Torrevieja Outlook December 2018 Nº59 by Andy Ormiston

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

059 December 2018 Calendar – Fiesta roundup – Diego Ramirez Prize winners – Virgen Mother, Baby, Kings, Innocents, Monteforte del Cid Harvest – Tirisiti – Fun for Fools – Miners Patron – Torrevieja patronal fiestas – Crib scenes – Seasonal sweets – Santa’s Walk – Years Gone By – Snow Scenes – Carolling – Personal Problems Pilgrimage – Up Yir Kilt Buckie – Building Taxes – Never Ending Story – Things for Kids – Underwater Cemetery & Pirates – Hospital Bus on Tour – “We Have To Do More” – Brexit and all that – Language Tourism – Torrevieja Celebrations – Orchestra Programme – It’s a Gift -

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059 December 2018

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

On this, the last month of the year, the focus is on Christmas, New Year and the arrival of the Three Kings in January. The present Spanish Constitution is celebrated and recognized on the 6th December a public holiday. This is a Thursday so some people will take a couple of days off to have a long weekend or puente - a bridge. Torrevieja is among those towns celebrating the patronal fiestas of la Inmaculada on the 8th which is a national holiday. On New Year’s Eve at midnight most towns have a firework display to welcome in a new year. Whatever, wherever you are in Spain people will be downing the lucky 12 grapes in time with the bells of the clock in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol plaza. Eating grapes can be good fun as its not easy to eat a dozen grapes one fate the other. This custom stems from a glut of grapes in 1909 and someone came up with the bright idea of eating a lucky dozen. Youngsters particularly will be wearing red underwear, which us supposedly lucky as well. So let’s look at some of the things happening n December.

2 - 4th December or the weekend nearest to the 4th fiestas in Sella. Sunday nearest to the 3rd is the fiesta of San Mauro Martyr in Alcoy. 5 - 8th Dec. Patronal fiestas of la Inmaculada in Torrevieja. These actually started in November and each day there are separate events, including the parade by Lily and her Bighead companions. 5/6 Dec. Santa Barbara miners fiesta by Asturians in Torrevieja. 5 - 9th Dec. Moors & Christians in Montforte del Cid. 6th - or weekend nearest, Santa Barbara fiesta in Altea. 5th -is international volunteers day, but many towns celebrate the work of volunteers on other days of the year. 6th Dec. Los Montesinos celebrates International Community Day. 8 - 9th Dec. Fiesta of aormi@icloud.com

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the Fadrines in Torremanzanas. La Purisima celebrated in Altea, Pedreguer, Benijófar, Catral.

10th Dec. la Venida de la Virgen de Loreto is held in Santa Pola. This links in to the Mystery Play of Elche in August. 13th Dec. or weekend nearest, the fiesta of Santa Lucia is held in Banyares de Mariola, Ibi, Dénia and Xàbia. It is also a parade of light in Alicante and Scandinavia visitors often have Light Festivals. 23rd December El Belén de Tirisiti, is a annual puppet show, but there is also usually a live representation of the events of Bethlehem is held until 4th January in Alcoy. 24th Dec. Nochebuena or Christmas Eve: Another live crib scene on alternate years is held in Benimassot: similarly in El Verger. Els Fatxos is held in Onil. At the Midnight Mass a traditional religious song, La Pastorela, is sung in Callosa de Segura. 25th Dec.

Christmas Day - a public holiday. Albatera holds a procession. From this time on until 6th January when the Three Kings fiesta is celebrated. Rafal has a Zarzuela Pastoril about Christmas and shepherds. 26th Dec. Les Danses del Rei Moro are held in Agost until New Year’s Day. El Cabildo is celebrated in Sax. 27th Dec. Catral celebrates the day of St. John the Evangelist. aormi@icloud.com

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28th - 30th The 28th is the Day of the Innocents when Herod slaughtered the children of Bethlehem. In Spain the innocents are those who have been tricked in some way, rather like April Fool’s Day.

Ibi holds the ‘festa dels Enfarinats’ and has typical dancing. 31st Dec. End of year: in Xixona the children have a tradition of carrying torches in the street known as ‘roar les eixames’. The Sunday prior to the 6th January, Les Pastorets is celebrated in Alcoy in the morning.

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Diego Ramirez Prize

One of the most famous sons of Torrevieja is Diego Ramirez Pastor, who was largely responsible in getting the people together in the 1950’s, organising and urging them to try new ideas. Some such as the Habaneras and the Vista Alegre magazine have borne fruit. In recognition of his place in Torrevieja’s history the Diego Ramirez Award was instituted and funded initially by his family. Diego Ramirez Prize is the most prestigious prize that is awarded to any individual or group in Torrevieja. It is based on continuous work achieved by people who have made a prolonged contribution to the betterment of the town. It is named after one of the best known people of Torrevieja, Diego Ramirez, a well known journalist, who himself worked assiduously for the betterment of Torrevieja in the post civil war period when people were driven away from their home town in search of work elsewhere. He was instrumental in founding the weekly “Vista Alegre” magazine and among his achievements was founding the associations of “Absent friends”. This is rather unique prize in the sense that there is no actual prize money, but rather the distinction of being honoured by the town for doing something that helped the image of the town.

The jury consists of previous winners and names for nomination are presented to aormi@icloud.com

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them with a review of the person or group being presented to be awarded the Diego Ramirez Prize. This year is the 48th year of the prize. This year the Award was granted to the Buades family, a local extended family who have a printing business and over decades have published a great deal of information about Torrevieja, especially in the weekly Vista Alegre

magazine. The father is dead now, but two sons, Antonio and Carlos, not only run the business, but are involved personally in many aspects of the townsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities. The business counts with its own studio that is digitalized and designers publish and print a wide range of printed items including programmes of various fiestas not only of

Torrevieja, but of other towns.

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Spanish Constitution Day in Torrevieja a flag raising occasion

Virgin Mother, Baby Kings, Innocents and Eastern Kings. Undoubtedly December is a month full of illusion and fun despite the emphasis on commercial events as selling gambits. The 6th December is a national holiday celebrating the anniversary of the current Spanish Constitution, which marks the advent of real democracy in Spain and really heralded the influx of so many foreigners who have decided to live in Spain since then. In the present political

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climate with Catalunya separatists wanting to change the monarchal system there is likely to be problems this coming year. The 8th is also a national holiday in honour of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and as the dates are so close together, if they should fall on weekdays with a weekend holiday, then most people take a short break. Obviously Christmas Day on the 25th December is a public holiday. Other celebrations in honour of la Inmaculada are held in Altea and in Ontinyent where little angels make their own announcement. In Torremanzanas there is a «Fadrines» festival similar to that held in Ibi. This date is also the start of a large Christmas fair held in Valencia city.

Monteforte del Cid celebrates the harvest Moors and Christians compete in Montforte del Cid from 5th to 9th December and also in La Font de la Figuera during the same period. In Montforte del Cid,a wine growing town near Elche, on the four Sundays preceding the 5th December, the ‘drum parade’ takes place throughout the town. It is known that in 1590 gunpowder was used in these celebrations in honour of San Jaime. In 1769 these fiestas were placed under the patronage of the Virgin Mary and the first ‘soldiers’ took part with their uniforms, often being handed down from generation to generation. On the 7th and 8th December meetings between the Ambassadors are held with declarations, which are ancient and anonymous. Normally on the 6th December there is the Grand Parade about 6.30 in the evening. The first recorded Moors & Christians festivities were in 1881 with women taking part in 1946. Some 2,000 of the 5,000 inhabitants of the town take part in these parades. aormi@icloud.com

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On 12th December there is a pilgrimage to the chapel of Santa Lucia in Denia.

25th is Christmas Day and a national holiday, but at Alcoy a life-size manger scene of puppets, the ÂŤTirisitiÂť is acted out. Live nativity scenes are also held in Benimassot. and Elche.

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Flour Festival - Fun for Fools 28th Dec is the traditional fiesta de los Locos, Spain’s equivalent to April Fool’s Day. It is known as the Day of the Innocents (when Herod slaughtered the children of Bethlehem) and in Spain is treated rather like April First. On the eve of this fiesta some of those who live in Ibi are designated as «Els Enfarinats» who parade the streets asking citizens if they have any complaints. Els Enfarinats is a strange fiesta in Ibi which starts at the beginning of the day when members of the Enfarinats take charge of the town each one taking over an official town position as mayor, town clerk etc. They then attack the opposition - the real town council - and whenever these unfortunates are seen they are villified and lambasted, pelted with vegetables and flour. The council-for-a-day pour forth verbal abuse highlighting all the things that the real councillors have promised to do and have failed to achieve. The government for the day announces new nonsense laws - no drinking, no walking in the sun nor in the shade, no smoking, no walking on the pavement, nor in the street and other similar types of regulations worthy of breaking. Those who break these laws are liable to a fine and are then pelted with flour. Those who don’t want a flouring are advised to stay away as the interim local government is keen to spread the uncooked cake around. aormi@icloud.com

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Saint Barbara - Patron of Miners One of the most active groups in Torrevieja in recent years has been the Asturian club made up of residents who originally come from the mining area of Asturias. This is a colourful association that holds several events throughout the year but the principal one is on and around the 5th December in honour of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners as the region has a long tradition of mining various products from the earth. Incidentally, she is also patron saint of the Torrevieja salt workers who also mine salt from Mother Nature and at one time was a principal fiesta in the town. Thanks to the Asturian integration this feast day has taken up a prominent position once again with several events in the first week of December, especially the procession carrying the small St. Barbara statue by men wearing boiler suits and hard hats. They always bring at least one bagpipe band from Asturians and as it coincides with Torreviejaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patronal fiestas on the 8th December add an extra dimension to the floral procession with their colourful costumes, music and traditional dancing. One of the tronos used in the Semana Santa processions of the town incorporates a bier that was originally used in the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Santa Barbara salt workers processions. In the gardens of the railway station there is a miniature copy of the Oviedo cathedral as Torrevieja is a twin to the town of Sierra del Polo.

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Of course, it is also the name of the Alicante fortress that dominates the city because it was on this day that the fortress was fought over December 4, 1248, and the infante Alfonso of Castile, future king Alfonso X Wise defeated the Arabs. Almost one century later Pedro IV the Ceremonious ordered the enclosure to be fortified and later King Carlos I made more alterations at the beginning of the 16th century. The castle was bombarded in 1691 by a French squadron. During the War of the Spanish Succession, it was held by the English for three years and there is a small cemetery of British soldiers. In 1873, it was bombarded, along with the city, by the cantonalistas from the frigate Numancia. From the 18th century the military role of the castle has declined and it was used sometimes as a prison.The castle remained abandoned until 1963, when it was opened to the public. Lifts have been installed inside the mountain (â&#x201A;Ź2.70 charge in October 2018 but free for adults aged 65 on production of ID). There are some guided tours at â&#x201A;Ź3 per person and there are refreshments and other amenities at and near the summit. Reasonably fit visitors may also appreciate the exercise of a walk to the top.

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Immaculate Conception in Torrevieja

During the week prior to 8th December Torrevieja celebrates the patronal feast of la Inmaculada - the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The streets of the town centre set the scene of festivities with gaily coloured fairy lights lighting up the night as people scuttle around choosing and buying presents for two of the most important feast days - Christmas 25th December and January 6th - the Three Kings. In addition the districtsod La Mata and of El Acequion holds their own agenda of events including childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s games, races, bike race, music and dancing and a large marquee is erected next to the local college of El Acequion.. There are many social and religious events held during the week prior to the 8th. The Town Hall supply the ingredients for a paella competition, so that everyone has a fair crack at the whip, but the cooking utensils and fires are the responsibility of the cooks. Twice a day at the end of school hours, Lily and her Bigheads entertain the schoolchildren in the main square. These figures date back to the middle of the 20th century when the film with Leslie Caron became a hit and Torrevejenses adopted their Bighead as Lyly, the title of the film starring Leslie Carron BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Nominated-Academy Award for Best Actress.

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The Torrevieja Casino has a winter programme of cultural events. This takes place in the Casino, the concerts linked in with the patronal feasts of the town. Here there are some of the best soloists, duos, trios and small groups who sing and play their hearts out with a wide range of habaneras, boleros, South American music and other types of music to serenade any romantic heart. The Church also has a central part to play with a series of lectures devoted to some aspect of Marian theology. One of the most impressive processions in this period is the Ofrenda or flower offering. In recent years groups have tended to make up the procession carrying bouquets and baskets of beautiful flowers to lay them at the feet of the image of the la Inmaculada just outside the main church door. Over 80 groups take part, including bands of the town and coincidentally pipe bands from Asturias who have come to join the large Asturian community who live in Torrevieja for the fiestas. This procession starts from the Plaza Oriente and wends its way towards the main plaza.

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After the 8th December, there is a novena of nine Masses, each one for a different intention. Among these is one for the foreigners of the town and ministers of other denominations take part in a massive representation of the foreign community. At each Mass people bring non perishable goods or toys for the poorer members of the town. Previous to the foreigner Mass it has become traditional for a large Carol concert in the main plaza with people dressed suitably and a band leading a group of choristers made up from various local choirs. This is an excellent time to visit the magnificent large crib scene in the same plaza which has symbolic gigues of the town such as the Torre del Moro, the quay and Eras del Sal with mountains of salt.

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Crib scenes Most churches have crib scenes and many towns, including San Javier and Torrevieja, have large nativity displays in the town square showing not only the birth of Christ but a large part of his life with flowing water and windmills among other mobile parts. Also in Torrevieja in a side room of the church of the Sagrada Corazon in the Plaza Oriente, there is a large crib scene with many working models made by the local club of Belenistas, dedicated to making figurines associated with the life of Christ. In the Alicante Province an association of Belenists was founded in 1959 and it is largely due to their work that the Christmas scene has become so popular locally. In Murcia there is the Museo Salzillo where there are some beautiful figures related to Christmas. These were commissioned by Jesualdo Riquelme y Fonte and are the work of Francisco de Salzillo y Alcaraz (1707-1783).

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The Belen figures of Salzillo were influenced by Italian models and consist of 556 figures, 195 of them human and the rest made up of animals. These represent the principal biblical scenes against a framing background of models of both classical architecture and the typical buildings of Murcia. Salzillo used clay, wood, glass, canvas, bright polychrome paints and sumptuous fabrics. In the crib scenes, the sculptor has created a panorama of Murcia as it was in his day, showing the customs of the rural world around him. Among the characters, therefore, are butchers, hunters, spinners, muleteers and peasants. His story takes you from the angel of the Annunciation to the Flight into Egypt. Some figures wear clothing typical of Murcia. After the death of Salzillo in 1783, the crib was enlarged by one of his pupils, Roque López Hernández, who finished off some of the figures asked for by the Marques. Cagon figure Nowadays many people have crib scenes in their homes and update the Christmas theme by including spacemen and rockets, Santa Claus, Batman and other heroes. However, one figure which is found only in Spanish cribs is the “cagon” whose origins are found in the Catalan word caganer. Most cagon figures are of a person squatting and doing what comes naturally. In Cataluña there are even museums dedicate to this figure who has been personified as an angel, demon, monk and even as a guardia civil. He represents the unbeliever who was so busy doing his own thing that he missed the message of Christmas and, therefore, the opportunity to follow Christ. Often public figures are represented this way such as President Trump or Pope Francis.

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Obviously this is a good lead up to the Christmas season when several towns, including Torrevieja, hold villancicos or carol concerts and competitions. Several British musical groups can be found in places like La Zenia Boulevard sining their hearts out raising funds for a favorite charity. As said previously several towns also have open-air crib scenes in the main plazas.

San Nicolas in Alicante San Nicolas is known to many of us as Santa Claus. To the people of Alicante he is the co-patron of the town and his feast is celebrated at the beginning of December. In the cathedral bearing his name there is an all year round crib museum. This used to be a popular fiesta in the town, but, like many others, disappeared only to be reinstated lately. Over 3,000 people take part in the parade with Moors and Christian groups participating. Youngsters representing the hogueras of each district in Alicante play their own tune on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;xiuletsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clay whistles. Leading the procession are Los Nanos i Gegants who escort a Saint Nicolas figure riding on a white horse, with a page who throws away over 100 kilos of sweets. Recently a group of Croatians took part wearing their traditional costumes as this is similar to one of their own fiestas.

Light festival 13th Dec. is Saint Lucy which is celebrated in Denia and Javea and is an important date in the Scandinavian calendar when a maiden puts a crown of candles on her head and leads candlelit processions.

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SEASONAL SWEETS Every fiesta has its own popular type of food in Spain. Christmas and the Three Kings is a wonderful opportunity for pastelerias or pastry chefs to display their artisanship. Almonds grows profusely in Spain so it’s no wonder that these nuts play an important role at this time. Marzipan is made with several recipes and pressed into shapes, roasted and toasted. Almonds also form the principal ingredient in tureens, although nowadays there is a huge commercial variety with other nuts in nougats and chocolate. Some areas will induce local flavors from herbs such as anis, cinnamon, or even sweet wine like Málaga Virgen . . Marzipan is basically sugar and almonds with egg binding them. Nowadays there’s a large variety marked WITH NO ADDED SUGAR. The introduction of marzipan into Spain is a point of discussion, some say from China via the Arabs, others that the medieval nuns evolved it. Marzipan is easily moulded so comes in a variety of shapes and is the base for many other sweets and desserts. Every region seems to have its own stye such as the Pan de Cádiz, las marquesas etc. some are filled aormi@icloud.com

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with chocolate or dates, others have figs; extremely good are died figs wrapped in chocolate and individually wrapped. Favourites are polvorenes and mantecados with recipes dating back to the 16th century and especially pour in Andalusia. They use lard which is a

product of the area with so many pigs bing bred there. The ingredients of mantecados are basically wheat flour, lard and sugar., some with crushed nuts. Having said that you may find people eating them at breakfast time throughout the year. There is a difference in the extra of the two sweets and poltroons tend to dissolve in the mouth and come wrapped individually. Another noticeable difference is that mantecados tend to be square shaped and polovornes round. A must at the time of the Three Kings on 6th January is the Roscรณn. This is a round ring-shaped breadlike cake with crystallized fruit on top representing jewels, turning the aspect into a crown fit for a king. This is further enhanced by a golden paper crown for presentation. This is used in the festivities for those who discover wrapped surprises inside the roscรณn and named king or queen of the table. There are symbolic figures inside the cake such as Mary or Joseph or a hard bean (haba) and the bean owner is crowned but supposed to pay for the cake. The origins of this banter is laid at the feet of Romans and the Saturnian feast that occurred in this time of the year after the solstice. The roscรณn may also be filled with cream or trufa and usually has the aroma of orange blossom . aormi@icloud.com

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Years Gone By by Andy Ormiston

A popular Spanish celebration has always been the Three Kings on 6th January when children received gifts (rather than at Christmas). In the 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s families in Torrevieja did not have much money for frivolities. Even in those days the 5th January was one of the most anticipated dates in the calendar. The Cabalgata of the Kings Melchior,

Gaspar and Balthasar, arrived from the Orient on horseback with a following of pages, shepherds and music. The captain of the carabineros played the part of one of the kings and his men took part in the procession. This explains the man walking in front of processions firing a rocket as the carabineros would have fired their muskets. The pages carried torches to light the road as there was not much in the way of public lighting. Other youngsters, girls as well as boys, were dressed as shepherds. The Kings carried small toys for distribution, such as rubber balls, or a popular item was a toy version of the fabulous â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Coltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; revolver, which in those days cost less than a peseta, but still the labour of aormi@icloud.com

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several hours for the father. The girls would receive a small doll, perhaps just made of paper, or even china, and small kitchen sets, until the famous Nancy dolls appeared. There have always been plenty of sweets distributed at these fiestas and this was no exception. Parents and grandparents could not afford the type of toys and games enjoyed by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngsters, so practical gifts were given, such as schoolbooks, encyclopedias or dictionaries. In keeping with the anti-religious atmosphere of the times of the Second Republic, these fiestas were renamed in Alicante as The Infantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Week at the end of 1936 and into 1937 and the usual cavalcade on the 12th January 1937 was brought to a halt at nine in the evening when two Nationalist ships in Valencia harbour blasted the town, the first time that navy cannons were heard in the town during this conflict. These December and Christmas related fiestas led onto the carnival, much as they are today, although in the 1931 a much smaller affair. The important involvement of music in local fiestas led to an agreement that 250 pesetas would be paid to the Union Musical Torrevieja band in January and April 1898 from the funds of the Councillor of Fiestas. In May 1908, a contract was agreed by the Town Hall about arranging concerts on Sundays in January,

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June, July and December as well as taking part in the carnivals, processions and other celebrations for which a thousand pesetas would be paid to the band over a four-year period. The input of this band in particular has been the basis of the varied musical events enjoyed over the past hundred years and more, as well as the birth of many other bands and choirs, and the UMT band has been the prime mover in building the Palace of Music and training ground for young musicians. Fiestas could not be celebrated during the Civil War and afterwards Franco banned most of them throughout Spain in case they attracted large crowds and became an excuse for public disturbances and demonstrations. After the death of Franco many old traditions and fiestas were reinstated and Torrevieja has recuperated ones like the Hogueras de San Juan on 24th June, which is in danger of disappearing for lack of funding, the La Mata â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tonelesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wine harvest festival in August, the patronal fiestas of December (previously held in summer), the carnival in February. More have been introduced, often thanks to the presence and participation by groups from other parts of Spain such as the Andalusians, Asturians, Galicians or MadrilĂ¨nes; or the many foreign groups of Europe and South America. In recent years the Carnival has become a huge success in every way with around twenty groups in magnificent feathered and humorous costumes. One of one. But in the past the carnival was a very localized affair with curtains, lamps, and other household materials turned into fantastic costumes. In those days a popular figure was Dr. Fu Manchu and kids enjoyed dressing up as a Chinese when no one had ever seen one, compared to nowadays when every street has a Chinese shop or restaurant and the Chinese community has its own association with the intention of taking a more positive role in the community in general and Torrevieja is now twinned with Huizhou in China.

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There are several toy museums in different parts of Spain and the mountain area town of Ibi still has toy making factories as well as a toy museum. In Torrevieja's private museum of printing and curiosities in calle Bazรกn no. 57 there are some old toys. Thirty years ago it was rare to see decorated Christmas trees or Santas hanging from windows. Like Halloween these pagan symbols have been introduced by the large European expatriate community and today are a must in Spanish families. For many years Scandinavians have provided a large tree that is placed in the town palza. Nowadays children benefit from the two gift-giving fiestas of Christ's Mass and the arrival of Three Kings, and thanks to so many good individuals and associations, even deprived families share in the season of goodwill. aormi@icloud.com

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Snow Scenes by David Stewart

Torrevieja is famous for its good weather and on the rare times it has snowed it has been well chronicled. The Alicante Province normally has wonderful weather but it does have high mountaintops and periods when the snow falls over most of the province. One notable year was December/January 1927 that brought the temperatures tumbling down. Then again in February 1956, December 1970 and January 1985. Snow marked the 18 January 2017 in Torrevieja with a white cape over everything, probably the most snow in the town since 1926. This resulted in a photographic exhibition in August of that year based on this fall of snow. This past year January 2018 was unseasonably warm only for the Vega Baja to be plunged into freezing temperatures in February with rain and some snow. aormi@icloud.com

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With no freezers around in the past people might be able to buy a lump of ice to preserve otherwise perishable foods. For Torrevieja it mean that men would go to Murcia peaks to collect ice from snow caves, load burros with them and bring them all the way back. Then the town was able to build an ice factory for the fishing industry that made thing easier. This is the curious triangular building near the Eras de la Sal. In summertime the roof was used as cinema/theatre for the public. It is a listed building and really need some public funding to restore it. You can still see the remnants of ice wells and a famous one is the Cava Gran or Cava Arquejada, which has been restored and is now part of the patrimony of the Alicante province and is a listed construction. Basically it is a covered well in a hexagonal shape. It is a very interesting place to visit in the good weather, as the landscape is l o v e l y around.

When it snows it is packed in to form ice and can remain like that for a large part of the summer.

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Carolling by David Stewart

One of the highlights of the Christmas period is hearing groups singing carols, often passing the hat around for some local charity. You hear them in shopping centres and plazas, notably the large one in Torrevieja. In Spanish these are known as villancicos, and there are hundreds in Castellan from Spanish speaking countries around the world. According to historians these became popular in the 13th century and Latin America in the17th century. It originally meant a song of the small towns (villa) during fiestas time. Since then it has been transformed into a Christmas song, usually with a religious intent. Many have successfully transferred language barriers and English or German ones translated into Spanish and vice versa.

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Most traditional Christmas carols focus on the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, while others celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas that range from the 25 December to 5 January.

O Christmas Tree

As a result, many Christmas Carols can be related to St Stephen's Day (26 December), St John's Day (27 December), Feast of Holy Innocents (28 December), St Sylvester's Day (31 December), and the Epiphany. Examples of this are We Three Kings of Orient Are (an Epiphany song), and Good King Wenceslas (a carol for St. Stephen's Day). Nonetheless, some Christmas Carols, both religious and secular, now regarded as Christmas songs have become associated with the Christmas season even though the lyrics may not specifically refer to Christmas – for example, Deck the Halls (a pagan Yuletide drinking song) and O C o m e , O C o m e , Emmanuel (an Advent chant). Other Christmas songs focus on more secular Christmas themes, such as winter scenes, family gatherings, and Santa Claus (Jingle Bells, O Christmas Tree, Home for the Holidays, etc.). Almost every singer or band has recorded some sort of Christmas song such as the rocking Santa Claus of the Sonics 1960’s number, or the funky Soul-Saints 1990’s Santa’s Got a Bag of Soul. The Pretenders aormi@icloud.com

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‘2000 Miles’ is “I miss you at Christmas” theme, but Chrissie Hynde’s frosty ballad gets much sadder when you know it was written for the band’s guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, who had died the previous year from a cocaine overdose. Honeyman-Scott’s replacement Robbie McIntosh pays tribute with some gorgeous arpeggios: the closest a guitar gets to the sound of snowfall. From the same album as ‘It’s Raining Men’ (and pulling all the same moves with a festive twist), ‘Dear Santa’ is a seasonal stormer that represents the grooviest Christmas list ever written. ‘Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas)’ – Weather Girls. ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ – Dean Martin Rat Pack star Dean Martin recorded this version in 1959, fifteen years after it was originally sung by Frank Loesser and his wife at the end of a party. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s 1984 reaction to the Ethiopian famine, with contributions from Phil Collins, Sting, Macca and Bono, was a publicity machine of epic proportions. It worked: ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ stayed at the top spot for five weeks, and was the biggest UK chart success of the decade. ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ – John Lennon & Yoko Ono Euphoric and scathing, as hopeful as it is resigned, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s definitive festive peace-on-earth song has transcended its original anti-Vietnam War purpose to become a Christmas stalwart. Or Perry Como’s popular album taking us song by song through the story of Christmas that has been reissued several times over the years.. But where would we be with that classic ‘White Christmas’ – Bing Crosby The power of Christmas nostalgia itself is greater than real memories. Hence, all of us can hark back with Bing on this Irving Berlin-penned ’40s number to a white Christmas just like the ones we used to know, or did we have white Christmases or is it all an illusion?

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Personal Problems Pilgrimage by Pat Hynd Each month we have tried to provide a journey for readers to a specific pilgrimage site. With Christmas looming I would like to make a journey through painting. Christmas has been a favourite theme for painters over the centuries. It must have been very difficult 2,000 years ago for a pregnant woman to journey; so many things could go wrong, a fall, getting ill, falling behind the caravan, the possibility of being robbed by brigands, and even raped. So Mary must have had a lot of problems to think and pray about. But problems are there to be solved and unravelled. One of the most popular devotions these days has a peculiar name Marry, Untier of Knots or Mary Undoer of Knots, which both have the same idea of untying knotty problems.

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This unlikely devotion has been around for centuries but gained popularity in 1700 when a German painter, Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner, painted his idea in an oil painting that hangs in the Catholic pilgrimage church of St. Peter am Perlach, otherwise known as the Perlach church, in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany. It was originally inspired by a meditation of Saint Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 202) based on the parallel made by Saint Paul between Adam and Christ. Saint Irenaeus, in turn, made a comparison between Eve and Mary, saying: "Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it". The painting shows a pregnant Mary standing on a Crescent moon, which signifies the idea of the Immaculate Conception. She is surrounded by angels and above her head a dove signifying the Holy Spirit, with a circle of stars. She has a long ribbon full of knots while at the same time she is pressing her foot firmly on the head of a serpent representing the devil and his cohort. Below are shown a human figure and his dog accompanying a much smaller angel. This scene is often interpreted as Tobias with his dog and the Archangel Raphael travelling to ask Sara to be his wife underlining Mary’s obedience to God’s question if she would become the mother of the Messiah. The two small figures have also been interpreted as a representation of Wolfgang Langenmantel, the grandfather of the benefactor, guided in his distress by a guardian angel to Father Jakob Rem who gained a high reputation for his intelligence, wisdom and piety in Ingolstadt. Rem is credited with the Marian aormi@icloud.com

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devotionÂ ofÂ Mary Untier of Knots. In 1612 the nobleman Wolfgang Langenmantel (1568-1637) came to Ingolstadt to seek Rem's advice about his marriage, which was on the verge of breakdown. He met with Rem four times. On the last visit, after Rem had been praying in front of the painting ofÂ Our Lady of the Snows, Rem took Wolfgang's wedding ribbon and solemnly untied the wedding knots, smoothing out the ribbon, which became intensely white. Wolfgang felt that this symbolized the solution of his marital problems, and returned to his wife. So there we have the scene with the idea of untying knots, especially for marital problems. Mary on the surface had many marital problems. She was not officially married to Joseph but betrothed which probably meant that a marriage maker had arranged the betrothal, as Joseph had his own business as a carpenter, while Mary was a young virgin, presumably beautiful and with intelligence and from a well known family of the same tribe as Joseph, that of David. All bright and rosy until Mary becomes pregnant and Joseph is not responsible. It is a position that millions of young people have been in and is a knotty problem. In those days if a young woman was found to be an adulteress then her husband could have her stoned to death. A good example of the one-way system of patriarchal management that existed then and still holds sway in many parts of the world today.

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One probability is that Mary confided in her mother who arranged for her to go and visit her cousin Elizabeth, an elderly lady, who was also pregnant. So the slightly older St. John the Baptist meets Jesus of the first time with great joy. This would appear reasonable to everyone as Mary could learn from her cousin giving birth and possible problems because of her age. So the knotty question of letting Joseph know his beloved was pregnant was put off and wagging tongues silenced. Quite often in life problems have a way of sorting themselves out if left alone. In this instance much later when Joseph is informed of the pregnancy he has doubts, as he knows Mary could be stoned for adultery once the baby is born. His problems include what would happen to the baby if that happened? Good advice was to sleep on it. We are told he had a dream that an angel told him everything was okay dokey, more likely his unconscious sorted it out by realising nothing was gained if he denounced Mary and it would be better for the child if the mother was around. Coincidentally the Romans insisted that everyone should return to their native origins for a census. This little journey to Bethlehem kept the young couple away from the wagging tongues of those who like to add up the weeks a woman has in aormi@icloud.com

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her pregnancy, as I’m sure some would say she became pregnant while she was way at her cousin’s. It’s a common problem that occurs every day and so Mary is getting better at unknotting her own marital problems. So here we are on our journey bobbing along in a caravan for safety sake and Mary may have been on a donkey that would have been uncomfortable or walking all the way of around 110 kilometres. There would have been other relatives on the convoy making the same journey for the same reason and this would be support for the young woman. Probably it would have taken four or five days. Next problem, where to stay? When they get to Bethlehem they find the only inn is full as are all the houses, as people make a bit extra having paid guests who have to fill in the census. Someone offers them the use of a stable: possibly a distant relative as they were all from the tribe of David. Doesn’t sound very grand, does it? Often stables were caves as it was easy to fill in the entrance and keep the livestock safe from marauders. Whether there were animals in the stable or not we are not told, but the manger is used as a crib. Mary’s job would be to make the place safe and comfortable for the new baby. aormi@icloud.com

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Caves were and still are commodious for living in as a house, so anyone who has stayed in a Spanish cave house can understand the couple’s feelings. And so the baby is born and Mary wonders at the birth of a new healthy child, which is something every parent worries about. A local midwife would have helped her and local people share in the joy of a new life. Certainly we are told that the shepherds were full of joy. Next problem, a short trip of about ten kilometres to Jerusalem temple for the cleansing ceremony of Mary, after shedding so much afterbirth blood. This also dovetailed with the circumcision of Jesus marking him out as a Jew, but a safety measure for a male in a hot country where he sweats so much and could have an infection. Children’s health preoccupies most parents so Mary’s feelings are easy to gauge. But while she is there she meets two elderly people who give her mixed messages of joy that the child is born and will save the nation, presumably from the yoke of Roman rule. But there are also dire warnings of pain and problems ahead for mother and child that preoccupy Mary particularly. She thinks and remembers these words and finds their meaning when she holds the scarred and bleeding body of her child thirty years later. The pain of sorrow indeed pierced her soul. aormi@icloud.com

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But back to Bethlehem where they settle down again, even though we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if they are still in the stable or have moved into a house. Three strangers turn up looking for a newborn child. Foreigners all too often stir up fears inside us, the fear of the unknown. Xenophobia is one of the greatest modern knotty problems as people agitate about immigration. The first time I heard the word, xenophobia was thirty years ago in a church in Torrevieja when the priest was preaching about it and the need to welcome strangers. But these three prestigious men bring mystical and symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold has always been powerful stuff. Gold has always had value to humans, even before it was money. The earliest history of human interaction with gold is long lost to us, but its association with the gods, with immortality, and with wealth itself are common to many cultures throughout the world. Frankincense was a resin allowed to harden from a tree and used in perfumery and aromatherapy, and Egyptians used it when mummifying bodies. It comes from Somalia, which gives rise to the idea that one of the men would be black. Myrrh is also a tree resin that has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense, and medicine. Myrrh mixed with wine can also be ingested. The Hebrews used it when making sacred anointing oil, which gives rise to the assumption that Jesus would be a king. So these are all precious gifts associated with kings and death. These three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himselfâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;gold representing his kingship, frankincense a aormi@icloud.com

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symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming —an interpretation made popular in the well-known Christmas carol “We Three Kings.” The number of gifts is the main reason people believe that there were three kings, each with a gift. However, these gifts also bring danger as word floats out that the King Herod is out to kill the child that the three wise men of the East were searching for. Mary would be fearful that it was her child that the Jewish king was out to destroy. Joseph as well would have been troubled and again after a disturbed night’s dreaming decides to move to Egypt and with the three valuable gifts had enough resources to do so. Another knot unknotted. Looking back to our painting it’s easy to see why devotion to Mary has arisen as a solver of problems, especially for women. In recent years this devotion has increased, as Pope Francis has been an advocate of this particular style of worshipping God. He first came across this painting when he was studying in Germany and was taken with the painting and on his return to Argentina continued his work among the poorer people offering women copies of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots to pray that they could loosen their own knotty problems. This combination of the poor and unknotting problems is possibly one reason he is more approachable about people who have marital problems, such as divorce and re-marriage, than other churchmen.

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In this foregoing story of Mary we can see that today we still that have problems that Mary faced and overcame. Today, despite modern contraception devices, young women end up pregnant. Today young women are still having to face up to making a decisive decision that will affect them for the rest of their lives. If they have an abortion they may feel guilty and require psychological help. I remember another Mary, an Irish girl who I caught unexpectedly into our communal rest room, head on her arms at the table sobbing her heart out. I asked her whats up and if I could help and she sobbed, “he’d be four years old today.” Poor girl year she had to face this for the rest of her life. If she had carried the baby to birth she would have had many problems, particularly in London where many landlords won’t permit babies in a house or room. Another young girl faced the same decision and decided to have the baby, but couldn't keep her, so she abandoned the baby inside the church; I never knew if efforts to trace her had been successful. And likely this baby grew up wondering why her mum didn’t love her enough to keep her. And what of the father? Some girls just did not want to know him as it had been one of those chance things at a party. I’ve known several grown men who, as a child, had been put in an orphanage or in a caring family, but still had a hole in their lives wondering why they hadn't been loved when small. If keeping the baby was possible, then it was a struggle unless, one was fortunate to find a loving companion, of either sex. With refugees and migrants in the news, some commentators have sought to draw parallels between their plight and that of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph. How accurate are these comparisons? Were Jesus, Mary and Joseph what we would consider today “refugees”? Yes.the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees defines that group of people as follows: “A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.” Thus, we see a family fleeing to a foreign country out of fear of persecution.He told them, “a globalization of solidarity and of the spirit still awaits to be built.” Recently Pope Francis spoke to a solidarity community and said, “the future of the global world is living together” and “this ideal calls for the commitment to build bridges, to keep dialogue open, to continue and meet with one another.” Pope Francis said aormi@icloud.com

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that “Christians, by their very vocation, are brothers and sisters to every person, especially the poor.” Maybe we need to ask Mary Untier of Knots if she can help in this global crisis. And in this journey we always concentrate on the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as being poor. But were they? They did have a roof over their heads. Joseph was capable of repairing and making things so probably earned some money. Then there was the gifts of the three kings. Looking at today we know the sad facts supplied by various entities of ow many millions of people are genuinely poor, we are shocked by the huge number of children now counted among the poverty numbers. From my experience I know that very few people choose to be homeless. Circumstances force them into this position. I’ve known a doctor and even a lawyer living on the street as they had lost everything through divorce proceedings. As a people we are losing the sense of respect of others. Losing our sense of identity as a community. A long time ago we lost our sense of compassion with the idea that the “social” welfare will take care of the other peoples’ problems. Now politicians are seeing that when they fail that charities andNGO’s take up a lot of the slack. The gap between the rich and the poor has never been so obvious and if something is not done soon to close that gap, either by seeing the billionaires become millionaires and their riches distributed more to the lower echelons; or the poorer being given real living wages rather t h a n businessmen taking advantage of a minimum wage, then there will be violence. Then John Orwell will be proven to be right.

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Up Yir Kilt..if you know what I mean. Pat Hynd

Christmas means food and drink and for many people familiar with the Rab Nesbitt television series he and other people in Glasgow love Buckfast Tonic Wine. It’s a drink I remember from my youth days as a friend’s parents did not drink alcohol, being very holier than thou, so drank this wine bought from Boots the Chemist. Buckfast, the high-caffeine alcoholic drink brewed by monks, has been linked once again with high crime levels in the west of Scotland. Buckie is a dark brown "tonic wine" brewed by Benedictine monks in Devon. Their recipe is secret but basically it's wine jacked up with chemicals and some of the condensed rage from 28 Days Later. Also known as "Wreck the Hoose Juice" and "Commotion Lotion", Buckie is only about 15% alcohol. But the alcohol content isn't the problem. Because of its high caffeine content It doesn't get you drunk: it gets you high. "The name 'tonic wine' does not imply health-giving or medicinal properties." In 2018 Buckfast Abbey, one of England’s historic monasteries, celebrated the millennium year of its foundation, offering a prime example of the aormi@icloud.com

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contribution of monastic life to society amid an increasingly fast-paced world. The abbey was founded in 1018 during the reign of King Cnut and

entrusted to care of the Benedictines. Just over 100 years later, in 1147, Buckfast became a Cistercian monastery. The Order was founded in 1098 by a group of monks seeking to live a simpler life in more strict observance of the Benedictine Rule. But in 1539 was shut down by the commissioners of King Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries in a bid to confiscate the wealth of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religious institutes during the English Reformation. The monastery was immediately vacated, stripped and left to decay. During the more than 300 years that Buckfast was without

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monks,monastery changed hands four times, eventually landing in those of Dr. James Gale in 1872, who decided to sell the property, but wanted it to go back to a religious community. Just six weeks after putting an advertisement in the paper, Buckfast was purchased by monks, who moved in shortly after, bringing a close to the 343 year gap in monastic presence at the abbey. That first group of monks who returned to Buckfast were Benedictines who had been exiled from France and had made their way to Ireland. They moved to Buckfast in 1882 after acquiring the abbey, and began the process of restoring the property.

Not only to Benedictine monks take the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they also make an additional vow of stability, meaning that when they are assigned to a monastery, they stay there. While they might travel or even spend time in other monasteries, they will always be attached to the original, as an individual would be to their family home. Buckfast also has a large conference center where they host various congresses and retreats throughout the year, including for non-Catholic groups. The monastery also offers two refurbished guest houses for pilgrims and tourists to stay. They also have private houses available to rent if people want a longer get-away. Buckfast also has a cafeteria and an adoration chapel open to visitors. Monks also offer pilgrims the opportunity to pray Vespers with them every evening. Buckfast also has a large conference center where they host various congresses and retreats throughout the year, including for non-Catholic groups. The monastery offers two refurbished guest houses for pilgrims and tourists to stay. They also have private houses available to rent if people want a longer get-away. Buckfast has a cafeteria and an adoration chapel open to visitors. Monks offer pilgrims the opportunity to pray Vespers with them every evening. aormi@icloud.com

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Building or Tax Building by David Stewart

I f there is to be a building of any kind, including adding or altering an original architect’s design, then the license must come from the local town hall. It is easy to fall afoul of planning permission in Spain as the trustees of the Sagrada Familia basilica have found. The Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, one of Spain's most famous tourist sites, has agreed to pay £31m to the city authorities after going without a building permit for more than 130 years. The spectacular church designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, is a Unesco world heritage site and still under construction.

Work began on the building in 1882 and presumably Gaudi obtained a building permit. Barcelona's mayor said the present deal was an historic agreement.

The basilica has caused quite a lot of aormi@icloud.com

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local resentment in the past few years because of the strain on public services such as blocked roads because of tourist buses, and local apartments being used as holiday flats with little control as holiday makers tend to let their hair down and make a lot of noise with parties, much to the woe of other residents who live there all year round. The basilica will pay the tax over 10 years to improve public transport and access to the monument and assist the local neighbourhood.Â In return its status should be regularised early next year, Mayor Ada Colau said.

About 4.5 million people visit the Sagrada Familia each year, with a further 20 million people visiting the area to look at it. The main structure is due to be completed by 2026, the centenary of GaudĂ's death.

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ELCHE, LIVE A NEVERENDING STORY T h e millennial city offers m u c h more than w h a t travelers usually expect. Three sites listed in the different categories of UNESCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Heritage lists, the Historic Palm Grove, the Mystery Play of Elche and the Pusol School Museum. Its beaches, natural spaces, culture, gastronomy, festivals, shopping and a wide range of leisure activities make it a unique destination in the Mediterranean. At Christmas, Elx visit, with the children, the Great Teatre d '. Spectacle an amusement for the whole family. Program - Campaign of Family Theatre: Ticket office of the Great Theatre from Tuesday until Saturday from 10 to 13.30 h and from 17 to 20.30 h. In days of shows and out of this schedule, only in ticket office to be sold an hour before the s h o w : / / www.instanticket.es/902 444 300

There will be workshops for children in the Museo Arqueologico. of Elche

A traditional Christmas Market in the Glorieta during the last two weeks of December with lots of entertainment and games for children with prizes from local businesses. aormi@icloud.com

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As every year there will be a Living Crib Scene in the La Plaza de Traspalacio which is next to the Palacio de Altamira. This provides and idea of life in Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus wit three special scenes. 25th December birth of Jesus. 29th December Flight into Egypt. 5th January the arrival of the Three Kings.

There will also be ice skating rink in Elche with varying times of opening so check out before you go. • Dirección: Calle Mallorca, 37 • Código postal: 03203 • Teléfono: 96 545 34 46 / 96 545 34 73 • Email: info@elchefitnessclub.es

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ALICANTE HAS LOADS FOR KIDS.

Magic in the Great Theatre Wednesday on January 2: 17 and 19.30 h MAGIC. Duration: 90 min For the fourth year in a row the Great Theatre of Elche offers us a great show of magic to begin the year as best as possible. In this occasion we will have to five big illusionists recognized internationally that will make us enjoy the magic in his more important disciplines: magic closely, comical magic, I spoil and big illusions. Do not stop to spend the opportunity to see the best show of magic of 2019.

Alice in Wonderland Viernes on January 4: 18 h INFANTILE THEATRE. Duration: 60 min After the great success of The Soldaditos of lead, the magic of the black theatre returns with more force than ever. Alicia is an anxious girl with an overflowing imagination, tired of a world full of well versed procedure and with the desire of living through adventures. One day, a white rabbit speaker is in front of her running and the girl cannot help but follow him up to his burrow. From there Alicia begins an incredible trip full of magic, songs and amusement, in the one where she will take the tea with the " Mad Hatmaker “, or will play the riddles with the “Caterpillar", and help to paint the red roses of the garden, will know the entertaining "Duchess" and she will take part in a party of croquet with Flemings … if the " Queen of Hearts " does not cut the head.

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ALICANTE 31 º INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PUPPETS "FESTITÍTERES" Date: Of November 30, 2018 until December 9, 2018 31st Festival of Títeteres, Festitíteres De nuevo the Festival of Puppets of Alicante (FESTITITERES/2018), comes to this annual appointment with the public that has been interested in this special form of doing theatre, with great roots in our city and this environment. 31 Festititeres's international edition presents a program in which there are 13 groups (9 of national and 4 foreigners) that will realize a total of 26 actions (15 free ones and 11 paying ones) in closed area and outdoors, directed especially to a family public, but also with offers for public juvenil/adult. The programming, as always, will be realized in different spaces of the city in order to bring the activities over to the interested public and to extend its projection: Cultural Center Cigar-cases, Theatre Arniches, Community centers, Parks, BRUISE, Castle St ª Barbara… The billboard of this edition counts with the participation of groups of national and international prestige and also local productions: Alicante, Valencia, Catalonia, Andalusia, Aragon, Madrid, Asturias Brazil, Hungary, France... The majority of the participants possess a wide curriculum and recognized prestige, but also there is space for offers of new companies and premieres that they present in this Festival. From the artistic point of view the programme includes different ways of conceiving the theatre of puppets with technologies and diverse aesthetics that they include from the traditional puppet (puppets of thread, shades, glove, puppets ….) to the new formats that include the theatre of objects or the merger of several arts (circus, audio-visual, music, poetry …)

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Centro Municipal de las Artes - Pza. Quijano, nยบ 2. Correo: cultura.difusion@alicante.es Ver la programaciรณn en www.agendacultural.org

Rio Safari is near Santa Pola or Elche and is always a great attraction for children, it has some interaction with some of the hundred or so animals available for the more adventurous. aormi@icloud.com

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Undersea at Tenerife Underwater Cemetery by Andy Ormiston

Well the title is not quite correct.Â One of the favourite diving spots in Tenerife is at Malpique where there are 39 or 40 stone crosses making up what is called a cemetery, but, in fact, is a monument to 39 Jesuit priests and brothers who were dismembered and killed at sea by pirates. Tenerife has innumerable opportunities to go underwater. There are schools for all classes for snorkeling, scuba, even swimming classes in pools. Some places offer PADI courses and you can even go scuba diving with a scooter. The Canary Islands belong to the Kingdom of Spain though geographically they are mostly referred to as part of the African continent, that make the Canary Islands a very special place with Tenerife the largest island. Like other Canary Islands Tenerife has a volcanic origin, in the very centre of it there is the great volcano Teide (3718 m) that is the highest point not only of Tenerife but also of wholeÂ Spain. aormi@icloud.com

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The first people appeared on the island in 200 B.C. They were called Guanches. Tenerife was divided into 9 little kingdoms; the head of each it was mencey (king). They practiced agriculture and hunting. Â In 1402 first Spanish people came and conquered in the name of the Queen. The war lasted almost one century. In the end the whole island was conquered by the Spanish.Step by step the guanche assimilated with the Spanish and till now islanders call themselves proudly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guanches". The vegetation of Tenerife varies a lot and any visitor of the island will be astonished at the wide variety of trees, bushes and flowers. In total in Tenerife there are about 1400 kinds of plants, 200 of which are endemic (not existing in other regions). Underwater inhabitants are also numerous: about 400 different kinds of fish, several kinds of turtles, dolphins, whales etc, that makes Tenerife a very attractive island for diving. aormi@icloud.com

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For 50 minutes of Snorkeling it will cost around 40 euros and there are a number of schools online where you can book courses in advance. You don't have to be a member of the jet set to Jet ski. Then there is Surfing, parascending, Fishing, kayaking, the donut, the wakeboard and the water skiing. Carnival is actually one of the most important events of the year in Tenerife! During two weeks people celebrate it on the whole island, but the biggest party happens in the capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife. At that time of the year locals and tourists join the celebrations that are arranged every day and night. They prepare thoroughly for the events: choose disguises and do make up not only women, but men too with fabulous Drag Queen competitions.

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But back to the underwater stone crosses monument. On July 15 1570 the Jesuit missionaries were attacked by Huguenot pirates off the coast of La Palma. Huguenot sailors, who had become pirates, took an active part in the war against Spain. They did this for two reasons, firstly to help defeat Spain and secondly, to support the Protestant cause. Originally there were eighty religious in the party and distributed among seven ships making a flotilla to keep pirates away. They were on three ships - 20 with Padre Diaz, three with father Dom Luis de Vasconcelo with a large group of settlers. The Jesuit provincial in charge had forty five on the Santiago.

The flotilla sailed from Lisbon on 5 June, 1570, reaching Madeira eight days later. There they waited favourable winds. The traders who were on the Santiago persuaded the governor to let them go, sail to La Palma, unload, and join the rest of the fleet to sail to Brazil The captain of the ship, Santiago, knowing the dangers of piracy still decided to sail alone. Because of the possible dangers the priest in charge Father Ignacio Azavedo explained the dangers ahead and decided to ask only for volunteers and four young novices stepped down and were replaced by four other Jesuits, two Portuguese and two Spanish, to make the missionary complement on board up to 40. So the leader of the group was Father Ignacio Azavedo, who was from Porto in 1526. He was an illegitimate child on four corners: his father was an ordained priest, his mother a professed nun of St. Benedict. His grandfather was bishop of Porto and his grandmother was a nun too.

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Ignacio developed a guilt complex for sins that were not his. Being of noble family when he was 13 a royal letter confined on him "the rights honors, nobility titles to inherit, as though he had been born of legitimate matrimony". One of these rights was to be called Dom and D.Ignacio can be found on some of his letters. He served as a page in the Portuguese court of King John III. He decided to join the recently founded Society of Jesus and was accepted by Ignatius of Loyola, the main founder of the new religious order that altered the rules of the more monastic orders used to praying in common the prayers of the church. The Jesuits had permission to say these prayers privately or together. This permitted the new Jesuits a lot of flexibility which impressed the young man. He joined the Jesuits in 1548 and became a priest in 1553 . He was appointed Rector of St. Anthony's College in Lisbon and in 1566 Francis Borgia instructed him to go to Brazil as Visitor, whose job itÂ was to investigate the state of the mission and ensure that all was well.

This position lasted two years from 1566-68 then his peers sent him to Rome to the procurators congregation, the governing body of the Society that meets regularly with very wide powers, although the Father General was in charge of the daily running. Francis Borgia was the General and appointed him to be Provincial of Brazil, which meant he was to be in charge. So now he looked for other Jesuits to join him for his voyage to Brazil. He passed through Spain and Portugal with the remit to recruit five men from each province. In Zaragoza he was given 38 year old carpenter Brother Juan de Mayorga, to direct the work in the churches and buildings of the different Reductions. He picked up a novice,Â Francisco Perez Godoy of Campo de Medina who had sacrificed his moustache and mane as well as not saying he could only see out of one eye.Â Gradually more were recruited until he had 70 priests, brothers, student priests and novices. aormi@icloud.com

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Leaving Madeira the Santiago took seven days to reach La Palma, but the weather prevented them from entering port. They took shelter further south in the anchorage at Tazacorte. The passengers could unload there and take their goods by land to Santa Cruz de La Palma. After five days of calm the winds changed so a decision was made to sail. Three days later at dawn on 14 July within sight of Santa Cruz port the Santiago was pursued by four boats and a galleon, captained by Jacques Sores. The peace treaty between Catholics and Huguenots was signed on 8 August at Saint Germain, which was just too late for the Santiago and crew. The pirate galleon pushed into the Santiago, but failed to grapple it. It's first pilot and two soldiers boarded it, but were killed by the Portuguese. In a second attempt the pirates boarded with fifty men and a fierce battle ensued with the scanty crew of the Santiago. Meanwhile Father Ignacio gathered his 39 companions on deck and hoisted an image of the Blessed Virgen Mary all the time encouraging the crew in their fight. Captain Sores could see the Jesuits from his galleon and shouted loudly " let the Papists die! Throw those Jesuit dogs to the sea." Father Ignacio was the first to face the assailants, holding the picture high shouting, "Brothers, let us die for God and the confession of our faith." One blow by a knife slashed his skull down to the brains, but he still exhorted his brethren until he slumped down, his chest pierced with three spear thrusts. Brother Benito was Master of Novices and holding a crucifix up and defied the Huguenots. Three arquebus shots brought him down but couldn't shut him up. He was stabbed several times in different parts of his body before he was thrown overboard into the sea, still alive. Brother Manuel Alvarez was on the stern and was stabbed in the face, then laid on the deck with his arms and legs outstretched and cut off. aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

A pirate lifted him up and threw him, still alive, and still exhorting his companions to be faithful. The same happened to the other Jesuits being cut up and thrown into the sea. One young handsome 18-year old Simao de Acosta was transferred to the pirate galleon to be questioned by Sores if he was a Jesuit and he replied that he was and companion of those who had died, so Sores had him beheaded and also chucked into the sea. Two Jesuits were sick, but rose up from their beds and joined the line of companions and suffered the same fate. The treaty of Tordesillas on the 7th of June 1494 declared that lands lying beyond the Atlantic Ocean, whether discovered in the past or the future, were to be shared uniquely between Spain and Portugal. This treaty did not receive the agreement of France or England and they were all the more offended by it because soon after this, the Spanish refused to allow any other nation to trade with their American colonies. It was in such circumstances as this that both France and England allowed their corsairs to attack Spanish vessels in Europe and the West Indies, with the justification that they had letters giving official permission from their government, although these papers were sometimes false. Indeed, sometimes the politicians actively encouraged such ventures. Huguenot ship-owners, among others, became heavily involved in privateering, soon to be joined by their Anglican counterparts on the other side of the Channel. Their reasons for doing so were probably mercenary, but also and especially religious: we must remember that this was the period of the religious wars. What the Spanish really feared was that the French Huguenots should also form colonies in « their » territory in the New World. Indeed, in 1565, under the orders of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, they had already destroyed the colony in Florida which had been founded by J.Ribault and René de Laudonière : they had slaughtered all the inhabitants « not because they were French but because they were Lutherans. » Similarly, when they captured corsairs,

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

the Spanish would treat them as heretics rather than ordinary prisoners : this is why they were sent to the gallows, the punishment normally allotted to such a crime in Spain. Amongst the towns which were attacked, we can mention the following : in 1543, Carthaginia (Colombia), by a joint force of 300 French and English corsairs. In 1534, Santiago de Cuba was ransacked by Jacques de Sores, using 3 boats and 300 men. He did the same the following year in Santa Maria (Cuba). In July, in the company of the Norman François de Clerc, he seized Havana, where he burned the churches and seized an enormous booty. François de Clerc had been given the first official privateer’s license, allowing him to capture vessels in America. How do we know this? One brother was saved, Juan Sanchez, because he was a cook and his services required. Brothers usually had manual and administrative skills. The pirates took him as a virtual slave back to France and eventually he returned to tell the tale and that the Santiago had not been lost at sea, but attacked and the crew and passengers slaughtered. His place among the Jesuits was taken by the captain's nephew, called San Juan, who had befriended some of the Jesuits. He took a cassock robe and was also killed as a Jesuit. He was later named as Juan Adaucto , the Added One, which explains the confusion about 40 or 39 stone crosses in the seabed monument. The details of the massacre were also substantiated by a few of the soldiers and crew of the Santiago who had been taken hostage by Captain Sores. At Lanzarote another underwater scene is that of 50 people walking in the sea. Stone figures by awardwinning British ecosculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor as part of an incredible initiative to create the first-ever underwater museum in Europe. aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Hospital Bus on Tour by Pat Hynd

In May Torrevieja University Hospital launched its app of Yo Salud offering a link between patient and services of the Health Area 22. Now there are leaflets in various languages with a brief outline of this connection and how to access it via your smartphone. The hospital has now completed its 12 anniversary with several events. One of these was a presentation of the development of the hospital in he last twelve years. In front of local authorities and health p ro f e s s i o n a l s , the Manager of Torrevieja Salud, Dr. Jose Antonio Velasco, explained a balance sheet of these first twelve years in which the department has gathered numerous recognitions thanks to the good work and commitment of the professionals.

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Torrevieja Outlook

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

The emotive act possessed a unique central moment in that Genoveva, Pilar and Margaret, all 100 and 101-year-old of age, were honoured as a symbol of the great life expectancy that one can expect to see in the department. It is necessary to remember that Torrevieja Salud is the department of health with major life expectancy of the Valencian Community, with an average of more than 82 years.

After the institutional act, authorities and professionals moved up to the exterior of the hospital where the blue bus denominated "12 years taking care of your health". This bus, that is the them of the anniversary commemoration of the department, will be on the move until December 10, visiting all the municipalities dependent on the department. Through the bus, citizens will be able to know about a medical consultation and there is an operating room fully equipped. With the help of virtual reality goggles they will be able to live in the first person how it is to be present in an operating room. In the consultation, sanitary personnel will be at the disposal of citizens to realize different tests of health as blood pressure, weight, test of glucose, etc. In addition, the bus offers the possibility of registering through the portal YOsalud, a tool that allows patients to realize questions directly to their family doctor, obtain analysis results, or print out appointments. Through an interactive game, all the neighbours of the municipalities visited by the bus, will be able to test his/her knowledge of the history of the department of health and to form a part of a contest where the one that answers more questions or guessed right receives a gift.

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

We Have To Do More” At most they quietly sit The pavement their seat and a bed Some caring for their true companion A dog that they make sure is fed Whilst watching the world point their fingers Demanding they ought to find jobs Presuming they’re all helpless junkies Lazy and ignorant slobs Not knowing their true hardship stories Walking by with a sneer of distaste No heart and no coins for the homeless Though a cold bitter night’s to be faced Only few offer hope and a future In a country that’s brimming with wealth No hardship for those who have power No problems of money or health aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

It’s obscene that the streets are addresses With doorways the bedrooms of folk With some having fought for their country Who are now just the end of a joke And the winter will kill off the feeble Maybe that’s what the government need They won’t have to dig in the kitty They’ll be no hungry bellies to feed I’m incensed there’s no progress to conquer The poverty at our own door Maybe God can enlighten the blinkered Only God knows we have to do more. By David Whitney c 2018 who works with Reach Out aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

In December, the British Consulate in Alicante is will continue to present a series of events for UK nationals on Living in Spain and Brexit where British Consul SarahJane Morris and her team will update residents with the latest information on Brexit and what this means for UK nationals living in Spain. This was a very successful tour of the southern part of Alicante Province with a large participation of British residents there attending. British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris said: “As the negotiations continue, the consulate will continue with the outreach events that we have planned across the Alicante area to update citizens. “I continue to urge all UK nationals living in Spain to ensure you are correctly registered and stay up to date with the latest news, by signing up for email alerts, visiting the Living in Spain guide on gov.uk and following our Brits in Spain social media channels, including on Facebook.” Advice for UK citizens living in the EU can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe . We recommend following our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting accurate information. 10 December aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Javea: Sala polivalente, Carrer Portal del Clot, Javea 12.30 PM 18 December Benidorm: Camping Villa Mar, Ctra. Albir, km. 0,300, 03503 Benidorm 11.30 AM 18 December Jalon Valley: Edificio Multiusos de Alcalali, Calle Cipreses 1. Alcalali. 03728 14.30 PM

Many people have queried about dual nationality so the following information may or not be of use. Spain does not accept dual nationality except in some circumstances. It does not do so for British citizens, but normally the Spanish authorities hand over passports to the British embassy who return it to the person involved. Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This means you can be a British citizen and also a citizen of other countries. You do not need to apply for dual citizenship. You can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship. Many countries do not accept dual citizenship. Check with the country’s consulate or embassy in the UK to find out about that country’s laws on dual nationality. There will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens living in the UK until 2021. You and your family can apply for ‘settled status’ to continue living in the UK after June 2021. The scheme will open fully by March 2019. As a dual national you cannot get diplomatic help from the British government when you are in the other country where you hold citizenship. For example, if you hold both British and Chinese citizenship you cannot get diplomatic help from the UK when you’re in China. You do not automatically become a British citizen when you marry a person from the UK. You need to apply as the spouse of a British citizen. In some countries, a married person is automatically counted as having their partner’s nationality. Children may also automatically have a parent’s nationality even if they were born abroad. Check with the country’s consulate or high commission in the UK to find out about that country’s laws on dual nationality. aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

The Costa Blanca Tourist Board has organized, in collaboration with the Alicante City Council and the University of Alicante, a fam trip of language tourism aimed at Spanish teachers from universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The objective of this familiarization trip is for teachers to know first hand the wide range of possibilities that exists in the province, an ideal destination for learning Spanish, not only because of the many learning options it offers, but also because of the many possibilities in it that exist to complement the academic training. Ten professors from Oxford Brookes University, University of Strathclyde, The University of Plymouth, University of Central Lancashire, The American University in London, King’s College London, Aston University, Middlesex University, Dublin Institute of Technology y University College of Cork. During their stay in the province, the group has toured the campus of the UA, as well as the city of Alicante, where it has visited its historic center, its anti-aircraft shelters or its Hogueras Museum among other places of interest. The Vice President and Deputy for Tourism Promotion, Eduardo Dolón, explained that "for the Provincial Board this action is strategic because it is focused on the product 'Study at Costa Blanca' with which they are made aware of the many learning opportunities they offer the Alicante campuses and their different programs of Spanish, as well as the variety and quality of the complementary offer that exists in the territory and that includes gastronomy, culture, leisure or sports, among other elements “.

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Torrevieja decorated shop windows, giant crib scene, christmas carols.

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

The commercial businesses have organized the traditional contest of Escaparatismo navideĂąoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. ' Christmas window dressing '. This is the XV edition of this contest that rewards the originality and the aesthetics of the shop windows that take part. Businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will compete with adorned window fronts in a Christmas theme from the 14th December. For this year three prizes have been established - The First prize: 700 Euros, second prize: 425 Euros and third prize 200 Euros. The aim is to attract more visitors to the town centre which also has the street Christmas lights, the large Christmas tree donated by the Scandinavians and planted in the main plaza. Then there is the giant crib in the play which this year seems to have been reduced considerably.

There is a programme of Christmas carols by different chorus and groups. The popular one is that ranged by several British organizations that will be held on Friday 14th December in the main plaza in front of the church at 17:30.

The choir of the College la Purisima, will open the event next December 18: followed by the the Juvenile Band and Choir of the School of Music of the Musical Union Torrevejense on December 19. On Thursday, the 20th of December there will be actions of the Coro y Orquesta de Cuerda del Conservatorio aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Municipal Maestro Casanovas (Choir and Orchestra of chords of the Municipal Main Conservatoire Casanovas school, and the following day, on December 21, the actions will be of the Infantile Choir Coral Francisco Vallejos and of the Infantile Choir I member of college Ntra. Snra. of the Rosario. In addition the Andalucian Coro Los Finales de Jerez de la Frontera will be playing traditional music with the zooming of the zambombas on Saturday 22 December. El Coro Parroquial Adonai will close this second year of these Villancicos on 23 December. Navidades Mรกgicas' is a magical evening aimed at children for 23 December at 12:00 in La Mata in the Plaza de Encarnaciรณn Puchol. "Cuento de navidad", from the novel by Charles Dickens, on 27th December at 18:00 with entrance of 10 euros for adults and 8 euros for under 14 years old. This is booked in at the Virgen del Carmen, but as it has been closed temporarily who knows?? METHINKS SCROOGE IS IN THE TOWN HALL.

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Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

L o o k for ward to next year with the c u r r e n t solidarity calendar.

Know what is going on as each page provides infor mation about the C o s t a Blanca.

Be prepared for change of mood of y o u r husband with astronomical information.

Available from many charity shops including - Alzheimers - Age Concern, MABS - Reach Out - HELP VEGA BAJA SAMARATINS - K9 shops or send a message to aormi@icloud.com or aormi@icloud.com aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

059 December 2018

Wherever you are, whoever you are, may 2019 bring you happiness and good health

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