the Carnival

The carnival is a public celebration, combining elements such as costumes, parades and street parties. Legend has it that on the night of Carnaval anything goes, so people usually go masked.

The origin of the celebration comes from the pagan festivals, such as those performed in honor of Bacchus, god of wine, the Roman Saturnalia and Lupercalia, or which were held in honor of the bull Apis in Egypt over 5000 years ago with very similar celebrations in the Roman Empire, where the custom spread through Europe. Being brought to America by the Spanish and Portuguese sailors from XV century.

One of the most unique and special carnivals in Spain (a part of the Carnival of the Canary Islands) is the carnival of Catalonia:

The Carnival in Catalonia:

Like almost any other carnival in the world, is the pagan festival that takes place in the interval of time from the arrival of the Magi to Ash Wednesday, the day which begins Lent.

In Catalan is said Carnestoltes carnis cualis derived from Latin, meaning "private meat", and refers to the prohibition of eating meat during the forty days of Lent.

Ash Wednesday, the king Carnestoltes, faces trial with Old Lent (which, Old Lent always winning out), after the trial, is sentenced to death carnestoltes and incinerated a doll representing the King Carnestoltes. When the doll just burning, Lent begins.

The most famous carnivals are the Solsona, Cunit, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Sitges, Rubí, Tarragona, Olot, Torello, Palamos and Castell d'Aro.

Princess Anne .. perfect princess ... tips

If you read this and you are a person unhappy with your appearance, and looking for help or tips to stop eating and lose weight, you might be interested in this:

Want to be slim? Do you feel fear of gaining weight or becoming fat? Are you really worried about your figure and make you look fat? Have you consumed, consume, or want to consume less than 1000 calories a day? Did you leave or you are trying to stop eating?

If all this you answered yes, then sorry to say that you are suffering from Anorexia. This disease is associated with eating behavior in a severe disruption of the perception you have about your body image. You can look fat or disproportionate, even with a weight well below what is considered normal for your age and height.

This disorder has a negative impact on your family life, in social, academic and emotional. No society or your family that does not understand you, but you're the one who is not well and do not understand either yourself or the needs of your body.

In the first stage of this "diet" may not have problems and you think (falsely) that you will be happier the thinner re ... but if you keep this up:

1. You will more and more irritable, with sudden changes in your mood. Each time you will be more sad, to the point of isolating yourself socially. You'll be alone and friendless.

2. You'll have a hard time concentrating on your studies.

3. Come to abandon your tasks and responsibilities ..

4. You will have a greater severe kidney problems, intestinal and tears in the digestive organs.

5. Suffer from insomnia.

6. You hair fall.

7. You will always be constant cold and cold.

8. You will lose your period and, in the future, you can not have children.

9. Your heart will increasingly slow and weaken.

10. You can not defecate, but take laxatives.

11. Your skin will become gray and dry.

12. Your muscles will atrophy.

13. Your blood pressure will drop, so you often get dizzy.

14. You will atrophy nerves and parts of the brain due to lack of nutrients.

15. Finally, you will die or you kill yourself.

Are you still planning to stop eating and lose weight? then I ask you to look at these pages:

National Association of Anorexia Nerviosa and Associated Disorders

NEDA

Eating Disorders Association Inc.

Do not you convinced? Then only you steal a few minutes of your time.

Maiara Galvao. She measured 170 cm, 14 years. He died on 01.06.2007, of heart failure caused by anorexia. Her dream was to be a model and just eat to stay thin. In September 2006, she was taken to the doctor first, as she had no strength to climb the stairs of the school where she studied. After going through three different public hospitals, doctors discovered that she had anorexia nervosa. She was admitted to the Hospital Miguel Couto (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), where she died.

Ana Carolina Reston. Model 21 years old, 174 cm and weight 40 kg. She was admitted on October 25, 2006 with a urinary tract infection that turned into kidney failure, and then a generalized infection. She died in hospital in Sao Paulo on November 15, 2006.

Luisel Ramos. Uruguayan model of 22 years old, 44 kg. She died on 08.02.2006 by heart failure caused by anorexia. She had taken a crash diet based on lettuce, which took place during the 3 months prior to her death. her BMI was 14.5. WHO considers a BMI below 18.5 is underweight and below 16, severe thinness.

Eliana Ramos. Sister of Luisel Ramos. On February 13, 2007 was found dead at the home of her grandparents in Montevideo, at age 18. According to the autopsy died of cardiac arrest as a result of the severity of the suffering anorexia.

Sobrado Carla Casalle. 22, fashion student aspiring to enter the runway. She died in November 2006 in the Portuguese Charity Hospital where he was hospitalized for some three days. She died after two heart attacks as a result of anorexia. It measured 174 cm and weighed 55 kg.

Isabelle Caro. She suffered from anorexia nervosa since age 13. Measuring 165 cm and weighing 33 kg. She was hospitalized for the first time at age 20. In 2006 went into a coma with a weight of 25 kg, this time the doctors said she would not live. She died on November 17, 2010, in the Xavier-Bichet Hospital of Paris after spending two weeks admitted with acute respiratory failure caused by her extreme malnutrition. In January 2011, her mother, Marie Caro, after not bear the guilt for the death of her daughter, committed suicide.

You were now convinced?? stop eating (or eating less) does not make you beautiful, it makes you more vulnerable.

Magosto or chestnut festival

The magosto or Chestnut Festival is a traditional festival in parts of Spain, Galicia, Asturias, Catalonia, etc.. It is also a very popular celebration in Portugal, where it is called Magusto. It has also spread internationally and chestnut festival.

Common elements are holding this event in November and have as main elements chestnut and fire.

From the Palaeolithic man fed on chestnuts and acorns. With the expansion of chestnut trees cultivation by the Romans, the fruit became the staple food of the population, such as fresh fruit, dried or ground into flour. In the sixteenth century the arrival of corn and potatoes were American chestnuts that lost its prominence in the peasant diet.

Traditionally this feast was celebrated during the collection of this fruit and also served as thanks to the gods for the harvest received.

In the days between November 1 (All Saints Day) and November 11 (Saint Martin), is usually held this party where there are plenty of fire-roasted chestnuts, new wine and sausages.

The party is to make a fire and, once there coals placed on them a metal cylinder with holes in its base (called drum). BOUT this container, or other like that, extend the chestnuts which have been previously made ​​a cut on one end so that they do not jump or explode. Once peeled roasted and eaten.

Smudging is common face with the remains of the fire, jump over the fires and to bring luck and make Diferences traditional games, storytelling and singing folk songs.

Woman roasting chestnuts, known as Castañera.

Chestnuts with milk

The chestnut pudding is a dish of chestnuts (cagoxas) typical of the province of Lugo (Galicia, Spain). Chestnuts participate in various celebrations Galicia (an example is the magosto, a kind of Halloween party). It is usually served as a dessert or breakfast.

ingredients:

- 200 grams of dried chestnuts.
- 1 liter of milk.
- Water.

Preparation:

- We cook the dried chestnuts in a pot with water. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Chestnuts drain them and cut into pieces.
- Handed out a liter of milk in bowl and toss them chopped chestnuts

Note: add sugar to sweeten

Lovers of Teruel

The story or legend of the Lovers of Teruel, tells the love story between two young Spanish, Isabel de Segura and Juan Martinez de Marcilla.

In the early years of the thirteenth century lived in the city of Teruel, Juan de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura, whose early friendship soon turned into love. No dear Isabel's family, because Juan had no goods, the suitor got a deadline to get rich. So he went to war and returned to Teruel just as had expired. By then, it was Isabel wife of a brother of the Lord of Albarracin. Despite this fact, Juan did meet with Isabel at his home and asked for a kiss, she denied it and the young man died of grief. The next day the funeral was held in St. Peter's young, then, a woman approached the coffin mourning: was Isabel, wanted to give the deceased denied the kiss, the girl placed her lips on the dead and suddenly fell dead together it.

The crown of fire

It is a medieval legend focused mainly in the Spanish town of Monforte de Lemos, and in its vicinity the Terra de Lemos, belonging to the autonomous community of Galicia.

There was an underground passage linking the palace county of Monforte de Lemos with the Church of San Vicente del Pino. During the absence of the Earl de Lemos, who partly meet real parcels, the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of San Vicente, used the corridor to maintain relations with the wife of the Earl. In return of the Earl, and aware of the love affair, the abbot invited to a sumptuous meal, when ordered to bring the dessert, a servant of the Earl brings a crown of red-hot iron, with which the abbot corona, causing death.

The Holy Company

The Holy Company is in the Galician popular mythology (and by other names, or the same, in the Asturias and Leon). It is a procession of dead or lost souls that night (after 12 at night) go wandering the paths of a parish. Its mission is to visit all those homes that soon there will be a death.

This consists of a procession of souls, dressed in white robe and hood, wandering at night.

This ghostly procession form two rows, wrapped in shrouds and go barefoot. Each ghost carries a candle and step wax leaves a smell in the air. Leading the ghostly company is a larger spectrum called Estadea.

The procession is led by a living (mortal) carrying a cross and a cauldron of holy water, followed by candlelight souls, not always visible, noticing its presence in the smell of wax and wind up in their wake.

This person alive that precedes the procession can be male or female. Who performs this function does not remember anything during the day, only you can recognize people punished with the punishment for its extreme thinness and paleness.

Each night the light will be more intense and every day her pallor will increase. Do not allow them to rest any night, so their health is weakened even sick. Condemned to wander every night until they die or another sucker is caught (which leads the procession which gives a cross).

Walk issuing prayers, funeral songs and playing a small bell.

In its wake, previously cease all animal noises in the woods and hear some bells. Dogs announce the arrival of the Holy Company howling sprees cats really are running scared and frightened.

To get rid of this obligation, the person you see pass the Holy Company must draw a circle on the floor and get into it or lie face down. To get rid of the Holy Company must carry a cross on top, pray without hearing the chanting of the Holy Company, or ultimately run.

Protection against Holy Company:

- Pull off the road to the Holy Company, and do not look at them that they are not seen.

- Make a circle with the Star of Solomon or a cross and enter into it.

- Eat something.

- When we go to give the cross, responding "I have cross" for the bearer of the cross does not make us surrender.

- Pray and do not hear their voices or the sound of the bell.

- Tearing upside down and wait without moving, although the company will pass over.

- Never touch a candle that gives us a decedent of the procession.

- Ultimately, to run very fast.

- The Holy Company does not have the power to capture the soul of the mortal who crosses her, if he is in the steps of some cruise than those at the crossroads or if carrying a cross and manages to wield them in time.

Meiga

The word meiga, meaning women mage, is used in Galicia, León and Asturias (Spain), with the meaning of "person with extraordinary powers or magic and can bargain with the devil."

The figure on the meiga is deeply rooted in the folk tradition, and differs from the latter witch always acts with malice, can treat and agree with demionios and yet, the Meigas are also known as healers and seers , and people go to them to be healed with its rewritten psalms and spells.

There are meigas flying on broomsticks or mounted on horseback. But other women are only able to perform the evil eye and to heal, and other evils.

Types of meigas:

It is said that there are a large number of them, each with different powers:

- Meigas chuchonas (or sucking) are the most dangerous and are presented with different faces or turned into vampires and insects such as bumblebees. They suck the blood of children and rob the body fat to be used in the preparation of ointments and potions.

- Asumcordas (witches street); spy on people and watch who goes in and out of houses.

- Marimanta, is the woman's bag, stealing children and make them disappear.

- Feticeira (sorceress) living near rivers and streams, although it is an old, non-repellent appearance, has a beautiful voice and songs mesmerize with their youth who hear, these are close to the river and she makes getting young people go into the river until they drown.

- Lavandeira (Women washing clothes), this meiga surprises the traveler who goes through a laundry (a former laundry), inviting them to help her wring the clothes washing, clothes stained with blood is still warm to result of a miscarriage. The person has to be careful to turn the clothes in the same direction as her, because otherwise, the misfortune will fall on his house.

- Lobismuller (werewolf) are women who were born on Christmas Eve or Good Friday, or is the seventh or ninth in a family where all offspring are female.

- Vedoira (seer) is beautiful and pleasant to deal. Has powers of divination and are experts in contact with the beyond to tell if someone is enjoying died forever in heaven or still suffering in purgatory.

- Voladoira (woman flying) acrobatic pirouettes in the sky.

- Cartuxeira (fortune teller); women fortune-tellers, who always correct in their predictions.

- Agoreira (aged); these meigas age prematurely, but live many years.

- Damas de castro (ladies of the tree); these meigas living under ancient trees or underground in a glass castle. They always have a long tail white dress, and always respond to requests from people. As well enjoy and fortune, any favor or compliment serve to get tips or gifts from them, on the contrary, tend to appear to people afflicted by a difficult situation in his life, and that person grant his favors.

Methods to protect against meigas:

- Place a broom turned upside down after the front door.

- Take a clove of garlic or a dry chestnut. Bring a fig (best jet Compostela) around your neck or flying deer horns.

- Take home blessed land of cemeteries or laurel branches blessed on Palm Sunday.

- Search beasts claws or wolf teeth.

- Possess shaped wands, pendants and pectorals, pieces of jet, amber and various magical stones.

- Skip the bonfire of San Juan 3 times.

A popular phrase: "Eu non creo nas meigas, mais habelas, hainas" ("I do not believe in Meigas, but if any, there are").

The Meigas performing spell called "Meigallo". A common incantation is "Meigas out!" Which is accompanied by the gesture of the Higa.