Greece
POLAND
In Poland we have many important celebrations in November. The most important is National Anniversary of Independance, on November 11th.
96th ANNIVERSARY OF POLISH INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE RUN
On 11th November we celebrated an 96th anniversary of Polish Independence. It’s the most important celebration in Poland- in 1918, after 123 years our country appeared on the world maps again.
In our school we celebrated this day by organizing Independence Run- a competition between primary schools from our town- Sosnowiec. Idea of the Run was established before the II War in our district- Niwka. It was very important celebration in which all society took part. In 2000 teachers and pupils from our school decided to resume this tradition. First, we started celebration in front of the commemorative plate, dedicated Polish soldiers. We put flowers and burn candles. Then, after the Run we took part in solemn academy. Pupils from our Tradition Club prepare a performance to show Polish history. There is always a lot of acting, singing, poems.
Please, look also at our presentation below:
SLOVAKIA - PUGAČEVOVA STREET
Children´s Right Day
In our school we had a special day on the 27th of November. On the ocassion of International Children´s Right Day we organized a workshop with Junior UNICEF ambassador Sofia Bankovova. In the first part of workshop we talked about our schools in Slovakia and schools in Africa and then we compare them. Later we discussed Africa – the first thoughts of Africa, animals which live there and we drew the wisches for all childrens in Africa. In the end of our workshop we prepared a poster about Africa.
Lithuania. Kelme „Aukuras“ basic school, 3a class
The Latern Festival was held in the Kelme „Aukuras“ basic school on 11 November. The hall, full of students, their parents and guests mentioned St. Martin's Day. I was organisator of that festival.3 grade students staged a fairytale „The girl and a latern. ". After that we collect our laterns and walked around the school in the dark evening.
And my chalkboard drawing for the LATERN FESTIVAL
Advent Spiral
We celebrate on the thirst day of Advent. This year our school celebrated on 28 November. Advent Spiral is a simple event that resembles a mystical or religious ritual. For most Waldorf parents, Advent Spiral is a very special event. we sit in silence in a darkened room, listening for a song sung by a single voice as a candle is lit in the center of a spiral of evergreen boughs, a symbol of life amidst the dead of winter. Then, as quiet music plays, each child in turn takes a candle into the center of that spiral and lights it, then places the candle in an apple along the path. The lights brighten the path for those who come after. Each child walks alone, at his or her own pace, in his or her own way.
And this is our Advent calendar. We make it in November, add our good jobs into each envelope every day till Cristmas.
Jurate Laurutiene, Lithuania
SLOVAKIA: STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY DAY
November 17, 1989
The Velvet Revolution (CZ) or Gentle Revolution (SR) was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia. It honours the student demonstrations against the Nazis in 1939, as well as the protests against the Communists in 1989.
In 1939, huge demonstrations took place against Nazi occupation. The Nazis suppressed the protest, and a medical student, Jan Opletal, was shot and killed. On the day of his funeral, hundreds of people, mostly students, demonstrated again, and the Germans violently suppressed the protests.
The tensions culminated on November 17 when the Gestapo and SS units attacked student hostels arresting more than 1200 students and taking them to concentration camps.
Nine students were executed without trial, and Adolf Hitler ordered the closing of colleges. Later, the day was proclaimed Student´s Day.
On December 10, President Gustáv Husák appointed the first non-communist government in Czechoslovakia since 1948, and resigned. Alexander Dubček was elected speaker of the federal parliament on December 28 and Václav Havel the President of Czechoslovakia on December 29, 1989. In June 1990, Czechoslovakia held its first democratic elections since 1946.
Fifty years later, many students protested another kind of oppression on November 17, 1989. These demonstrations marked the beginning of the Velvet Revolution and started the path towards democracy for the country.
We were talking about 17th November. We were drawing our president of Slovakia Andrej Kiska:
Ivana Čepová and her pupils of 2nd class.