Sunday, March 13, 2011

Skiing in Krvavec

We were skiing in Krvavec last week.
Here are some pictures...









Krvavec – Slovenia`s best Ski Resort is the closest Ski Resort to an international airport (Ljubljana – Brnik, 8km) in Europe. The Ski Resort has 30km of well-maintained ski runs 1,450m – 1,971m above sea level, providing excellent conditions for skiing on natural and artificial snow. Due to the centre's favourable location, the skiing season usually starts as early as the end of November and may last over 150 days until early May. The ski runs are varied and ideal for both recreational and professional skiers. The rich additional package includes a Ski School, rental and service of ski equipment, a polygon for beginners and a children’s playground, and thus attracts and delights beginners. A huge attraction at the Krvavec Ski Resort is the snow Hotel, the so-called Igloo Village. The pleasant atmosphere, the food and beverage offer and numerous parties will enchant you and may ensure that you come back.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

PUST

Običaj izhaja iz pradavnine, ko so naši predniki verovali, da bodo na ta način pregnali zimo in priklicali pomlad.
Beseda pust izhaja iz besedne zveze "meso pust", torej iz časa posta. Verjetno gre za izraz identičen italijanskemu "carne leva", kar prav tako pomeni pusti meso. Iz tega je tudi nastala beseda carnebale oziroma slovensko karneval - se pravi pustno rajanje.
Pust je lahko pustni čas, to je čas med novim letom in pepelnično sredo. Drugi pomen besede pust je izraz za maškaro ali masko, ki jo na pustni torek ponekod simbolično obsodijo na smrt in tako preženejo zimo in prikličejo pomlad.
Pustno praznovanje se pri nas ponavadi prične na pustno soboto. Takrat po mnogih slovenskih mestih priredijo velike pustne povorke in druga praznovanja. Otroci, pa tudi odrasli se našemijo v maske ali maškare. Tako hodijo od hiše do hiše in prosijo za kakšen krof ali denar.


Tipična slovenska šema pa je kurent, ki prihaja iz Ptuja. Kot splošna beseda ima kurent pomen pustna šema v kožuhu, z zvonci okrog pasu in posebnim pokrivalom, znana v vzhodni Sloveniji. Z nenehim skakanjem povzročajo z zvonci hud hrup in s tem po izročilu odganjajo zimo.


V Cerknem so znani maske laufarji. Laufarija, kot se ta pustni običaj tam imenuje se začne že na prvo nedeljo po Novem letu. Laufarji so skupina 25 mask od katerih ima vsaka svojo "osebnost". Vse imajo lesene maske, razen ene, ki je iz kože.




Friday, January 28, 2011

O “varrer dos armários” – Dia de Santo Amaro

        
Foto: Varrer os armários - São Roque do Faial
                                                                                                   
Na ilha da Madeira celebra-se o dia de Santo Amaro (15 de Janeiro) de maneira particularmente festiva e cerimoniosa, colocando-se na mesa iguarias idênticas às do dia de Natal.

Além de ser a data em que se desmancham os presépios ou lapinhas, decorre um pouco por toda a ilha da Madeira, no dia dedicado a Santo Amaro, um peculiar uso também ele alegre e festivo: «o varrer dos armários».

Consiste a função em se juntarem nestes dias pequenos grupos de homens e mulheres – actualmente mais os jovens ligados a ranchos folclóricos e as crianças das escolas –, a fim de percorrerem as casas dos familiares, vizinhos e amigos (à semelhança dos «janeireiros» ou dos «reiseiros»), para entoar cânticos alusivos, acompanhados por bombos e violas.
  
Munidos de uma vassourinha e de uma pá, para varrer os ditos, acontecendo que, por vezes, o fazem mesmo «para dar sorte», costuma levar uma saca destinada a arrecadar pequenas ofertas, geralmente bolos e doces.

Este costume serve, principalmente, para estreitar laços de boa vizinhança e de convívio, para se trocarem ditos e graças, sendo também motivo para se oferecer aos «vassoureiros» ou «varredores» (que em certas localidades continuam a apresentar-se mascarados), «a mesa posta com bolinhos e bebidas finas».

Exemplo de canção tradicional cantada no dia de Santo Amaro:

Vamos varrer a lapinha,
Deixai-nos entrar, Senhora,
Trazemos connosco a pá
E também uma vassoura.

Viemos de lá tão longe,
Do pé da terra dos alhos,
Trouxemos a vassourinha
Para varrer os armários.

Santo Amaro é bonito
É bonito não se o deixa
Para provarmos o vinho
Com cebolas de «escabecha».

Trazemos também connosco
Uma saca e uma pá.
Abra-nos a porta, Senhora,
Que queremos varrer já.


Sweep the closets (Varrer os armários) ” Tradition

On Madeira Island is celebrated Santo Amaro day (on January, 15th) in a particularly festive and ceremonious way, placing on the tables delicacies identical to those of Christmas Day.
Besides being the date on which people dismantle the nativity scene or “Lapinhas” people celebrate a little bit all over the island the Santo Amaro day and “sweep the closets”.
The tradition consists in joining these days small groups of men and women – nowadays are more the young folk dancers and school children – and visit their relatives, neighbors and friends houses to chant traditional songs (“Janeiras”) accompanied by drums and guitars.
They take a broom and a shovel with them to “sweep the closets” and doing it to give luck. People also take a bag to collect small gifts, usually cakes and candies.
This custom serves mainly to strengthen the ties of good neighborliness and socializing, to exchange and say thanks, and is also a reason to offer “the broomers” (which in some localities continue to appear masked) the table full of cakes and fine drinks.

Example of a traditional song of Santo Amaro day:

Let's sweep the “Lapinha”
Let us go, Madam,
We bring with us the shovel
And also a broom.

We come from so far away,
Near the land of garlic,
We brought the broom
To sweep the closets.

Santo Amaro is handsome
It's handsome and do not let
To prove the wine
With onion pickles.

We also have with us
A sack and a shovel.
Open the door for us, Madam,
We want to sweep now.