Easter in Hellin

Easter week is one of the most heartfelt and deep-rooted fiestas celebrated in Spain. This commemoration has centuries of history and tradition, remembering the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The streets of the majority of Spain's cities, towns and villages become the stage for religious fervour and devotion, combining grief and meditation in memory of Christ's death. Music, art and colour come together in magical processions - solemn parades in which crowds of people accompany religious images on their route through the street.

Region of Hellin

PDF Campos Hellin

Separating residues: the yellow container

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Pictures of Hellín

Hellín is a town and municipality located in the south of the province of Albacete, in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. As of 2010, it has a population of 31,109. 

Main celebrations, such as the processions and the traditional tamborada (drumming), declared of international touristic interest, occur during the Holy Week (in Spanish, Semana Santa). 

There is a Contestani archaeological site at Tolmo de Minateda hill near Hellín.

Presentacion de hellin

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Campo de Criptana (La Mancha-Spain)

Campo de Criptana is a municipality and town in the province of Ciudad Real in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). It is found in the region known as La Mancha. 

 "At this point they caught sight of thirty or forty windmills which were standing on the plain..." Thus begins chapter VIII of Don Quixote. In Cervantes' time windmills were quite common. This view is undoubtedly the characteristic landscape of Campo de Criptana, presenting its silhouette from the Sierra de los Molinos and the Cerro de la Paz. Today, ten windmills can be seen from afar, with their original structure and machinery preserved.

El Albaicin manchego en Campo de Criptana

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The Magi (and The King's Cake)

The Magi, also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men, (Three) Kings, or Kings from the East, were a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas and are an important part of the Christian tradition.

Western Christianity celebrates the Magi on the day of Epiphany, January 6, the day immediately following the twelve days of Christmas, particularly in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world. In these areas the Three Kings ("los Reyes Magos de Oriente", also "Los Tres Reyes Magos" and "Los Reyes Magos") receive letters from children and magically bring them gifts on the night before Epiphany. In Spain, each one of the Magi is supposed to represent one different continent, Europe (Melchior), Asia (Caspar) and Africa (Balthasar). According to the tradition, the Magi come from the Orient on their camels to visit the houses of all the children; much like Santa Claus with his reindeer, they visit everyone in one night. In some areas, children prepare a drink for each of the Magi. It is also traditional to prepare food and drink for the camels, because this is the only night of the year when they eat.

In Spain, Argentina, México and Uruguay there is a long tradition for having the children receive their Christmas presents by the three "Reyes Magos" (the figure of Santa Claus only appeared in recent years) on the night of January 5 (Epiphany Eve). Almost every Spanish city or town organises "cabalgatas" in the evening, in which the kings and their servants parade and throw sweets to the children (and parents) in attendance.

KING'S CAKE

"Roscón de reyes" or "rosca de reyes" (kings' ring) is a Spanish and Spanish American king's cake pastry traditionally eaten to celebrate Epiphany. Although the name indicates that it should be round, the “rosca de reyes” generally has an oval shape due to the need to make cakes larger than 30cm across for larger parties. Recipes vary from country to country. For decoration, fig fruit, quinces, cherries or dried and candied fruits are used. It is traditionally eaten on January 6, during the celebration of the "Día de Reyes" (literally "Kings' Day"), which commemorates the arrival of the three Magi. In Spain "roscones" bought in cake shops hide in their interior a figure - either of Jesus or others like little toys for kids and a dry faba bean. Whoever finds the figure is crowned and becomes the "king" or "queen" of the banquet, whereas whoever finds the bean has to pay next year's roscón.

Twelve Grapes

The Twelve Grapes (Sp. Las doce uvas de la suerte, "The twelve grapes of luck") is a Spanish tradition that dates back from at least 1895 but become consolidated in 1909. In December of that year, some alicantese vine growers popularized this custom to better sell huge amounts of grapes from an excellent harvest.

The tradition consists in eating a grape with each bell strike at midnight of December 31. According to the tradition, that leads to a year of prosperity. In some areas, it is believed that the tradition wards away witches and general evil. Each grape is eaten with each beat of the bell.

The twelve grapes are linked to the Puerta del Sol tower clock, where this tradition started and from where the change of year is always broadcast.

This tradition was adopted also by places with a broad cultural relation with Spain such as Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as Hispanic communities in the United States. Countries as far as the Philippines have adopted the tradition.

Nativity Scene

A nativity scene or crèche (also known as a manger scene, or crib) is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. While the term "nativity scene" typically includes two dimensional depictions in film, painting, printmaking, and other media, in the history of art and culture, as well as in popular use, the term refers to static, three dimensional, artistic, commercial or folk art dioramas, or pantomimes called "living nativity scenes" in which real humans and animals participate. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Joseph. Other characters from the nativity story such as shepherds, the Magi, and angels may be displayed near the manger in a barn (or cave) intended to accommodate farm animals. A donkey and an ox are typically depicted in the scene, as well as camels belonging to the Magi.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 (a "living" one) intending thereby to cultivate the worship of Christ, having been inspired by his recent visit to the Holy Land where he had been shown Jesus's traditional birthplace. The scene's popularity inspired communities throughout Catholic countries to stage similar pantomimes.

Nativity Scenes in Albacete (Spain)

Baba Achour, The Moroccan Santa Claus

In the tenth day of the Muharram holy month, the first one in the lunar calendar, people celebrate in Morocco and other Muslim countries the feast of Achoura, a festive day related to childhood since last century, This day has an undoubted social and spiritual relevance. It is a day for sharing, charity and help to the poor. Children show their joy and delight, wearing their new clothes and adornments. It is also traditional that people visit the cemeteries or share out sweets. This holiday has a carnival look about it: firecrackers, spraying people passing by with water, and so on. Traditionally, children are given toys and presents, and families eat gueddid couscous. In the Achoura day children look forward the visit of Baba Achour, a character born from an old popular legend which represents what he looks like: The Moroccan Santa Claus.

Our moroccans pupils wish you Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Spain

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Los Campanilleros (a Spanish flamenco carol)

The Campanilleros are groups of traditional musicians in the Spanish region of Andalusia. They sing religious songs accompanied by guitars, bells and other instruments. A Campanillero is also a "flamenco cante" or song form. It is in couplets of six verses. It has its origin in these sacred songs of Andalusia which were chanted during the early morning procession known as Rosario de la Aurora.

The oldest extant examples of this song form are those of Manuel Torre. The most popular of these is La Niña de la Puebla. Other composers were Juan Varea, and "El Agujeta". Today, these songs are sung by José Mercé and José Menese, among others.

December 6th, Constitution Day in Spain

SPANISH CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

The Spanish Nation, desiring to establish justice, liberty and security, and to promote the wellbeing of all its members, in the exercise of its sovereignty, proclaims its will to:

... Protect all Spaniards and peoples of Spain in the exercise of human rights, of their culture and traditions, languages and institutions.

...

... Promote the progress of culture and the economy to ensure a dignified quality of life for all.

...

... Cooperate in the strengthening of peaceful relations and effective cooperation among all the peoples of the Earth.

...

Cancarix volcano

Cancarix volcano is a natural monument, located in "Sierra de las Cabras", in the hamlet of Cancarix near Hellin (Albacete, Spain). It is a volcanic vent of the Pliocene, which solidified but has been exposed as a result of erosion for millennia.

Cancarix volcano

Basalt columns

Teachers and pupils at the foot of the volcano

Source of Mundo River (Spain)

Mundo is a river which starts near Riópar, in south-eastern Spain. It flows into the river Segura near Hellín. You are invited to see it...

Friends for life - Amigos para siempre - Amics per sempre

This video is dedicated to my Comenius friends!

The Catalan rumba is a genre of music that developed in Barcelona's Romani community. Some neighborhoods in that community are long-established and catalan-speaking. Los Manolos (as well as the Gipsy Kings) brought their musical spirit to Catalan rumba in the 1980s and 1990s. The genre is based in a fusion of Valencian-Andalusian flamenco singing and the Afro-Cuban "claves" (a structural element in Cuban music).

"Amigos Para Siempre" (Friends for Life) or "Amics per sempre" is a song written for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the lyrics were written by Don Black. Sarah Brightman and José Carreras performed the song during the closing ceremony of the Olympic games. In Spain, however, the most famous rendition of this song was by Los Manolos with rumba arrangements and Spanish lyrics (except for the chorus).

Muchas gracias. Merci beaucoup. Thank you. Obrigado. Mulţumesc. D'akujem. Dziękuję. благодаря. Ačiū. Teşekkür ederim

IES Izpisúa Belmonte video

Aquí os dejo el vídeo de presentación de nuestro centro que no pudimos ver en el encuentro debido a problemas técnicos.

IES Izpisúa Belmonte presentation

Album Fotos

Hellín - España

En la localidad de Hellín, al sureste de España, se localiza el Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria "Izpisúa Belmonte". Perteneciente a la Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla-La Mancha, Hellín posee alrededor de 35.000 habitantes y es la segunda ciudad más poblada de la provincia de Albacete. Su clima es semi-árido, con escasas precipitaciones y temperaturas moderadas, albergando una gran biodiversidad que acoge a numerosas especies endémicas, con ecosistemas protegidos de importancia comunitaria.

The Secondary School "Izpisúa Belmonte" is located in Hellín city, southeast of Spain. Hellín belongs to the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha and it has about 35.000 inhabitants, being the second most populous city in Albacete province. Its climate is semi-arid, with low rainfall and moderate temperatures, housing a large biodiversity that is home to numerous endemic species, with protected ecosystems of Community importance.