“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”
– Vincent Van Gogh
A constant throughout the month have been the sound of rain on the roof, running, gushing, or trickling water elsewhere on the quinta, and gusts of strong cold wind sweeping through with names like Ingrid, Joseph and Kristin with more of the same predicted for the first two weeks of February. Yet, I never fail to marvel at the intensity of joy even brief spells of sunshine can bring, especially when juxtaposed against the otherwise grey skies that coloured my physical (and sometimes interior) world throughout the month.
Midnight spent many hours on the bench on the porch, longingly gazing into the distance – most probably, like me, wishing for the rain to stop. Every opportunity I got to spend time outside, I did, but sadly there were not many that were actually pleasant. My enthusiasm often dissipated quickly when exposed to an icy wind cutting through my jacket, or a renewed onslaught of raindrops.
As a result of the ghastly weather almost no progress was made on the quinta. We all keep hoping for rain free days, sometimes clicking on weather apps a couple of times a day in the hope of seeing little suns peeking out from behind fluffy clouds – only to be left disappointed.
Notes:
# I went to my long-anticipated Beginner’s Pottery Course in Cerdeira earlier this month, which I booked in April last year already. It was by far the highlight of my month, and I not only learned a lot, but also met some really lovely people. Although the foul weather followed me to the schist village, it mattered less to me, as I was engaged in something new, while spending the early mornings before breakfast and evenings snug in front of a crackling fire in my comfy little house.
# The quinta sitters were lovely and even Midnight warmed to them. Or at least as it is possible for Midnight to do so.
# On my way to Cerdeira I visited a couple of small schist villages, and spent the night before the course started at a lovely hotel in Lousã. Being a restored old palace, the communal spaces were grand and welcoming. It also allowed for a morning of exploring the town on foot.
A Moment of Gratitude:
When I had to go to Coimbra for a small surgical procedure early in the month, my two best friends in Portugal came to my rescue and drove me – a 5-hour journey there and back. It ended up being a very long day for all of us, leaving just after 8 am, and arriving back on the quinta just after 9.30 pm. The good thing was that I could catch up with them during the drive, as we don’t often see one another. And it was lovely to see them walking into my hospital room, brightening up the space with their presence, while I was still feeling a bit groggy after the anesthesia. Michael wanted to fly in for a long weekend to take me, but sometimes it makes more sense to accept the kindness and support of friends.
Portuguese Traditions:
Dia do Reis or King’s day is celebrated on the 6th of January, or the night of 5-6 January to be more precise. It is a culmination of the Christmas festivities, and is therefore the last celebration before all Christmas decorations are removed the following day. Essentially it is celebrating the arrival of the Three Wise Men with their gifts for baby Jesus, and although not a public holiday, it is celebrated by families in much the same way as Christmas Eve with special foods like Bacalhao do Consoada (boiled cod and potatoes), rabanadas (Portuguese style French toast), sonhos (doughnuts), pão-de-ló (sponge cake), bolo-rei (a sweet bread with glazed fruit), and jeropiga. Sometimes children leave shoes outside filled with straw or carrots for the Wise Men’s camels. In return they are rewarded with sweet treats, but unlike in other celebrations of the day in Europe, Portuguese children don’t receive gifts.
Another tradition (Cantares de Reis, Charolas, or Janeiras) that forms part of the celebrations link back to groups of men and women singing for alms in the early part of January, which in all likelihood harks back to a time of poverty, which allowed people to obtain food and drink from wealthy landlords with their dignity intact.
Participants, when going from door to door, after finishing a song, expect the residents of the house to offer them “as janeiras“, which can include chestnuts, walnuts, or traditional products like choriço or, more recently, chocolates and money. Traditionally Janeiras takes place between 1-6 January, and derives its name from the Roman god Janus, who is associated with new beginnings and transitions.
Cantares de Reis (Reisadas or Reis) are songs that centre on the theme of the Three Kings’ visit to baby Jesus, and are typically performed on the Eve of the Epiphany (5 January) or January the 6th.
Charolas is the regional name in the Algarve for the above singing traditions. These songs combine themes from both Janeiras and Cantares de Reis, while castanets are often used in conjunction with other traditional instruments like tambourines and accordions.
Nowadays, these traditions include lively public performances, as a way to maintain the practice instead of going from door to door. Not only is it a way to embrace tradition and cultural identity, but also to celebrate traditional music and the joy of celebrating with the larger community.
Written by: Jolandi
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I wish you could send us some of your rain.
Oh how I wish I could, Peggy!!
That photo of the storm is beautiful. I understand the frustration with the rain, it’s such a pain when you’re trying to be productive, but maybe the universe is telling us to slow down and recharge. Your pottery is so impressive too! I really hope your surgery went well and that you’re in good health and spirits.
Although not really in good spirits, Sarah, at least I am in good health. 😁 The weather isn’t helping some admin challenges and frustrations I am currently having to deal with, but I guess in the end it will all be okay.
Oh I totally can relate to what you feel about constant rain and the hope to see the sun peeking out from behind thick clouds. January and February are typically the peak of rainy season in Jakarta, and while I appreciate the lower temperatures the rain brings, I won’t lie that I miss sunny days. I’m glad that when you had to undergo that small surgery, you had your friends to accompany you throughout the day. I can imagine how nice it must have been having them around, especially when you were at the hospital. Cantares de Reis sounds like a very vibrant tradition, and it’s really cool to hear that it kind of evolved to stay relevant in the modern society.
You know, I always marvel at how much sunshine impacts on my mood, Bama, no matter if it is cold or hot. Good luck with the rest of your rainy season. May both of us soon again feel the lovely rays of the sun on our skin.
We spent a week with unseasonably cold temperatures recently, and unseasonable sunshine at the same time. Pedro and I remarked over and over that the temperatures well below freezing were awful, but the sunshine somehow made it bearable. We eagerly bundled up and went out for walks and hikes, and saw many others out too. Portland’s long rainy season drags us all down and so I add my voice to the others: sunshine, even a few minutes of it, makes a difference on our soul.
My favourite image here is of Midnight on the dry veranda, looking out wistfully (I imagine) into the wet world. It’s a pretty composition, and I can imagine myself happy in a spot like that. It’s great that you scheduled a pottery class for yourself far away and made a big adventure out of it. And you got to be creative. Creativity fills my fuel tanks when they are low, and I hope it worked like that for you.
Yes, it really is amazing how one just copes better with the cold when the sun is shining. Happy to hear that you and Pedro made good use of all that lovely sunshine. Long, dreary rainy seasons can be tough to cope with. Midnight dashes off somewhere every time there is a break in the rain. I also try to occupy myself outside when it isn’t raining, but I tend to quickly give up on these jobs, as the lack of sunshine sucks all the joy out of it, and as they aren’t urgent, I think I will just wait for a sunny day. Hopefully one will arrive soon.
Creative pursuits are definitely mood boosters for me, Crystal, and the pottery course was just what I needed. 💚
Rain, cold, gray skies – it’s all a challenge for me! Our move two years ago was supposedly to a part of the country with “mild winters;” alas, I don’t know if I define “mild” differently or what, but I’ve struggled through the winters for sure. (I’m told it really is colder than usual.) I sympathize with your situation and feel you have it even tougher with lots of rain and handling chores alone. Happy you have the cats and some helpful friends!
Oh my goodness, Lexie. What a disappointment that the ‘mild winters’ are not mild at all. I hope spring comes early for both of us!
I must say that I can cope better with cold weather if the sun is shining, as these grey skies, even when it isn’t raining is wearing me down. Portugal has this image of a country with mild winters, and I guess if you come from a more northern country it is true in comparison, but it also depends on where you are in the country. I, very ironically said last year to my family in South Africa that I cope much better with cold winters than extreme summers these days, but that was most certainly before this winter and all its storms.
Sorry to hear you are a bit down at the moment. The limits on your activity due to rain and health must accentuate your isolation. And yet, you are so good at finding ways to keep busy, and the pottery trip sounds delightful. Delightful also, the insight into Portuguese traditions. So heartwarming to hear how they are being maintained and adapted.
I wish I was one of the quinta sitters! And even better if Midnight was won over.
With “Louisa” about to be launched, and Optus becoming an unreliable email provider, I have set up a new email address. I’ll attempt to change over my subscription to your site.
Thanks for your new email address, Gwen. You won’t be able to change your subscription on the site, as there is currently no ‘subscription button’. Don’t even ask. I’ve been struggling with the subscription list for a while now. Then the plugin disappeared, and then, although I could manually add all the subscriber emails, the whole list has now been swallowed up, so I consider it a miracle that people still get emails when I post, as I cannot find that list on the backend. The problem started with a Jetpack subscription to back up the site, but I’m not sure the hassle is worth what we think we gain. Anyway, until I can solve the problem, I promise to send you a personal email with the link when I post. 😇
Good luck with the launch of “Louisa”. It is so exciting. I really hope it will be a smash hit. Can’t wait to read it!
What a month of contrasts this sounds like, Jolandi – all that relentless rain and wind, but doesn’t it make those fleeting shafts of sunlight that much better? During the rainy season in Seattle, we would always rush outside for ‘sunbreaks,’ and they always made everything feel bearable again. Great photos too, they add to your mood; there’s something so poignant about that image of Midnight watching the rain… waiting for a break in the weather.
Your pottery course in Cerdeira seems like a perfect escape from a grey month—learning something new, meeting kind people, and retreating to a firelit house at the end of the day. These are the moments to create in life, especially when there is so much going on around you. Kudos to your friends for driving you to Coimbra and back for your procedure; that type of kindness is priceless. May the storks, the clay between your hands, and the brief appearances of blue sky continue to bring small moments of hope to your winter days. As I keep telling myself, spring is right around the corner!
To be brutally honest, Randall, although the initial reaction to those fleeting shafts of sunlight is definitely one of awe and gratitude, they were just too fleeting. Still are, to be honest, to make a real difference to my emotions. We’ve definitely had colder winters, but this one is the dullest and dreariest by far. Midnight dashes off the moment there is a break in the rain, which is actually quite funny. Often she misjudge the weather and comes back soaking wet. I think we are all looking forward to spring weather, and like you, I hope it arrives soon. Hope you have more blue than grey skies. 😁