Celebrations in Socuéllamos

Saint Cecilia (2012).-

Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music and in Socuéllamos a celebration takes place in her honour, with a concert by the Maestro Moragues music band and the municipal band, a mass and, afterwards, a procession.

The following day, the members of the band get together and have lunch or dinner.

Saint Cecilia

Concert in honour of Saint Cecilia

Procession in honour of Saint Cecilia

Saint Antón (2013)
Saint Antón is the patron saint of animals and every year, around the 27th of January, people make bonfires and there is a kind of procession (with animals) to honour Saint Antón. A priest blesses the animals with holy water and then everybody returns to their homes.

Saint Antón

Fire on the night of Saint Antón

Figure of Saint Antón

Goat and dogs during the procession in honour of Saint Antón

My father on a horse and more horses in the procession

Mules

 A pony 

   Me on a horse and more horses 

Little piggies 

 

The priest blesses the animals that have come to honour Saint Antón

Visit to the Socuéllamos Municipal Kennel.-

This is no celebration, but it's still an important day: after collaborating with them for a few months, I decided to take my students to the dog kennel and explain (mostly in English) how and why the dogs get there, their day-to-day routine and ways in which they can help ease the situation. We exchanged roles with the dogs (none of my students would like to be abandoned), discussed castration as the best way to control the canine population and avoid many illnesses and agreed that adoption is the best way to get a dog.

 First group to visit the kennel: the little ones.

 The class of Intermediate 1st is afraid of Hulk!

The adults loved Chipirón!

2013

Oct. 31st-Nov.4th: All Saints and Halloween.-

This past weekend was All Saints day in Spain. There is a fair with lots of attractions (rides) and shops. Lots of people go to the fair every day, all children love the rides. Although Halloween isn't celebrated officially, most young people dress up, make parties and see horror films. These are 4 fantastic days to have a good time and relax.

                                         Students  of Mr Sánchez' Primary B & C classes in Halloween spirit

Saint Antón.-

Saint Antón is the patron saint of animals in Spain. Here in Socuéllamos there's an animal parade and big bonfires.

On January 17th was Saint Antón's day and on Saturday afternoon an animal parade took place, where the people went out with their pets for them to get the padre's blessing. On the same Friday or Saturday night people make big bonfires and we go to the countryside to eat meat. It's a very good day to enjoy and party.

Carnival 2014

This celebration is very important in Spain, even in a small town like Socuéllamos. Carnival is a party that consist in put in a costume and dance and have fun. It's from Friday to Wednesday. Here each day has a theme to dress up. On Saturday is the introduction to the carnival and everybody dresses of everything you want. On Sunday take place the children parades. On Monday is mask day, which means nobody can recognize you.On Tuesday is the day of cinema stars. On Wednesday we bury the Sardine and people dress in black. On On Friday it's the 60's day. On Saturday is the parade day. A lot of parades come from other towns and they participate in a competition.

Visit to ASPA.
This year I had less students, but those of them who came now know how to treat animals well.

Basic 2nd, pt II students, with Ciro

 Primary C students, with Hulk

 Primary B students, also with Hulk

 And finally, Intermediate 2nd students, with Boss