Yes, still getting used to using the word winter in what would normally be the good ol´ summertime. While I don´t need to bundle up with a heavy winter coat nor gloves, I DO need to dress in layers many days and nights….especially the nights since there´s no heat, combined with minimal insulation….just have to get used to feeling colder inside than outside!
It was a little hotter than a normal winter weekend this past, first winter weekend, due to the popular celebration of San Juan (St. John the Baptist, feast day June 24). Many of the games and traditions that are part of San Juan involve FIRE; yes, a pyromaniac´s dream fiesta!
El dia de San Juan is one of the most widespread festivals anywhere. Probably beginning in pagan times...fires that were lit at the time of the summer solstice(in the northern hemisphere), and in these giant fires, bones were thrown in. And that's where the term bonfire comes in, from this festival. It was perhaps the most widespread, important pagan celebration known. The St. John the Baptist celebrations were very quickly adapted through South America everywhere and integrated into indigenous, native celebrations. In Paraguay, this ranges from highly mobile activities like a tag-like game in which people chase each other with long lit-up reeds...kicking around flaming balls made from rags, and steering clear of the fiery path of a bull-shaped figure whose real bull horns have been set aflame...to more stationary customs like a burning scarecrow-like figure, and stoking the omnipresent bonfires. In my community the local schoolgrounds served as the center for most of this flaming activity!
Speaking of school, it´s nearly the middle of the school year here, since the new academic year begins in February. Starting next week all schools in the country, both public and private, will close for a two-week vacation. I´ve been busy giving reading tests to the kids so I can compile and analyze the results during the school break. (No vacation yet for we new PCVs.)
Meanwhile, many Paraguay PCVs will be heading to Asunción this weekend to celebrate the 4th of July American-style. I´m looking forward to meeting other Americans living here during the celebration at the embassy. VIVA America! (both North Y South!)
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Happy 4th! I'm fascinated with your narratives. You sound so engaged and happy. Here we've had quite a week what with Jackson and Palin, and I'm getting ready to do ALA on the 8th. I'll be thinking of you, of course. Anyone I should say hello to?
ReplyDelete(I recently met two Simmons grads in Portland: one of the School of Oriental Medicine and the other at a nearby county library. Of course I told them both about you and they were thrilled.)
I hope you stay toasty. I think my house in Jerez was often colder inside than out, so I can sympathize entirely!
Much love,
Maura
I love hearing about your wonderful adventures and I'm so proud of your needed gift to the world. I understand that kind of chill in the house,its present some months in San Miguel. We spent 2 weeks in Maine with Richard II and Kristie's BIG boys (at thirteen and sixteen they are both at 6feet) while they went on a cruise for their 20th Anniv.....really hard to believe. We just celebrated our 48th and Sarah surprised us with an unannounced visit from SMA. What fun! It reminded me of our 25th in SMA with you! Love,Nancy
ReplyDeleteLoved your description of El Dia de San Juan and the origin of the word "bonfire." I'll be sure to pass that along to my own kids and grandkids, as one of our favorite family activities (which we're doing this coming Memorial Day weekend, by the way) is building a huge bonfire down by our arena. The little ones have a great time playing in the sand of the arena and of course the rest of us sit around the fire and watch them and tell stories and reminisce about all the fun we've had through the years with riding horses, etc. We probably do this 6-7 times a year, especially in the fall.
ReplyDeleteWith school almost out for the year it's hard to imagine that you are just in the middle! It must feel really strange. It is a great thing that you are doing, and I hope you are getting as much satisfaction from giving of yourself as all the kids are no doubt getting from having you with them. OK, I just realized that I'm posting this under a post you made last year. Don't know how I got directed there, but it suddenly dawned on me that you'd mentioned the 4th of July. Oh well--silly me
Love ya--Diana