'SICUT DUDUM', GUANCHE SLAVERY IN CANARY ISLANDS

Sicut Dudum, January 13, 1435, Florence

Today, The Grandma has received the visit of her closer friend Nuria. Nuria is from Tenerife, Canary Islands.

They have been talking about their lives and their future projects and Nuria has been explained to The Grandma an interesting story about Sicut dudum, a papal bull promulgated by Pope Eugene IV on a day like today in 1435, which forbade the enslavement of Guanches, the local natives in the Canary Islands who had converted or were converting to Christianity.

Canary Islands have an amazing an exciting history that must be explained and remembered. Their native people, Guanches, suffered all kind of repression -including genocide- by the Spanish colonizers who wanted to submit these peoples to the Spanish culture and religion.

Sicut dudum, in English Just as Long Ago, is a papal bull promulgated by Pope Eugene IV in Florence on January 13, 1435, which forbade the enslavement of local natives in the Canary Islands who had converted or were converting to Christianity.

Sicut dudum was meant to reinforce Creator Omnium, issued the previous year, condemning Portuguese slave raids in the Canary Islands. Over forty years after Creator omnium and Sicut dudum, Pope Sixtus IV found it necessary to repeat the prohibition in his papal bull Regimini gregis, which threatened the excommunication of all captains or pirates who enslaved Christians.

Christianity had gained many converts in the Canary Islands by the early 1430s. The ownership of the lands had been the subject of dispute between Portugal and the Kingdom of Castille. The lack of effective control had resulted in periodic raids on the islands to procure slaves.

Acting on a complaint by Fernando Calvetos, bishop of the islands, Pope Eugene IV issued a papal bull, Creator omnium, on 17 December 1434, annulling previous permission granted to Portugal to conquer those islands still pagan. Eugene excommunicated anyone who enslaved newly converted Christians, the penalty to stand until the captives were restored to their liberty and possessions.

More information: Guanches, Ancient Natives of the Canary Islands

 
Slave raids continued in the islands during 1435 and Eugene issued a further edict (Sicut dudum) that affirmed the ban on enslavement, and ordered, under pain of excommunication, that all such slaves be immediately set free:

We order and command all and each of the faithful of each sex, within the space of fifteen days of the publication of these letters in the place where they live, that they restore to their earlier liberty all and each person of either sex who were once residents of said Canary Islands, and made captives since the time of their capture, and who have been made subject to slavery. These people are to be totally and perpetually free, and are to be let go without the exaction or reception of money.

Eugene went on to say that, If this is not done when the fifteen days have passed, they incur the sentence of excommunication by the act itself, from which they cannot be absolved, except at the point of death, even by the Holy See, or by any Spanish bishop, or by the aforementioned Ferdinand, unless they have first given freedom to these captive persons and restored their goods.

The specific reference to Spanish bishops and Bishop Ferdinand of San Marcial del Rubicón in Lanzarote suggests that the Portuguese were not the only ones engaged in slave raids in the Canaries.

Joel S. Panzer views Sicut dudum as a significant condemnation of slavery, issued sixty years before the Europeans found the New World.

Eugene tempered Sicut dudum with another bull (15 September 1436) due to the complaints made by King Duarte of Portugal, that allowed the Portuguese to conquer any unconverted parts of the Canary Islands. The king suggested that Portugal be authorized to evangelize and civilize the islands, as other less reputable persons were unlikely to heed the pontiff. Political weakness compelled the Renaissance Papacy to adopt an acquiescent and unchallenging position when approached for requests for privileges in favour of these ventures. Without a navy of his own to police the islands, the Pope opted in favor of the Portuguese as the lesser of two evils.

In 1476 Pope Sixtus IV reiterated the concerns expressed in Sicut dudum in his papal bull, Regimini gregis, in which he threatened to excommunicate all captains or pirates who enslaved Christians.

More information: Papal Encyclicals Online

Freedom means you are unobstructed

in living your life as you choose.

Anything less is a form of slavery.

Wayne Dyer

CARNIVAL IN TENERIFE: EXPLOSION OF JOY AND COLOUR

Enjoying Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Today, The Grandma and her friends are resting after an intensive and amazing night in Santa Cruz de Tenerife enjoying the local Carnival, considered the second most important in the world, after Rio de Janeiro.

The Grandma stayed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife celebrating Carnival some years ago with The Bonds and she has wanted to remember that moment returning to this beautiful island again.

The friends spent a crazy night celebrating this amazing party with the local inhabitants and thousands of tourists that arrived to the island to live this event.

It's Sunday and after this exciting night, all friends are resting or sleeping except The Grandma, who is studying a new lesson of her Intermediate Language Practice manual (Grammar 21).

More information: Purpose

The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is held each February in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the largest of the Canary Islands, and attracts people from all over the world.

It is considered the second most popular and internationally known carnival, after the one held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Partially for this reason, the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is twinned with the city of Rio de Janeiro.

In 1980, it was declared a Tourist Festival of International Interest by the Secretary of State for Tourism. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife aspires to become a World Heritage Site, as a declaration of its status as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO would promote the festival internationally. In 1987, singer Celia Cruz went to the Carnival Chicharrero with Billo's Caracas Boys; attended by 250,000 people, the concert was registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest gathering of people in an outdoor plaza to attend a concert.

Carnival of Tenerife, 2018

The festivities on the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife start on the Friday before Carnival with an opening parade, which reaches its height during the night when thousands of people in fancy dresses dance until the early hours of the next day. The party continues night after night until Ash Wednesday. That day, people of Santa Cruz de Tenerife celebrate the entierro de la sardina, burial of the sardine, and with this event the carnival is officially over. However, the party starts up again the following weekend, known as the weekend of the piñata.

The festival has two parts: the official Carnival, and the Carnival on the street. The official carnival has more than a hundred groups, including murgas, comparsas, rondallas and other musical groups. The street carnival is more loosely organized, and comprises the people celebrating on the streets. Thousands of people come each day to the streets to participate, most of whom wear a disguise in accordance with Carnival tradition.

More information: Carnaval de Tenerife

The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has been celebrated since the time of the earliest European settlement, and possibly earlier. In 1605 Gaspar Luis Hidalgo alluded to the habit of reversing the sexes in dress. Early written references date from the end of the 18th century, in the writings of visitors. The journal of Lope Antonio de la Guerra Peña in 1778 includes a dance held in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where he then talked about comparsas, bands playing conga music. In 1783, the Corregidor reported the use of masks being banned by royal instructions. In practice the ban was not carried out, and a carnival feature was the mixing of the masked upper class with the common people.

During the weeks preceding the Wednesday election of the Carnival Queen, there are contests for adults and children comparsas, lyrical and musical groups, rondallas -string ensembles-, the Queen of the Elderly, the Child Queen, Song of Laughter and adult and children's murgas. The official Carnival song is chosen, which will be presented to the Queen candidates in the hall of the City Council. Also featured are a choreography contest and a contest rewarding the most original floats and decorated cars. Nearly a month earlier, preparation starts with the official presentation at the Calle de La Noria. Shortly before Christmas, the Carnival poster is released.

The Queen of Carnival of Tenerife, 2019

The Wednesday before Carnival weekend, the Queen of the Carnival is elected during the so called Gala Reina. The event is usually broadcast to the entire country, and abroad by satellite. 

During the gala, the candidates parade across the main stage in their rich and beautiful costumes that might weigh up to 100 kilograms.

A jury composed of members of the municipal corporation and celebrities chooses the queen. After choosing the bridesmaids, the mayor hands the sceptre to the winner. Since the costumes are heavy, the candidates rely on wheeled transportation. The costumes are also expensive, so the candidates are sponsored, usually by a multinational corporation with a presence on the islands.

The Hogar Canario Venezolano also sends its own Queen and holds a privileged position in the next Announcement Parade. Costumes are usually made of feathers, plastic, metal and paper. The queen is responsible for representing the carnival at tourism fairs as an ambassador for the Canary Islands.

More information: Web Tenerife

On Friday the Announcement Parade is held, in which all participating groups march along the main thoroughfares of the city announcing the arrival of the carnival. The parade begins at the Parque La Granja, concluding at the Plaza de España. It crosses the Ramblas, Avenida Islas Canarias, Plaza Weyler and Méndez Núñez to return to Las Ramblas, then turning onto the Avenida Anaga and ending at the Plaza de Europa or the Council of Tenerife building.

The queen and the bridesmaids, on their own floats, are escorted by the murgas and rondallas. Private carriages also participate in the parade, which lasts more than four hours. That night, the street carnival officially begins.

The Saturday of Carnival is a day dedicated entirely to dance. There are two main venues: one in the Plaza de la Candelaria, which replacing the one in the Plaza de España during its renovation, and one in the Plaza del Príncipe. Depending on the holiday, one or more stages are built in the Plaza de Europa for electronic music, or tents in the Plaza de la Iglesia de la Concepción and the Plaza de Europa feature Latin music. Dances not only cover the three points but all the connecting streets, bars and cars playing their own music. One of the main streets of the carnival is Bethencourt Afonso, popularly known as Calle San José.

Carnival Monday is a day of feasting, with performances at the main venues in the capital. 

Carnival of Tenerife, 2019

On Carnival Tuesday a Coso, parade, runs along the Avenida de Anaga, marking the official end of Carnival. Again march carnival groups, floats, decorated cars and the Carnival Queens. During the afternoon a show is held especially for tourists arriving by bus from other areas of the Canary Islands.

On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is celebrated the burial of the sardine. The streets of Santa Cruz are draped in mourning. A giant sardine made of paper is carried in a funeral procession, followed by wailing widows. The Catholic Church is mocked, with participants dressed as popes, bishops and nuns imitating blessings and other religious rites, often accompanied by sexual objects. 

More information: FU Tenerife

The weekend puts an end to Don Carnal until the next year and whose role, especially on Saturday, has grown in recent decades to the point of having internationally renowned entertainment comparable to the Monday of Carnival.

Saturday of Piñata or Sábado de Piñata: Since 2008 it was called the Carnival by Day, although its first edition had to be moved to the following Sunday because of inclement weather. From 12:00 to 16:00, it is celebrated with simultaneous musical performances at three venues in the center of the city: Plaza Weyler, Plaza del Príncipe and Plaza de la Candelaria.

Sunday of Piñata or Domingo de Piñata: On Sunday morning the Old Cars Contest is held, followed by a traditional performance of the Afilarmónica NIFU-NiFá and the year's vocal-group winner at Plaza del Príncipe.

The carnival concludes at night with a fireworks display.

More information: Rural Tenerife

Simply enjoy life and the great pleasures that come with it.

Karolina Kurkova

CANDLEMASS & THE GROUNDHOG DAY PREDICT WEATHER

Old memories at Candelaria Church, Tenerife

February, 2 is a special day for The Grandma because some different events in different points of the world happen to celebrate the Candlemass day. In Canary Islands, they celebrate the festivity of The Virgin of Candelaria, their the patron saint; in Mallorca, it is possible to contemplate an incredible phenomenon of light in the cathedral of Palma, and in Punxsutawney, they celebrate the Groundhog day, a festivity where a groundhog predicts the weather for the next months. The Grandma has visited Molins de Rei, a beautiful city near Barcelona, where The Virgin of Candelaria is also its patron.

Candlemas has got old origins and lots of European cultures celebrates it. A Catalan proverb says that if Candlemass cries, winter is finishing but if Candlemass smiles winter is going to be longer (Si la Candelera plora, l'hivern és fora; si la Candelera riu, l'hivern és viu).

One of the most popular an important Catalan poets of the 19th century, Jacint Verdaguer, wrote a beautiful poem about Candlemass that is remembered on a day like today in different events around the Catalan lands.

Before celebrating Candlemass day, The Grandma has studied a new lesson of her Elementary Language Practice manual (Vocabulary 14).

More information: Vocabulary 14-The World Around Us

Candlemas, also spelled Candlemass, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Christian Holy Day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

The Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria, popularly called La Morenita, celebrates the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna. The Royal Basilica Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Candelaria is considered the main church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands. She is the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Her feast is celebrated on February 2 and August 15, the patronal feast of the Canary Islands.

More information: Secret Tenerife

Twice a year, on February 2nd and November 11, this spectacular phenomenon appears in the Cathedral of Palma. But what is this?

The reasons for the massive interest in this event, has its roots in the Christian faith.

February 2nd: The day when Jesus was presented in the temple of Jerusalem and Mary was purified after childbirth, also known as the Calendria.

November 11: The day of Saint Martin of Tours, a saint that honoured in one of the chapels of La Seu.

At 8:30 in the morning, the sun rises over La Seu. The sun beams breaks through the greater of the two rosettes in the facade wall of the cathedral, and causes a reflection of playful colours just under the rosette on the opposite facade wall.

The Grandma contemplates the '8' in Palma Cathedral

The sensation lasts about 15 minutes, during which hundreds of excited guests adores the symphony of colours lighting up the majestic interior of one of Europe’s most spectacular constructions.

The reflection of lights and the rosette of the facade forms the number 8.

In Christian traditions, the number 8 has a symbolic value. Back in time, Christian writers found, that when an extra day was added to the natural seven day week, the gate to eternity (heaven) was opened. The number 8 represents a new start, to be born again and resurrected, just like Jesus showed himself eight times after his resurrection.

Also notice, that the 14 massive columns inside the cathedral are octagonal. The same coincide with the baptistery in many churches.

More information: Catedral de Mallorca

Groundhog Day is a popular tradition celebrated in Canada and the United States on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. While the tradition remains popular in modern times, studies have found no consistent correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow or not and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger is the forecasting animal. This appears to be an enhanced version of the lore that clear weather on the Christian Holy Day of Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.

The Groundhog Day ceremony held at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania, centering around a semi-mythical groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, has become the most attended.

Grundsow Lodges in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the southeastern part of the state celebrate them as well. Other cities in the United States and Canada have also adopted the event. The observance of Groundhog Day in the United States first occurred in German communities in Pennsylvania, according to known records.

Punxsutawney Phil

The earliest mention of Groundhog Day is an entry on February 2, 1840, in the diary of James L. Morris of Morgantown, in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, according to the book on the subject by Don Yoder. This was a Welsh enclave but the diarist was commenting on his neighbors who were of German stock.

The first reported news of a Groundhog Day observance was arguably made by the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1886: up to the time of going to press, the beast has not seen its shadow. However, it was not until the following year in 1887 that the first Groundhog Day considered official was commemorated here, with a group making a trip to the Gobbler's Knob part of town to consult the groundhog. People have gathered annually at the spot for the event ever since.

More information: The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

Clymer Freas (1867–1942) who was city editor at the Punxsutawney Spirit is credited as the father who conceived the idea of Groundhog Day. It has also been suggested that Punxsutawney was where all the Groundhog Day events originated, from where it spread to other parts of the United States and Canada.

The Groundhog Day celebrations of the 1880s were carried out by the Punxsutawney Elks Lodge. The lodge members were the genesis of the Groundhog Club formed later, which continued the Groundhog Day tradition. But the lodge started out being interested in the groundhog as a game animal for food. It had started to serve groundhog at the lodge, and had been organizing a hunting party on a day each year in late summer.

The chronologies given are somewhat inconsistent in the literature. The first Groundhog Picnic was held in 1887 according to a book for popular reading by an academic, but given as post-circa-1889 by a local historian in a journal. The historian states that around 1889 the meat was served in the lodge's banquet, and the organized hunt started after that.

Celebrating Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney

Either way, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was formed in 1899, and continued the hunt and Groundhog Feast, which took place annually in September.

The hunt portion of it became increasingly a ritualized formality, because the practical procurement of meat had to occur well ahead of time for marinating. A drink called the groundhog punch was also served. The flavor has been described as a cross between pork and chicken. The hunt and feast did not attract enough outside interest, and the practice discontinued.

The groundhog was not named Phil until 1961, possibly as an indirect reference to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000 gather each year, nearly eight times the year-round population of the town. The average draw had been about 2,000 until the year after the movie screened in 1993, after which attendance rose to about 10,000.

The official Phil is pretended to be a supercentenarian, having been the same forecasting beast since 1887. In 2019, the 133rd year of the tradition, the groundhog was summoned to come out at 7:25 am on February 2, but did not see its shadow. Fans of Punxsutawney Phil awaited his arrival starting at 6:00 a.m., thanks to a live stream provided by Visit Pennsylvania. The live stream has been a tradition for the past several years, allowing more people than ever to watch the animal meteorologist.

More information: The Guardian

Blanca com un ciri, pura com un lliri,

la Verge divina al Temple Camina

duent en sos braços, com xaió de llet,

lo bon Jesuset.

Jacint Verdaguer

THE BONDS & ENVIRONMENT: TRAVELS AND FLOWERS

The Bonds enjoying Tenerife and butterflies

Today, The Bonds have had an intensive day in Tenerife Island. They have climbed Teide Mountain and they’re now resting in a hut, on the top of the mountain, which is only reserved for special guests.

Before climbing Teide, they had revised some English grammar like Demonstratives and Past Participle and they have read a new chapter of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

MJ has offered two new presents to our family: a book to prepare B2 Exam and one of the greatest novels of Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist.

More information: Demonstratives (This, These, That, Those)

Next, Eli Bond has offered some interesting information about the importance of colours in our lives, something that this family knows perfectly because there is one of its members, Jaume Bond, who is a professional painter.

More information: Past Participle

The Grandma has talked about colours, flowers and travels remembering two incredible writers, Mercè Rodoreda and Blai Bonet. Both of them are considered excellent writers and both of them had difficult lives full of disasters, sadness and terrible personal conditions.

The Bonds have participated in the Carnival last weekend wearing some butterflies costumes and thanks to this, they’ve won another prize. Jaume, Joanjo and Pedro Bond have joined to David Bond who has been declared the Queen and all of them have won the festival.

The family is very happy for this prize because David has been in Paris, working in a new James Bond’s film, and he has seen how the family has missed him during these days. David’s returning has been the best present for this unforgettable family.

After this moment of glory, the family has talked about environment and recycling using some modal verbs like Must, Have to and Should and they have shared different experiences in Tenerife, a special place for Irene Bond, who used to spend long seasons in the island after working in her secret and dangerous missions and for Pedro Bond who has remembered his ancestors and who has talked about one of the most beautiful European cultures: the Guanches.

Finally, The Grandma has decided to buy some islands. They name Wild Islands and are situated between Canary Islands and Green Cape. It has been a present for celebrating M. José Bond’s new goal.

If we intend to provide a better life, and a better world, 

for future generations, we can't ignore the quality of the environment we leave them. 

John Kasich

CARNIVAL IN TENERIFE: CREATING YOUR FAKE PROFILE

Ready to enjoy the Canarian Carnival

The Bonds have just arrived to Tenerife Island in Canary Islands. They are going to stay four days in the island enjoying the carnival, one of the most famous around the world.

There are three kinds of carnival. For one hand, you can enjoy the pro-protest carnival, where people wear different costumes and are critic with real characters o situations, especially, politics and religious. You can find this carnival in places like Vilanova i la Geltrú or Sitges, in Barcelona. For other hand, you can enjoy another carnival, a great coloured-party where people sing and dance without stopping. You can find this carnival in places like Rio de Janeiro in Brazil or Tenerife Island in Canary Islands and finally, there is Venice. Venice is Venice.

More information: Canaval de Tenerife (English Version)

Carnival is a synonymous of costumes and fake identities, and this is the reason because of the family is starting to prepare their own fake profiles.

The Bonds have wanted to visit the lucky islands because of Montse Bond, who has an old friend in the island, Nikka and she wished to visit her but they're not only going to participate in the carnivale, the family wants to climb up Teide, the Canarian volcano and visits two more islands: Hierro and La Palma, two volcanic islands very important for the future of the planet.

These two visits are the reason because of The Bonds are assisting in that moment to a conference about occupational hazards. They want to climb up volcanoes and walk across high dangerous sismic zones and they need to know as things as it was possible about protection against these dangers.

More information: ILO List of Occupational Diseases

Next Monday, The Grandma is going to talk about ecology, nature and colours to prepare a new day about environment.

It's a party that's being organized; it's not a protest. 

The carnival is not like it was a long time ago. 

Before it was do as you like, take to the streets.
 

Michel Martelly

JOANJO BOND & M.JOSÉ BOND: FLY, FLY, FLY TO WIN

The Bonds flying to Kiev, Ukraine

Today, The Bonds are in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. They are arriving there to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Before starting to sing, the family has been talking about Some, Any and No compounds and have practised some exercises about Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

After doing this, The Bonds have demonstrated their best skills playing incredible songs with all their heart. They've introduced themselves and their countries and they have played the songs.

More information: Some, Any and No Compounds

Finally, after a votation full of suprises, Joanjo Bond has won the Contest with his song Fly, fly, fly. Joanjo is from Cyprus and this is the first time that this country wins this Contest, then you can imagine Juanjo's emotion and feelings when he has realized he was going to have this fantastic honour, but Juanjo hasn't done it alone. 

A day in Eurovision with The Bonds

Eurovision is a Contest where is very important having allies and good friends and in this case, Juanjo has received the unforgettable help of M.José Bond, from Norway. 

They have offered a complete show with all the ingredients: vocal quality, deep lyrics, synchronized choreography and great tones of happiness and sense of humour.

The Bonds have dedicated this prize to David and Irene Bond, from Croatia and Poland, two members of this nice family who had to stay in Paris for laboural reasons.

Tonight, the family is flying to Tenerife in Canary Islands where they want to enjoy the Carnival and celebrate this Eurovision's Prize.

 I started at 5 years old in the kitchen table with my family supporting me. PedroJuanjoI know where I'm from and I know exactly where I'm going.

Céline Dion