Vírgenes de América - La Patrona de Costa Rica "La Negrita"

Vírgenes de América

En América Latina el culto a la virgen María está presente en cada uno de los 21 países de la región, tanto así que inclusive cada país tiene su propia versión de la virgen. El marianismo es todo un culto de adoración a María madre de Dios y se le atribuyen poderes superiores que tienen la capacidad de ayudar e interceder, además de dar fortaleza a todo aquel que se lo pida. La virgen María está representada como una mujer pura, humilde, bondadosa, capaz de hacer grandes sacrificios y de una fortaleza infinita. Todavía hoy se educa a las mujeres latinoamericanas bajo la idea que es bueno parecerse a la virgen María.

Tres destinos y tres versiones de LA VIRGEN
1. Virgen de los Ángeles, la "Negrita"- Patrona de Costa Rica
2. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - Patrona de las Américas
3. Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre - Patrona de Cuba

Virgen de los Ángeles, la "Negrita"- Patrona de Costa Rica

Declarada patrona de los católicos de Costa Rica y protectora de los católicos de las Américas por el papa Juan Pablo II. La Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles se celebra en Costa Rica cada 2 de Agosto en conmemoración del hallazgo en 1635 de una pequeña estatua de la Virgen María con su hijo.

Leen la leyenda y aprenden más

Este es una foto que yo saqué cuando estaba en Costa Rica. Esta niña estaba lavando su bebe mientras que yo llené mi botella con el agua bendecida. El arroyo de agua apareció con la virgen muchos años pasados.

¡Pienso que esta niña era muy linda!

¡Pura vida!

Mini Lesson on The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain

Teaching about culture!

I'm currently teaching my Spanish II students about their travel vocabulary and we're talking about Barcelona, Spain. One of the topics we've talked about is the famous architect Antonio Gaudi - this video is about "La Sagrada Familia" Gaudi's masterpiece which has been under construction for three centries.

This is a video about "the collapse of the Sagrada Familia" but its a video that was created to help gain support for people to complain about the government approving the construction of an under-ground train system, which would run right under the Sagrada Familia.

I could show my students this video and use it to spark a class discussion and even possibly have them write a e-mails supporting this organization.

They could find more information about this cause and the Sagrada Familia at: sossagradafamilia.org

Casa Batallo - Barcelona, Spain

Casa Batllo by vgm8383 Attribution-NonCommercial License

This is a great image I could use with my Spanish II students.

We are currently talking about their travel unit and concentrating on Barcelona, Spain. I've already introduced them to Antonio Gaudi and he was the mastermind behind Casa Batallo. I could show them this image and have them write down any words they'd use to describe the picture and then if they liked the design or not. I could then show them other pictures of the house (inside, outside, roof, etc.) and have them make additional observations.

Next, I could show them a famous house from U.S. history and culture like the white house or traditional home and have them compare and contrast the two using a Venn Diagram.

Finally, I could have them have a class discussion where they will have to express their opinions and observations.

Flickr Photo for a mini Spanish culture lesson

Happy New Year Lesson Idea:

I could use this photo I found on Flickr to start a lesson on Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain. I could have students come in and describe or write about what is going on in this picture and where in the world they think it is. We could use this as a conversation piece and it would be a great lead into a mini cultural lesson about different plazas in Spain and Plaza Mayor in Madrid.

Photo By: Urugallu

The photo was taken by Jose Rodriguez who also has other similar photos and his website that I could incorporate into the same lesson.