Excursion-Quest
This year, the first day of school at Kalinka for the older children began unusually. As part of the project "Once Upon a Time in Luxembourg," the students from the groups of Ivols, Snowflakes, Chizhi, and Swallows took part in the quest "Touring Luxembourg's Trails."
In the morning, route maps were distributed in the classroom, texts for describing the objects were provided, and tasks were assigned. Each student felt like a tour guide and a tourist, immediately realizing how challenging it is to capture the audience's attention, choose the right path, and calculate travel time. The children managed to visit more than twenty sites and learned a lot of fascinating facts about the country they live in—why masks on black lanterns always watch you, where the "Golden Frau" hid during the occupation, which church still holds a core from the time of Louis XVI in its wall, and where the oldest stones tell the story of Luxembourg's birth.
Quest participants kept records to later identify the objects based on a phrase, question, or simply the name. At the end, each group of students selected the best tour guide and the most attentive tourist, and everyone received souvenirs with Luxembourg's symbols. But this is not the end; ahead of us are new unexplored routes and the roads of the history of this small country where we live.
The First Day of School Kalinka.
It's time to meet with classmates and share how we spent our summer vacation.
As part of the "Once Upon a Time in Luxembourg" project, we recalled the famous and oldest fair in Europe - the Schueberfouer. Children learned that in the mid-14th century, by order of Count John the Blind, the tradition of holding an annual fair began.
And in Luxembourg, traditions are honored. For example, every year, the fair is opened with the "Sheep Parade." Musicians dressed in blue costumes to resemble 19th-century farmers follow a shepherd and a small flock of sheep, playing an ancient folk melody.
Dear Kleeschen, kind Kleeschen
On December 6th, Luxembourg celebrates Saint Nicholas Day. On this day, it's a day off in state primary schools as children celebrate the arrival of Saint Nicholas, or Kleeschen, as he is affectionately called in the local language.
There are many legends about Saint Nicholas, one of which tells the story of how he saved three children from a barrel where an evil butcher had hidden them. Since then, he has been considered the patron saint of all children.
On this day, Saint Nicholas goes around cities and villages with gifts, accompanied by his black servant, Houseker. Nicholas gives presents to the children, while "Houseker" holds a switch under his arm to intimidate the disobedient and unruly children, although in practice, he rarely lets it come to that! ❄️
In anticipation of Saint Nicholas's arrival, the children sang the traditional Luxembourgish song "Léiwe Kleeschen, gudde Kleeschen" which translates to "Dear Nicholas, good Nicholas" in English. ❄️❄️❄️
Excursion to the National Library of Luxembourg (BNL)
On Saturday, January 14th, an excursion to the National Library of Luxembourg was organized for the senior classes. Here's what Ksusha and Nelly, students of the Swallows class, wrote about the excursion:
The five-story library building, including basement archives, houses over a million documents and books. Despite such a large number of documents, the library maintains strict order and organization: all documents are sorted into different areas.
The reading room, occupying the first floor, is open to people of all ages and is perfect for quiet work or reading. On the second floor, there is a media library with films, audiobooks, and music.
In one of the special rooms located underground, a specific temperature and humidity are maintained to preserve books and documents published in Luxembourg in the 15th/16th centuries and later for centuries. Regular visitors cannot access this room. These books can only be viewed on the official library website since the room is closed to visitors due to the fragility of the books. Specific temperature and humidity are maintained for better preservation.
Entry to the library is free, and the use of technology, except for printers, and documents also does not require payment. To borrow any type of document, you need to obtain a card, which is possible only from the age of 14.
Everyone enjoyed the excursion. A piece of advice that can be given not only to "bookworms" but also to lovers of silence is to take a stroll through this wonderful place at least once.
Liichtmëssdag
Right after the Christmas holidays, students in Luxembourgish schools begin crafting Liichtebengelcher, colored paper lanterns suspended on sticks. They create these lanterns to participate in a procession on the evening of February 2nd, moving through their commune or neighborhood, going from house to house, and singing the traditional "Léiwer Härgottsblieschen," a song honoring Saint Blaise.
While in the past, as suggested by the song's lyrics, children asked for food (bacon and peas), now they anticipate sweets, and perhaps even a little money!
And if someone wants to learn the song, here are the words:
Léiwer Härgottsblieschen,
Gitt ons Speck an Ierbessen
Ee Pond, zwee Pond,
Dat anert Joer da gitt der gesond,
Da gitt der gesond.
Loosst déi jonk Leit liewen
Loosst déi al Leit stierwen,
(Variante: an déi al derniewent)
Kommt der net bal,
D'Féiss ginn ons kal.
Kommt Der net gläich,
Da gi mer op d'Schläich.
Kommt der net geschwënn,
D'Féiss ginn ons dënn.
Kommt Der net gewëss,
Da kritt Der e Schouss voll Nëss.
Right after the Christmas holidays, students in Luxembourgish schools begin crafting Liichtebengelcher, colored paper lanterns suspended on sticks. They create these lanterns to participate in a procession on the evening of February 2nd, moving through their commune or neighborhood, going from house to house, and singing the traditional "Léiwer Härgottsblieschen," a song honoring Saint Blaise.
While in the past, as suggested by the song's lyrics, children asked for food (bacon and peas), now they anticipate sweets, and perhaps even a little money!
And if someone wants to learn the song, here are the words:
Léiwer Härgottsblieschen,
Gitt ons Speck an Ierbessen
Ee Pond, zwee Pond,
Dat anert Joer da gitt der gesond,
Da gitt der gesond.
Loosst déi jonk Leit liewen
Loosst déi al Leit stierwen,
(Variante: an déi al derniewent)
Kommt der net bal,
D'Féiss ginn ons kal.
Kommt Der net gläich,
Da gi mer op d'Schläich.
Kommt der net geschwënn,
D'Féiss ginn ons dënn.
Kommt Der net gewëss,
Da kritt Der e Schouss voll Nëss.
The students from Kalinka school also prepared lanterns for the celebration and even sang this traditional song in Russian!
Excursion to Nospelt
On Saturday, April 15th, a group of senior students visited a very interesting museum in Nospelt.
There, the students met an intriguing individual, Ed Kandel, the creator of the pottery museum.
A retired teacher, Ed Kandel now carefully preserves everything related to the history of pottery in the village of Nospelt.
After the museum tour, our students crafted a traditional Luxembourgish whistle.
Master Class on Making Whistles Péckvillchen
On the first Monday after Easter, on the Fish Market Square (Fëschmaart) near the Grand Ducal Palace in the capital of the Grand Duchy, a traditional pottery fair called Emaischen takes place.
Péckvillchen, a clay whistle in the shape of a bird that produces a sound resembling the call of a cuckoo, is one of the symbols of this event.
A similar traditional fair is held in the west of Luxembourg, in the village of Nospelt, where there is also an excellent pottery museum.
The production of ceramics in Nospelt dates back to the 15th century. By the early 19th century, there were 17 different pottery workshops in the village, and Nospelt was recognized as the center of Luxembourg's ceramic industry, continuing until almost 1914.
