The school was very nice but completely different
to ours. The school had two buildings. One with the assembly hall,
some classrooms and a room for different handmades.
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The
other building had only classrooms. When I met the pupils for the
first time we played some games to get known better. They told me
a lot about customs in Cyprus. Eastern, for example, is some weeks
later than in Germany. After school I went to Nicosia with my guestfamily.
We looked around and went for a walk in a nice park. They showed
me all the nicest places. I have been spoiled by them very much.
There was no school on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we drove
to the sea and there we inspected some really big hotels. On one
beach there even was a donkey running around. On Sunday we had to
go to church. Churches in Cyprus are very different to ours in Germany.
The mass takes 3 hours and because the people have to stand all
of the time, most of them come later.I didn`t understand any word
because it was in Greek. I was surprised by the custom that the
people have to kiss the holy paintings, that are hanging in the
church, before the mass beginns. In the afternoon we visited a big
funpark and after that we went to Mc Donalds for a meal. |
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On
Thursday I had to go to school again. In the break a lot of pupils
came to see us because in Cyprus it`s unusual being blond and having
bright skin. Some of the pupils pulled my hair to see if it`s real.
After school we made trips to the city, the sea and other important
places. We were in a cinema where we got some information about
the origin and the past of Cyprus. Almost every garden had trees
with lemons and oranges and the people have stoves at home for baking
bread because it`s cheaper than buying it in a shop.
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I
collected lemons and oranges myself but it`s hard doing this by
27 degrees. On Thursday was my last school day. I had to go home
earlier because there was a lot of work to do before the departure.
I was very sad when Sarah and I were brought to the airport. Tears
were running down the cheeks when we had to dismiss from our guestfamily. |
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I
will never forget the exciting week in Cyprus,that event stamped
my life. I have learned very much about the culture, the customs
and the people and I have got new friends and know nown where I
can find wonderful people. |
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Verena
Daxenberger from Seeon/Germany |
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SPRING
TIME
We
want to show here what we do in the second part of the year
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| 1st
May traditions in Germany
The
May-tree
In
many villages in Bavaria people put up a May tree on the 1st May.
The origin for this custom probably comes from a forest- and tree
worship in Germanic era. The tree is a sign for the unity of the
people in the village. In some areas the tree is only there in may,
in other areas for the whole year. In our village the maytree is
striped white and blue. It is decorated with figures of wood and
the signs for the local craftmen. |
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There
is the custom that boys from the next village steal the tree before
it is put up. Then it has to be bought back with a lot of beer,
that the boys get.
The main work is putting up the big tree. All men of the village
are needed. It`s not allowed to use technical means for this, so
it is difficult and the men need lot of time. In the meantime traditional
dances were performed.
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