Inspired by Mel's post, I decided to show off where I'm headed at Easter weekend. No guessing game, though. As usual, we go up to the hills, heading north to the town where my parents live, right on the Spanish border. One of the great Easter traditions here in the north of Portugal includes going house to house in a quasi procession, led by the priest holding the crucifix. After the priest says somes prayers and blesses the house, villagers and family members kiss the cross and then greet the hosts of the house, wishing them well for the year, before running off to another house to repeat the same ritual. Needless to say that this involves high alcohol consumption so, as my parents' house is the very last one, it's always good fun watching the priest trip over his robes or muddling up the prayers. I have to say, I'm not big on the whole religious part of it, nor do I find it hygienic to be kissing a cross covered in all those germs, normally we just pretend to kiss it, but I do like to keep up traditions that are part of our heritage.
Here you can see the priest and his aides heading off for the the next house.
Here we have the town church, behind the centre square, where you can find an underground museum with Roman ruins
This is the old jail house that has been transformed into a wine cellar, promoting the local white wine.
To see what the rest of the class is showing and telling, check out Mel's Show & Tell.
13 comments:
Nós também cumprimos este ritual na nossa terra. A pascoa é sempre uma festa muito alegre e o nosso compasso também inclui muito vinho e amêndoas. beijinhos
I am so jealous you live in Portugal. I lived in in Italy and Spain for 4 months each. I would move to Europe if I could ever get a job. I think it would be great exposure for my son.
I speak Italian and Spanish and have dabble in portuguese. I can understand a lot of if spoken slowly and I can read it to an extent. I should get out my portguese book! I can understand the comment made by Carolina
Yes, I remember many things about Europe that were so different from the US. It was little things that really made me miss home. I have family in Toronto and Milton. I live in Rochester, NY so we are very close to Toronto
Soooo beautiful!!!!
I saw a video on the precession once and the priest was tripping ALL over the place. It was quite funny. Have so much fun. The pictures are so beautiful.
This is so wonderful, I love the image of the drunken procession. Thanks, RA.
Love the pics. Have a great Easter weekend.
Wow, they really put effort into jails back in the day!
I haven't yet visited the Blarney Stone, but so far my stance is to touch traditional objects but no kissing. Yuck!
Oh, I'm so incredibly envious. That's the kind of stuff I just love (even though I, too, am not that into the religious stuff). But the tradition is amazing.
Wow!
Perfect setting to take a walk down the town streets!
That sounds like a fascinating place to visit. I would love to see that underground museum and the ruins. Have a wonderful weekend.
what a neat tradition!
You drink on your Easter procession?? Sounds like my kind of celebration. Beautiful pic too.
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