Blankets outside windows in Azores for festas?

[Uberl...@aol.com]

Hello,

 

I got the note below from an old genealogy friend who does not yet belong to our list. I told her I would post it here and wonder if anyone can answer her question?

 

Hi Susan,

 

It has been a long time since I've emailed you.  I hope you and your family are fine.

 

I have a question, and I was hoping you know the answer.   In your trips to the Azores, have you noticed that during a festa, people hang blankets outside the window.  Do you know the purpose of this tradition or anything about it?   We saw it in Pico and Terceira.

 

 

Thanking you in advance for your help.

 

Joyce Bothello House

Auburn, CA

 

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[yolanda]

its a portuguese tradicion, not only azorian.

 

In rome they still use it, and even here in the city of lisbon, they still do it.

 

 

I dont know the origins, but it is is supose to cheer up the house and make it beautiful for the passage of the image.

 

 

2008/4/17, Uberl...@aol.com <Uberl...@aol.com>:

[Augusta Elmwood]

Hi, Listers,

 

We just got back from Semana Santa in Spain, and there they hang items over/fromtheir balconies for that week, and also for other holy days, when there are processions scheduled to pass along the street.  Sometimes, it's just a fancy brocaded bedspread, while others use more elaborate hangings trimmed in gold braid, made specially for such religious occasions.  It would be very interesting to know the origins of these practices (which seem to be widespread in southern Europe). 

 

No doubt in other places this action had other, non-religious connotations (hung out when a king or other dignitary passed).  Maybe it goes back to the days when the cave dwellers hung skins over the openings of the caves !   OK, that's my 2 cents' worth.  Thanks for reading, now you can delete :-)

 

Best regards

Augusta Elmwood

New Orleans, LA

2008/4/17, Uberl...@aol.com <Uberl...@aol.com>:

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[Marcio Borba]

Hi,

 

It is not blankets!!! It is crochet bed spreads!

 

Marcio

Uberl...@aol.com escreveu:

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[Cheri Mello]

I think the part of the answer is in the book "Azorean Folk Customs."  I'll have to locate my copy of the book, but if I remember correctly (in addition to everything that was previously said), the blankets/quilts/bedspreads were to also display the handiwork of the young eligible women to potential suitors.  This was in the olden days, of course.  I will have to double check in the book to make sure I'm remembering this correctly.

--
Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, R. das Tainhas, Achada

[Marcio Borba]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a family emergency. I am leaving to the Azores tonight! So I probably won't be doing much genealogy in the next weeks. If any of you contacts me please be aware that my response might take a while!

 

Marcio

Marcio Borba
Feel the Azores... visit http://azorean-roots.blogspot.com

[grego...@tds.net]

Marcio-
God's speed...my prayers are with you and your family.

Greg
---- Marcio Borba <marciobo...@yahoo.com> wrote:

=============

Hi everyone,

I have a family emergency. I am leaving to the Azores tonight! So I probably won't be doing much genealogy in the next weeks. If any of you contacts me please be aware that my response might take a while!

Marcio

Marcio Borba
Feel the Azores... visit http://azorean-roots.blogspot.com

---------------------------------

[Susan Vargas Murphy]

Thank you to everyone for answering my friends question about the
display of quilts/blankets and handiwork out of windows at the time of
festivals. Very interesting and something new to me! I will send your
responses on to my friend.

Susan Vargas Murphy