Last night we did a little Christmas caroling with some of the students, most of whom are in the choir. They started to sing a Slovak song that was really cool and that they managed to sing in parts even while walking. I coerced them into standing still and singing it when we got back to school, and took this video. Enjoy.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
St. Nicholas' Day
I feel somewhat mystified by Slovakia today, and also that I should have my camera with me at all times, even during class.
Tomorrow is St. Nicholas' Day, which in many places in Europe is a day when small gifts are given. St. Nicholas (Mikulaš here) is often accompanied by a weird goaty dude. St. Nicholas rewards the good children, and the goat-dude punishes or eats the bad children.
This morning I was having class with my 5As when someone knocked on the door. I expected it to be someone bringing the class book in, but in came four students (fourth years): one was dressed as St. Nicholas, one as the goat-dude, one as a devil, and one as an angel. They were delivering what amounted to Christmas candy-grams. It was rather unexpected, though. St. Nicholas had a big crook and everything.
Then at lunch, after the lady handed me my plate of food, she also gave me a bag with a banana, a tangerine, a juice box, and a chocolate bar in it. None of my students were in the cafeteria, else I would have asked them what that was all about. I figured it was a St. Nicholas' Day thing, but I was a bit confused, still.
Then this afternoon I went shopping at the larger store, over by the school, and when I went in there were St. Nicholas and the goat-dude. This St. Nicholas looked pretty much like Santa Claus; the goat-dude had a furry head--honestly, I didn't look that hard, because he had a broom and I wasn't sure if it was part of some tradition to whack unsuspecting people with the broom. But obviously all this means that I must carry my camera around with me more often.
Tomorrow: pig-killing! Well, the pig'll be dead by the time we get there, but there are sausages to be made.
Tomorrow is St. Nicholas' Day, which in many places in Europe is a day when small gifts are given. St. Nicholas (Mikulaš here) is often accompanied by a weird goaty dude. St. Nicholas rewards the good children, and the goat-dude punishes or eats the bad children.
This morning I was having class with my 5As when someone knocked on the door. I expected it to be someone bringing the class book in, but in came four students (fourth years): one was dressed as St. Nicholas, one as the goat-dude, one as a devil, and one as an angel. They were delivering what amounted to Christmas candy-grams. It was rather unexpected, though. St. Nicholas had a big crook and everything.
Then at lunch, after the lady handed me my plate of food, she also gave me a bag with a banana, a tangerine, a juice box, and a chocolate bar in it. None of my students were in the cafeteria, else I would have asked them what that was all about. I figured it was a St. Nicholas' Day thing, but I was a bit confused, still.
Then this afternoon I went shopping at the larger store, over by the school, and when I went in there were St. Nicholas and the goat-dude. This St. Nicholas looked pretty much like Santa Claus; the goat-dude had a furry head--honestly, I didn't look that hard, because he had a broom and I wasn't sure if it was part of some tradition to whack unsuspecting people with the broom. But obviously all this means that I must carry my camera around with me more often.
Tomorrow: pig-killing! Well, the pig'll be dead by the time we get there, but there are sausages to be made.
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