“Cultural Heritage” in Europe Booklet

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PROJECT NO. 2018-1-UK01-KA201-048136

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) Project Partners
3) Traditions
4) Recipes
5) Monuments and places of interest

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Introduction

Cultural heritage is an expression of ourselves, formed by many generations
before us and sculpting the identity of generations to come. It dictates many of
our customs, practices, artistic impressions and values. Our cultural heritage is
intertwined in our music, our languages, our mythology and religion. Our
tangible heritage, history and culture in the form of monuments, shrines,
churches, mosques and landmarks are permanent reminders of the importance
of understanding and knowing one’s heritage.

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Introduction

In order to understand cultural heritage, a person must see the value in it. By
valuing their own cultural heritage, they begin to care about it and enjoy it more.
Once they enjoy it, their heritage becomes much easier to understand and
absorb.

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Introduction

The project “Adopt Your Heritage” brings together 6 organisations from the UK,
Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Turkey to help young people become more aware
of their cultural prosperity, their identity and characteristics, embedding this
knowledge into future generations.

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Introduction

The partners in this project have expressed a need to promote cultural heritage
not just in their schools but at a local, regional and national level through the
Erasmus+ programme.

By creating a wider network of teachers, youth workers and young people, the
project will further the participants understanding of their own heritage, while
at the same time, shaping and forging a common European identity through the
realisation of the similarities between neighbouring countries helping them to
embrace their cultural differences.

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Project Partners

United Kingdom - Hanta Associates Ltd
Turkey - İncirliova Gençlik Kultur, Sanat ve Gelisim Dernegi
Portugal - Agrupamento de Escolas do Forte da Casa
Spain - Colegio El Buen Pastor
Italy - IISS Jacopo del Duca - Diego Bianca Amato
Bulgaria - Sdruzhenie Walk Together

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Bulgaria

CHASING THE CROSS IN FROZEN WATER ON
JORDAN’S DAY.

On 6 January each year, Christian Bulgarians
mark Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus, locally
known as Jordan’s Day (Йордановден,
Yordanovden), with some rather manly traditions
that make use of the icy winter waters. According
to one custom, a priest throws a cross into a river
or lake and all willing men jump after the cross in
a competition to reach and retrieve it. The saying
goes that whoever catches the cross will be
happy and healthy throughout the year.

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Bulgaria

Another Jordan’s Day tradition is the icy round
dance. Rather than chasing a cross, this involves
men dancing in a freezing river to traditional
Bulgarian tunes. This custom is best associated
with the town of Kalofer, though it has been
practiced in other places as well.

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Bulgaria

CARNAVAL AGAINST EVIL SPIRIT: KUKERI.

While carnivals are widespread around the world
before Lent, Bulgaria’s Kukeri (кукери) stand out
with their scary costumes which look like they
have come from an elaborate horror production.
An ancient ritual to drive away the evil spirits, the
procession of the Kukeri is celebrated either
around New Year’s Eve or on Cheesefare Sunday,
just before Lent.

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Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Kukeri are unmistakable thanks to
their incredibly creepy masks, the huge bells on
their belt and the costumes made of thick animal
pelts. A great place to see the variety of costumes
is the city of Pernik on the days of the Surva
masquerade festival in late January or early
February each year.

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Bulgaria

SACRED BAREFOOT DANCE ON FIRE:
NESTINARI.

In a few isolated villages in the rolling Strandzha
Mountains near the Turkish border, a mystical
ritual has survived till the present day. On the
night of Saints Constantine and Helen’s Day,
villagers gather on the square to dance – barefoot
– on burning embers. Reportedly, the dancers
(called nestinari, нестинари) descend into a state
of trance induced by a sacred drum, explaining
the complete lack of pain felt by the participants.

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Bulgaria

The tradition of Nestinarstvo or Anastenaria
combines Eastern Orthodox principles with more
ancient pagan rituals. Curiously, it is practiced by
both ethnic Bulgarians and the former Greek
population of some of the villages in Strandzha.

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Italy

LA BEFANA.

La Befana is a kindly old witch who brings
children toys on the Feast of the Epiphany,
January 6.

It has been an Italian tradition since the XIII
century and comes from Christian legend rather
than popular culture. According to the legend of
la Befana, the Three Wise Men stopped at her hut
to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem and
to invite her to join them. She refused, and later a
shepherd asked her to join him in paying respect
to the Christ Child.

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Italy

Again she refused, and when night fell she saw a
great light in the skies. La Befana thought
perhaps she should have gone with the Three
Wise Men, so she gathered some toys that had
belonged to her own child, who had died, and ran
to find the kings and the shepherd. But la Befana
could not find them or the stable. Now, each year
she looks for the Christ Child and on. Since she
cannot find him, she flies around the world on a
broomstick and delivers candies and presents to
children who have been good during the year.

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Italy

On the night of the 5th of January, Epiphany Eve,
Italian children set out a large sock or stocking by
the fireplace or at the foot of their bed so that
Befana will come and hopefully fill it with sweets
and presents – if the child was good – or charcoal
(nowadays carbone dolce, a rock candy that looks
like coal) – if the child was bad. It is also
customary to leave some milk and cookies for
Befana to enjoy. Children can write letters to her
requesting specific gifts.

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Italy

THE TRADITION OF CONFETTI-GIVING.

Confetti in Italy is not what it is in the UK other
English speaking countries. Italian confetti are
small, almond sweets with a crisp, sugar coating;
some are not just coated with coloured sugar, but
have a layer of chocolate or other flavours
between the almond and the sugar layer. They are
essential offering at any Italian wedding, baptism,
anniversary, graduation or significant family
event: you give friends, relations, acquaintances
and neighbours confetti when you get married,
when your baby is born, and christened, and
when your child has first communion.

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Italy

You give them for every life-changing event you
live through, as a way of requesting good wishes
from everyone. You have better not miss anyone
out, for that would be an unforgivable social
gaffe. Confetti are for celebrations, so the only
important life event which is not commemorated
by giving them out is a funeral. Eating the sugared
almonds you have received is a way of bringing
good fortune and good wishes – auguri – to the
person who gave them. Confetti come in different
colours.

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Italy

An old tradition dictates which colour should be
used for which occasion: white for weddings,
pastel blue for newly born boys, pastel pink for
newly born girls, red for graduations, silver or
gold for anniversaries, green for engagements (no
longer fashionable).

Another Italian convention suggests that confetti
at weddings are offered in a multiple of the
number 5, symbolising the 5 good wishes for
newly-weds of health, prosperity, happiness,
fertility and longevity. Even in other situations
they are always served in odd numbers as even
numbers are deemed to be unlucky.

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Italy 27

The little bag or box of confetti is always packed
together with a little card with the names of the
spouses or of the person being fêted and the date
of the ceremony. These packages are always very
beautiful and well-finished, decorated with
ribbons, bows, artificial flowers; sometimes they
are offered together with a little gift called
“bomboniera”.

When ordering confetti, you work on the design
together with the shopkeeper, choosing from a
massive selection of ribbons, materials, figurines,
silver trinkets, porcelain and glasswares. You
collect your confetti a few weeks later when
she has made them all.

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Italy

CARNIVAL TRADITIONS.

Semel in anno licet insanire (once a year is
allowed to get crazy)

Carnival in Italy is an ancient tradition occurring
in the immediate period before Lent. The
protagonist of Carnival is the costume or
disguise, the mask that allows people to
transform themselves into whomever they wish
to be – at least for a few days.

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Italy

February in Italy means that just about every city
is invaded with masks, confetti (in Italy called
“coriandoli”, because the word “confetti” in Italian
means coloured sugar covered almonds – see
tradition above), colours and lights that make for
a very exciting and unique atmosphere.

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Italy

In Italy, it is celebrated in many different ways,
depending from region to region and from city to
city. The most popular Carnival in Italy is the
Carnival of Venice, which is popular for its masks.
Venetian Masks are the symbol of Venice
Carnival, which attracts tourists from all over
Italy and the world. The Carnival of Venice has its
origins in X century, when everyone was allowed
to mask and every social or sexual difference was
removed.

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Italy

The Carnival traditions have evolved and today
Venice has lots of prestigious masks as well as
original and fine costumes which characterize it
and make Venetians proud of their beautiful
Carnival.

The historical Carnival of Ivrea, a town of
Piedmont region, has ancient origins dating back
to Middle Age. It is characterized by folkloristic
ceremonies as well as by the “Orange battle”,
which has become the symbol of Ivrea Carnival.
The “Orange battle”, in which oranges are used as
bullets, symbolizes the struggle of people against
the nobility.

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Italy

At Carnival many Italian towns organize long
parades of floats and masks, usually made of
paper-pulp, depicting caricatures of popular
people, such as politicians, showmen and
sportsmen. Among the most famous Carnivals
there is the traditional Carnevale di Viareggio.
The first Viareggio carnival parade was held in
1873.

In Sicily the most famous ones are held in Sciacca
and in Acireale.

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Portugal

BRIDES FROM THE NORTH.

These are the brides from the north of Portugal

The traditional costume is black and not white to
bring out the gold shining and the embroidery of
ornaments.

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Portugal

TRAJE DA NAZARÉ.

Traje da Nazaré, Portugal. The women of Nazare
are known for wearing 7 petticoats. Their
husbands are fishermen, so the many petticoats
allow them to cover their head, arms, and legs
while waiting on the beach for them to return in
stormy weather

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Portugal

BREAD FOR GOD.

Bread for God is an ancient tradition very similar
to Halloween or Halloween (in the Anglo-Saxon
countries), where children knock at the door for
trick or treat.

On November 1st, All Saints Day in Portugal, the
children go out into the street and join in small
groups to ask for Bread for God (or the cookies)
door-to-door.

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Portugal

Exactly one year after the great earthquake of
1755 - which destroyed part of the city of Lisbon -
and coinciding with All Saints Day, the people
took advantage of the religious festival to
organize a pedestal. The intention was to begin a
tradition reminiscent of their dead.

People went all over the capital, knocking at the
door and asking for any alms, even if it was just
bread. At this time, hunger and misery were felt
throughout the city. Given the desperation,
people asked for "Bread, for God's sake."

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Portugal

In exchange many beggars received bread, cakes,
wine and other food to honour their dead and beg
for their soul - so this day is also known as
"Cookie Day".

This is the origin of this Christian ritual, in which
the children who participate in the petitions
represent the souls of the dead who "err in this
day for the world".

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Spain

SAN FERMIN (Pamplona Bull Run).

A controversial yet popular festival, considered as
the most action packed in Spain. For a week,
beginning of July in Pamplona, every morning,
participants and bull go in the streets in a nail-biting
race to the bull ring. In the afternoon, bullfight take
place.

The first celebration took place in 1591 and was
much more low-key than it is today. The festival has a
full of unique local traditions, ye the bull run is
dangerous and considered unethical.

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Spain

LA TOMATINA ( Tomato Fight)

Considered as the world’s biggest food fight held
in the streets of the tiny town of Buñol (near
Valencia) every year. Tomatoes are chosen and
thrown in a unforgettably fun way.

It started in 1945 when a disruption during a
parade resulted in spectators and participants
throwing tomatoes from a nearby fruit stand. The
tradition caught on and now every year on the
last Wednesday of August, Burñol transforms
into a party central.

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Spain

EL ENTIERRO DE LA SARDINA (The sardine’s
burial)

The beginning of this celebration goes back to
1851 when after the carnival a group of students
from Murcia decided to carry a coffin with a
sardine inside to burn it at the end of the parade.
This was the first entierro de la sardina. Some of
those students were poets José Saldar or the
future president of the Murcia’s casino. It’s a
party with a long history of more than 100 years,
and it was also being celebrated in other regions
of Spain.

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Spain

It’s a pagan celebration that represents the end of
fasting and abstinence of the previous 40 days of
Lent. That’s why it’s a free slightly crazy
celebration in which you try to escape tradition
and routine. In Murcia, at the end, the sardine is
burnt.

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Spain

The sardineros group are the soul of the
celebration and they escort the sardine to its
burial. More than 350 people divided into 23
groups have the responsibility to bring the party
to town with Street music and the colorful
clothes giving toys and happiness to Murcian
people. Each one of these groups are called after
a Roman or Greek god or mythological character.

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