Keskuskuoulu, Raahe FINLAND Istituto Comprensivo Statale, Cerisano, ITALY Gimnaszium 4, Slupsk, POLAND Escola B/S Domingos Capela, Espinho, PORTUGAL Colegio Puente III, El Astillero, SPAIN Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead, UNITED KINGDOM
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A Voyage of Sea Discovery
This E-book want to be a compendium of all the richness that human imagination created throughout the millennia. We wanted to focus our attention not only on the myths and legends related to the sea but also on historical figures who inspired local legends and so help us to better understand our cultures. No matter if myths have scriptural or historical origins or if they were inspired to symbolize a moral thrust or simply by the need to explain natural phenomena , they are more than mere stories and they serve a more profound purpose in ancient and modern cultures: they answer timeless questions and they become as a compass to each generation. Particularly fascinating is the fact that so many peoples, who have had no contact with each other, created myths that are similar. The subjects of myths reflect the universal concerns of mankind throughout history: birth, death, the afterlife, the origin of man and the world, good and evil and the nature of man himself. A myth taps into a universal cultural narrative which is the collective wisdom of man. Like the sea, myths unite people apparently geographically and culturally distant: this is another great discovery we made thanks to the project. Cassitto Francesca & Muoio Giorgia III A
I.C. Cerisano 2
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ALARIC’S GOLD In 410 AD Alaric and his Visigoths sacked Rome. Rome may not have been in its splendour in 410, but it was still Rome, Caput Mundi, the most famous city in the world. That meant there was plenty of treasure up for grabs by who decided to sack the city. No one knows exactly what Alaric carried off from Rome but the legend tells that there was also the treasure of Salomon Temple brought in Rome by the Templars among the sacked goods. He and his Goths ( not just an army, but entire families ) satisfied, continued on the south, looking for a place to settle.
It was not easy: the natives weren’t friendly, and the Goths, probably found the southern of Italy too hot for them who were accustomed to the northern climates. He moved down to Calabria, and was thinking about heading for Africa, which provided grain when, suddenly, he died probably for malaria. According to the legend the Goths diverted the Busento river from its course by a great work of hydraulic engineering using hundreds of slaves who, after having brought the river in its natural bed, were killed by Alaric army for preserving the secret of his buried place. Neither Alaric's grave nor his treasure were ever found, in spite of all the attempts that have been done since then.
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It’s difficult to believe that the Goths, so practical and absolutely not sentimental people, have consigned a vast treasure to a grave. On the other hand, not only rivers change their course over the centuries but also Calabria is often subject to earthquakes. Maybe the gold is still there. Who knows? We want to believe that: it's much more fascinating! Maybe some archeologists will find it, what is sure is that every “cosentino” has his own theory about the place where the gold could be buried and
dreams to become a new Indiana Jones. The Legend of Alaric and his burial inspired the poem of August Graf von Platen “ Das Grab im Busento” (The tomb in Busento) with a romantic representation of the death and burial of Alaric. The poem has been translated into Italian by Carducci.
Dark night songs sound from Cosenza on Busento, the dark river murmur again from his sleepy eddy.
Up and down through the river cross and again slow shadows : Alaric the Goths cry the great dead of their people. RITA PRESTA III E
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‌and
now the fantastic sequel to a real story...
Alaric's son Theodoric wanted to find the treasure, convinced that he was the rightful owner . Finally, he learned that among the slaves killed there was a survivor . He began its search for land and sea and when he found him, he forced him to speak . Everything was ready to dig up the treasure........ but the frogs that had been the jealous guardians of the late King and of his gold for ages hid them into a cave. Tirelessly, Theodoric went on looking for his inheritance and at last he found it. He took the treasure and ran out of the cave heedless of the frogs that were shouting :- Please, leave the treasure!He fell into the river and died. The river brought his body until Bisignano where he was covered by the earth . On that place there is a round hill called " Cozzo Rotondo " and it is said that on Christmas night on the top of this hill a hen lays golden eggs . We like to think that in this mass still live the frogs guardians of Alaric's treasure .
A.
Filippelli , A. Giardinelli , S. Montanari , S. Perri , E. Palmieri 1 ° C - 1 D
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THE MYTH OF SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS
“ I was the nymph Scylla, daughter of the goddess Crateide... It is a long time that I live here on these shores where I loved swimming. Everything became during a night: I was on the beach when, suddenly, Glaucus, Poseidon’s son, appared on the weaves. He had been a human, but now he is a strange
creature: a God for half a man and for half a fish. I was so scared, I found a refuge on the summit of a mountain next to the beach while he was screaming his love for me. Disappointed and angry, he went to the enchantress Circe asking for her help: a love potion to make me fall in love with him. Circe felt in love with him but was rejected. Furious and envious of my beauty, she took her vengeance preparing a malefic potion she poured along
the coast of Messina where I used to swim. What a horror when I saw growing around me 12 feet and 6 heads of baying dogs on long, snaky necks, each head having a triple row of sharklike teeth. Frightened, I ran away and, since then, I hid myself living in the hollow of a rock ... "
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" ... I was the Naiade Charybdis, daughter of Poseidon and Gea, I was devoted to robbery and I was famous for my voracity . One day I stole the oxen of Geryon , and I ate some of them . To punish me, Jupiter made me fall into the sea and I turned into a giant monster like a lamprey: with my huge mouth I form a marine vortex that swallows everything that passes near me. " ... This is our history: now we are two immortal and irresistible monsters who beset
the narrow waters of the strait of Messina and we terrify all the ships that venture in this branch of sea. They are forced to pass close to at least one of us ... they had to choose how to navigate the hazard. If they sail too close to me, I would snatch 6 people from the ship, but the rest would survive. If they went to close to Charybdis, they risked the whole ship being sucked down and destroyed. The choice is a hard one for the captains. Do they knowingly cause the death of 6 crewmembers in order to save the rest? Or do they risk all their lives in the hopes of saving all them? Ulysses preferred to face me , Scylla, for fear of losing the ship passing near the whirlpool
of Charybdis ... I ate six of his companions , without pity ... more perished in the whirlpool of Charybdis but he managed to escape and passed our fatal gap ... I have never gone out of my cave , nor Charybdis from its waters , now we are harmless , but only a few dare to challenge our part of the sea ... only the braves ... " “Caught between Scylla and Charybdis” was the ancient equivalent to our “stuck between a rock and a hard place.” . Scylla provides us an opportunity to avoid risks, Charybdis requires more courage to risk everything. Maria Francesca Giglio 3C
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THE LAST CORSAR They call me Uluc Pasha and I am a powerful Turkish admiral but I was born in Calabria. My real name is Giovan Dionigi Galeni. When I was seventeen and I was entering the convent, I was captured by the pirate Khayr al-Din Barbarossa on my island of Le Castella near Crotone . I was immediately put to the oars as a slave, but I managed to survive thanks to my strength and my understanding of the codes of the enemy. I married Ja 'Far Pasha's daughter and I converted to Islam so I could kill a Turkish who had offended me without consequences . My audacity was enormous. I terrified all the Mediterranean coasts, I captured ships, I attacked towns and cities from Sicily to Liguria, I won the Dalmatian town of Korcula and tried to catch the Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy. I have even attempted, thanks to strong local support, to transform the Calabria region in a Muslim Turkish domain, tearing it to the Spaniards. I became the first commander of the fleet of Alexandria, then pasha of Algiers, and finally governor of Tripoli and admiral of the Ottoman fleet. I also 9
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fought at Lepanto where I rescued thirty ships and brought the banner of the Knights of Malta to Istambul as a trophy.
In Italy, they call me "the renegade" or, simply UccialĂŹ because it's difficult to pronounce my Saracen name.
Now, I'm living in my palace on the hill of Top-Hana near Istanbul where I built a great mosque, I have lots of slaves and servants but I'm generous. I concentrated all them in a village I wanted to found and call "New Calabria". I don't miss anything but my mother and my land....... I do hope she will forgive my abjure one day and accept a little of all my treasure. SERENA LAMBRE’ 10
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THE FAIRY MORGAN
How did a character from Celtic folklore come to be associated with a mirage in the southern Italy? Where do these strange names come from? The name “Morgan” may connect this mythical character with the sea, which is môr in Welsh, mer in French, morye in Russian, mar in Spanish etc. She is sometimes presented as a sister or friend of Arthur and enemy of Geneva, sometimes as a goddess or as a student of Merlin, and then his rival.
Apparently, the Breton legends about Arthur were carried to Sicily in the 11th century by the Norman invaders. Fertile Sicily, with its mild Mediterranean climate and citrus fruits, might well have seemed an earthly Paradise, the “island of apples” where it was said that Morgan brought the dead Arthur. But it’s also the name of the spectacular mirages visible in clear and calm days of summer, in the waters of the strait between Reggio Calabria and Messina, characterized by multiple and changing images, with vertical and horizontal features that
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suggest castles or give the impression you can touch the other shore with your hands. Legends related to the Fairy Morgan
Morgan and the Barbarian King
It was August, the sky and the sea were without a breath of wind, and a light mist veiled the horizon, during the Barbarian invasions after crossing the peninsula, a horde of conquerors came to the shores of the Ionian Sea in the city of Reggio Calabria. A few kilometers away on the other side of the sea there was an island with a large mountain smoking, Etna, and the King was wondering how to get there, without boats and so helpless in front of the sea.
Suddenly a wonderfully beautiful woman appeared, who gave the island to the barbarian conqueror and with a nod made appear the island very close to him: looking into the water, it was as if he could touch it with his hands, the mountains, the beaches, the streets of the country and the ships in the harbor. Exulting the Barbarian King jumped from his horse into the water, sure he can reach the island with two strokes, but the spell was broken and the King drowned miserably. Indeed, everything was a mirage, a play of the beautiful unknown woman: the Fairy Morgan .
Ludovica Reda IIIC
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Morgan and Roger the Norman Roger the Norman had been invited by some brave desired to have him as lord and savior instead of Sicilian knights in Calabria: the people of Sicily the Arabs. One day in 1060, Roger was walking along a beach Roger greeted Morgan with respect and with gentle in Calabria and studying the way how to win the firmness he said that would go to war on his horse numerous, highly specialized and well equipped and with his ships. enemies. Then the fairy threw three white stones in the Roger continued to walk in silence, always thinking water and, at that point where they fell arose as to of Sicily and its modest weapons of war, suddenly charm buildings, roads, so that the Sicilian coast saw a sea bubble and in a circle of foam, appear seemed close enough to be reached with a pitch and the head of a beautiful fairy, who gradually the other side a strong army that awaited his emerged with the body. She was on a white-blue orders. chariot, pulled by seven horses. Roger still refused the offer, saying that he would It was Morgan, who in the middle of the Strait, free the island only with the help of the Lord has its most beautiful and historic building. Jesus Christ. Noticing the presence of Roger on the beach, she Morgan waved again her wand and the buildings, asked him what he thought and he invited him to the streets and all that had first appeared on the get on his chariot and reach Sicily. Strait disappeared. We know from history that Roger the Norman landed in Messina in the spring of 1061, conquered Sicily, freeing it from the Saracens and his descendants transformed it in one of the richest and most advanced land in that time.
Azzurra Pulice and IC & ID
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The legend of Nerina and her daughter Rosa.
Nerina had an only child whose name was Rosa. Her daughter was very beautiful and she had long blond hair. Nerina beloved her daughter and wanted the best for her. Every morning she tried to comb her hair, like a good mother. But it was always difficult to do it because the child didn’t let her mother to brush her hair. Soon Rosa's hair was invaded by lice, so that no one could get close to the girl, without the risk of being invaded by lice. So the fellow country people decided to take Rosa near the
sea. They did so and the country was freed from the lice. Rosa fell into the sea water, she cried a lot and she attracted a mermaid with her cries. The mermaid went near the beautiful but desperate girl, because she wanted to keep her forever. She tied the girl to the abyss with a thick gold lace to her right foot and dressed her as a queen. Nerina didn't resign and every evening she called her daughter near the sea. One evening the daughter surfaced on the waves and told her mother her 14
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story. Nerina tried to free her daughter. Finally, she thought that, a drunk mermaid would have revealed how to break the chain. So, one evening Rosa gave the mermaid some fine vines from Sila so that she could get drunk and tell Rosa how to get rid. It would be enough to hit the chain with a 100 quintal iron mace on Friday, but the mace should have been made by a black smith who was also born on Friday, too! Nerina learned the secret to free her daughter. She looked for the iron mace and when she found it, she was able to free her. From that day onwards, Rosa always combed her hair!
Fabrizia Zecca, Chiara De Luca, Elena La Neve
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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
At Christmas, a knight who is completely green
rides into King Arthur's hall. The
Green Knight proposes a game: Any knight
brave enough to strike off the Green
Knight's head may keep the Green Knight's ax,
but that man must accept a return
stroke in one year. Gawain accepts the
challenge and cuts off the Green
Knight's head. The knight picks up his severed
head and leaves, telling Gawain to
look for the Green Chapel.Near the end of the
allotted year, Gawain sets out in
search of the Green Chapel. He finds a castle
in the wilderness. The lord of the
castle asks Gawain to stay until New Year's
Day, because the Green Chapel is
nearby. The lord proposes an agreement: He will go out hunting while Gawain stays at the castle, and the two men will exchange whatever they have gained at the end of the day. The exchange of winnings takes place over three days. Each day, the lord goes out hunting, while the lady of the castle tries to seduce Gawain in his bed. Gawain politely refuses her advances, although he does give her some kisses. Finally, she offers him a magic belt that will protect the life of any man who wears it. Gawain repays the lord his lady's kisses, but he does not mention the belt.
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Gawain keeps his appointment at the Green Chapel. The Green Knight raises his axe to cut off Gawain's head, but twice he draws back. The third time, the Green Knight barely cuts Gawain on the neck. The Green Knight reveals that he was Gawain's host and that his appearance as the Knight was made possible by Morgan le Fay. He tells Gawain that the first two blows were for the first two days of their agreement, when Gawain fairly repaid him his wife's kisses. The small cut was for accepting the belt and concealing it. Overcome with shame, Gawain acknowledges his fault and wears the belt to remind him of his fault. When he returns to Camelot, the entire court wears green sashes in fellowship with Gawain.
.
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Sir Percival – A Knight In Shepherd’s Boots In the dead of night a young
mother escapes from
her husband’s murderers to the
safety of the high
moorland – here she remains,
raising her infant son,
Percival. Percival was a handsome boy
who grew up as a simple
shepherd,
nothing
about his family’s past,
but knowing everything about
sheep! One day, three
knights-in-shining-armour rode
past. Percival watched
their war-horses, lances and
iron armour flashing in
the sun. “Here’s something I’ve not seen the like of these
creatures. They must be
Angels!”
The
that they were seeking three stolen maidens and the wicked
knights who had taken
them. Had the shepherd seen these knights?
terribly impressed with
knowing
Percival was
knights
explained
the three knights – he admired their armour, their weapons, their mighty horses. He decided he wanted to be a knight, just like them. He picked up his holly-branch hunting-javelin, jumped up on his donkey, and cut a bunch of mistletoe to place on his head as a helmet, and then he set off for Camelot to offer his services to the king. Percival’s poor and rugged clothing prompted much hilarity among the knights of Camelot. But as he started to speak to the court, a wicked Red Knight burst in, knocked all the plates and goblets off the table, insulted the Queen, and challenged any knight to fight him outside! In an instant Percival was outside facing the Red Knight. He hurled his holly-lance. It plunged into the red helmet’s visor, and the wicked Knight lay dead. So Percival had his first victory, and his first set of armour – the dead knight’s armour- but he kept some of his old country clothes. And so he joined the Round Table - in red armour, and shepherd’s boots
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The Christmas Cherry Tree This charming medieval story shows that a true knight has more than just courage. The hero, Sir Cleges, a knight, is generous, perhaps too generous. He celebrates Christmas in such style every year and shares all he has with everyone, so eventually he falls into poverty. When he is in great need, cherries appear in his garden, even though it is snowy and out of season. His wife sends him to the king’s castle, where he shares many of his cherries with the king. He is thanked and regains his wealth as a reward, even though he didn’t share them for the wealth. He shared them because he is a wonderful person with a big heart.
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The Legend of King Arthur Arthur was the first born son of King Uther Pendragon and heir to the throne. However these were very troubled times and Merlin, a wise magician, advised that the baby Arthur should be raised in a secret place and that none should know his true identity.
As Merlin feared, when King Uther died there was great conflict over who should be the next king. Merlin used his magic to set a sword in a stone. Written on the sword, in letters of gold, were these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born king of all England."
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Of course all the contenders for the throne took their turn at trying to draw the sword, but none could succeed. Arthur, quite by chance, withdrew the sword for another to use in a tournament.
Arthur became King. He gathered Knights around him and fought back against the Saxons who, since the Romans left Britain, were slowly but surely taking the country over. After many great battles and a huge victory at Mount Badon the Saxons were beaten.
Arthur's base was at a place called Camelot. Here he built a strong castle. His knights met at a Round Table. It was round so that everyone at the table was equal, including King Arthur. They carried out acts of chivalry such as rescuing damsels in distress and fought against strange beasts. They also searched for a lost treasure, which they believed would cure all ills - this was the 'Quest for the Holy Grail'.
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The marriage of Erec and Enide Courtship and Marriage In the first quarter of Erec and Enide the story talks about the tale of Erec son of Lac, and his marriage to Enide, an impoverished noble girl of Lalut. An unarmoured Erec is keeping Guinevere company while the other knights participate in a stag hunt near Cardigan when a strange knight and his dwarf approach the queen and treat her servant roughly. At the Queen's orders, Erec follows the knight, Yder, to a far off town where he meets and falls in love with Enide. Erec defeats Yder, returns to Arthur's court and marries his love.
Adventures The middle half of the poem begins some time later when rumours spread that Erec has come to neglect his knightly duties due to his overwhelming love for Enide and desire to be with her. He overhears Enide crying over this and orders her to prepare for a journey to parts unknown. He commands her to be silent 23
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throughout, but she disobeys several times to warn him of danger. Erec defeats a string of knights and captures a string of horses. He meets two counts who in turn attempt to kill him and have Enide; after defeating him in a duel he makes a friend of Guivret the Small, an Irish lord with family connections to Wales and Scotland.
Joy of the Court, Coronation The last quarter of the poem adds another story, referred to as the "Joy of the Court," in which Erec and Enide set free prisoners and meet relations, before in time they are crowned King and Queen of Nantes in a lavishly-described ceremony.
By Jemima Matuki
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The Ojáncanos usually hold a wolf skin sling they
EL OJÁNCANO The Ojáncano
use to carry or throw heavy stones and on the other hand they´ve got a black wooden magic cane with which they can turn other forest creatures
personifies evil for
into wolves, vipers and crows.
the highlanders in my
Its huge body is covered with rough and reddish
homeland. It is the most mischievous and unpleasant creature / character you can find in the mythology of Cantabria. It is an enormous ogre, as tall as the highest tree and as robust / strong as the hardest rock that mountains hold. It´s got gigantic limbs. Each of his feet ending with ten sharped claws as well as its hands that also show ten fingers with two claws.
hair. It´s got a long thick and dark beard with only one white hair in it - the weak point. If someone manages to tear this white hair out, after blinding the single eye on its forehead, then the Ojáncano can easily be killed. The Ojáncano munches on acorns, leaves of the holly trees, stems of mulberry bushes and stolen corn. It also eats bats and birds such as swallows and it often takes trout’s and eels from fishermen´s baskets.
JORGE DE LA HOZ 26
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LA SIRENUCA DE CASTRO The little mermaid from Castro
This legend tells us about what happened to a blue-eyed, gentle girl who went down to the beach everyday for shellfish. She would climb down to the most dangerous spots on the cliffs where no one else dared to go - looking for the best pieces. As she was going up and down the rocks she would sing lovely songs keeping the rhythm of the waves and she sometimes cast her eye at her small mirror made of pearls. Meanwhile, her mother who knew how dangerous the fishing on this place could be, looked very worried to see the girl haven´t come home at the usual time.She had repeatedly told her
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daughter not to go fishing alone on the cliffs over
following day, while the girl was returning to the
the the beach, but she would put a deaf ear to her
beach and climbing up to the rocks she dropped her mirror and it sank in the sea. She was trying to look it through the water on its way to the bottom when she lost her balance and fell into the sea. Despite the bad weather, the young managed to swim with easy up to the nearest rocks. Even though she was making a big effort to climb up safely she wasn´t able to. Soon she learned why. Her legs had been turned into a long flipper. In fact, she had become a mermaid. This was the curse for not have followed her mother´s advice. Since then, it is said that La Sirenuca helps
mother´s wise words. One day, this carefree behaviour got on her mother´s nerves who spelled a curse on the girl :
fishermen on thick fog days or in the darkest nights not to get too close to those risky cliffs.
JORGE DE LA HOZ
May God allow you become a mermaid. On the very 28
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LOS VENTOLINES They are small genies with large green wings. Their eyes are the colour of splashing waves and they live over the sea and inside the reddish clouds from the West. They help fishermen to pick up the fishing nets and keep them warm under their wings when it is cold, as a gentle breeze is blowing on the sail of the boat. Small flashing spots are seen over Mount Buciero in SantoĂąa, Spain, flying up to the clouds in the twilight. It is said, it is the right moment Los Ventolines come back home.
BY LUIS MIGUEL SOTO SĂ NCHEZ 29
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THE ANJANA Maybe it is the best known of outstanding creatures of the rich mythology from my homeland. The Anjana is the good fairy of Cantabria. She is very short-nearly six hands or sixty centimetres tall-and it is got a graceful and beaming beauty. It wears a fine star-sparkling robe, crowned with irises and roses. It holds a flowery rod that shines with a different light each day of the week. It lives on the sources and springs where it goes out from to bless the waters, the trees and the cattle. It also helps the poor, comfort suffering people and guide all those who have get lost in the forest.
EVA MARÍA GONZÁLEZ OBREGÓN
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FROM LIERGANES Long time ago there was a couple with four children living in the village of Liérganes in Cantabria. The youngest of the four was a boy called
Francisco. Francisco was an ordinary boy who
loved swimming. It was said that in the
year 1674, on the Eve of Saint John´s Day,
Francisco met his friends to go for a
swim in river Miera. The young went into the
river wearing no clothes and kept on
swimming down the current for some time. It
didn´t take long that the other boys
realized Francisco was out of sight.
While Francisco was meant to be an
excellent
swimmers was sorry for him. Time went
by, hour after hour and sadly Francisco didn´t
come up. So, eventually he was thought
to have been drown in the waters of the river.
swimmer,
no
one
of
the
other
Five years later, fishermen in the harbour of Cadiz (Andalucía), caught a strange creature. He had the shape of a stout, red-haired young man with a pale complexion. All of his body was covered with scales. In fact he was a half man-half fish kind of being. He was questioned by different people and the only answer they heard coming out of his mouth was the word ´liérganes´.
However,
anyone
was
able
to
understand
the 31
meaning
of
it.
The
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news
came up to a young man worker from Cantabria
and wine. He would eat a lot of food and then fast
emigrated to Cadiz who explained to them that it
for five or six days.
was the name of a village in Cantabria.
Nine
years
later
Francisco´s
comeback,
he
Later the news spread and finally came to
disappeared into the sea and no one has seen him
Liérganes to verify if something strange had
again.
happened a few years ago. Since local authority from Liérganes answered that there was only registered the disappearance of a boy called Francisco de la Vega five years ago, he was taken
Paula Polanco Ríos
there. Again at home, Francisco lived a quiet existence showing no interest in anything. He would always go barefoot and when anyone gave him some clothes, he would throw them away. He didn´t usually speak much and the only words he said were snuff, bread
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MYTHS and LEGENDS Many Portuguese sailed across the Atlantic with bravery, enthusiasm, courage and embarked on the adventure of the Discoveries. But ... the "Sea of Darkness” was too scary! Monsters… Fear ... Boiling water ... Dragons ... Green Lakes ... Mermaids ... Enchanted islands… Superstition! The legends and myths never left the sailors mind. Cabo Bojador was believed to be "the end of the world" ... "many passed and did not return ...“ Between myth and legend, our people overcame fears and superstition. And we had the sea as an ally, even in the darkest storm. "We have given worlds to the World..."
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Azores Islands «Legend of the Island of the Seven Cities» It is told that seven Christian bishops from Porto discovered the Azores islands. There they founded seven cities, each one with its own government. Their life was fantastic, with golden palaces and everyone lived happily. But no one could find the island because one of the bishops cast a spell on the island and it disappeared into the fog.
«Land of Atlantis» Another legend related to Azores: the famous
thought to be the mountain tops of this
Atlantis…
mysterious land. One day the earth shook and the water
«Land of Gods»
took everything. The
The Azores are also the land of ancient Gods:
nine
islands
are
there lived Euphemia, daughter of Atlas and 35
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Jupiter's
granddaughter.
She
was
very
Here the sea swallowed men and boats ... the
beautiful, with a pure heart and refused to
"monster"
did
marry to a son of Neptune.
Terrifying aspect;
not
let
anyone
escape!
Neptune went to war with
Large and misshapen
Atlas and during the conflict
Black face;
the princess died. In the
Sunken eyes;
other
Black mouth and yellow dirty
world,
the
princess
converted to Christianity and
teeth;
returned to Earth to spread
Beard and curly hair;
the good.
Horrendous and deep voice;
Even today, many people from
Huge legs and arms…»
São Miguel, Azores, believe that Euphemia lives in the
«Adamastor» was the name
"boiler" of the volcano that
given to one of the giants sons
gave birth to the "Valley of the Seven Cities."
of Gaia, who rebelled against Zeus. Defeated
The valley appears and disappears amidst the
by him, they got reduced to headlands and
clouds and fog ...
islands. Based on greco-roman mithology Adamastor
Cape of Good Hope and the Giant
represents the forces of Nature that the
Adamastor
Portuguese ships faced in the passage from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. 36
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«The Seven-Headed Beast Legend» It is said that, on the riverbank in Silvalde (Espinho), near a bridge, there was a field where a woman used to work. One day, she saw a strange animal with many heads coming towards her. That night, people were woken up by a noise and went to check what was happening: they found several dead and dismembered animals. They went out to look for the strange killer-beast and after many days they eventually found it. During the fight, a peasant died but he managed to kill the beast. People found seven severed heads of the beast. They buried them next to a pillar of the old bridge and there they built a chapel to celebrate such a strange occurrence. The river destroyed the chapel, but today there is still a small tiled plate where one can read “legend”.
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The Legend of Espinho
In very ancient times, a small boat sailing along the coast was caught in the bad, stormy, furious sea and sank. Two men from Galicia (Spain), survived the tragedy. The legend tells they promised to build a chapel if God would save them from death. When they found a wooden plank on which God had put them safe, one of the men said it was oak and the other said: "No! Es Piño!”. It is one of the explanations for our city’s name and there was in fact the Galician’s Chapel which was destroyed by the sea.
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Our country has many castles with fantastic legends. Throughout our History we have been invaded by many people ... the struggles between Christians and Muslims have left legends in the memory of our people.
«The Almourol Castle Legend» Don Ramiro was the lord of the castle and one day, when he was returning from a battle feeling really thirsty, he found two beautiful Muslim women, mother and daughter. They had a pitcher of water, so Don Ramiro asked the daughter to give him some to drink. The girl was so afraid that she dropped the pitcher. Don Ramiro was so enraged that he killed them. Just then, a boy appeared. He was the son and the brother of the murdered women. The lord of the castle made him captive and brought him to the castle. When he arrived, the young
Muslim swore that he would take revenge on Don Ramiro’s wife and daughter. Later, the Muslim poisoned Don Ramiro's wife to death, but he couldn’t kill Beatriz, Don Ramiro’s daughter, because they fell in love. One day, Don Ramiro promised an important lord his daughter’s hand in marriage. The young lovers, unhappy with their fate, fled without a trace. Don Ramiro died of grief shortly after. The castle was abandoned and fell into ruin. People say that on the night of St. John, in June, Beatriz and the Muslim appear, embraced in the highest tower of the castle. By his feet, Don Ramiro begs for forgiveness, but the inflexible Muslim replies:
“CURSE!”
Beatriz Silva, Pereira,
39
Leonor Gomes,
Maria
Murat Mutlu
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40
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About a knight who besought sea.
At the entrance to the port of Leba there is a powerful cross. It stretches above the forest, extending big iron shoulders above the beach. From the mainland it observes the raging, predatory sea and points the way to a peaceful harbor for the
of the Sea stay under the cross
Baltic sailors. This unusual cross!
thoughtfully, thanking Neptune
Its magic power combines all
for a happy returns. But when
those who were taken by the sea
they hear Neptune’s cry for
and have never returned to
help, nothing can stop them on
landmass. A prayer, that has
the ground – neither loving wife
been whispering here for years,
nor crying child or merry
keeps the memory of those who
companions. For centuries, the
sleep a perpetual sleep on the
sea chose people and casted
immeasurable depths. Their
spell on them.
families lit candles at the cross,
Old tale says that the most
waiting for the souls of lost in
famous, recorded by chroniclers
the Baltic, find their way to the
man whom was given and taken
land of eternal happiness. People 41
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
fortunate by the Baltic was me.
shapely young man but there
victories did not cause my
My castle was in the place
wasn’t any enjoyment in my life.
heartbeat. I visited many
where the river Głownica was
The emptiness of our chambers
mansions meeting princesses,
flowing into the sea. In the days
led me to despair.
noblewomen but none of them
when I was a kid, a powerful castle was buzzing. Father’s ships were used to carry goods to many ports of the Baltic Sea. Many exotic languages were often heard in the castle. But a certain winter the powerful storm took my father. A few months later, my mother died of grief, leaving me as a rich orphan. I grew up among the faithful servants, but I was very lonely. I came on a shore and defy the king of the Baltic Sea, blaming him for the death of my beloved father and mother. The years passed and I turned into a
could wake my heart. I was
- What do ships, castle’s halls,
looking for a place in the Holy
riches me for when I do not
Land and the imperial court, on
have anyone to share with! – I complained. During one of the sleepless night I decided to leave the castle and go out into the world in searching a woman who would save me from loneliness. I ordered to morning service preparing a horse and went to the coast for sending a farewell to my father and then I left my own family nest. After a year I become a famous
the battlefield and at feasts
knight, that got a victory in the
magnates but everything was in
numerous tournaments. But the
vain! In the crowd I felt lonely. 42
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
I saw that loneliness had been
coast, with despair watching at
me that, given its power was
written for me and decided to
the destructions that were
powerless. What could I do? I
return to the family’s castle. It
made by the powerful storms.
was paralyzed by worry. Only a
was a long journey. One day
There were scattered remnants
hungry horse forced me to
when I found myself on the road leading from the mouth of GĹ‚ownica my heart started beating like a hammer. Just one forest, it's only one hill ...Suddenly I stopped dead in my
of broken beams, bricks, rags,
action.
planks everywhere . Emptiness
I had to feed the weary beast
seemed unbearable. My whole
and I left the beach by the sea.
world suddenly shrunk to my
When I walked through the sand
horse and me.
dunes, I suddenly saw the smoke. I speeded up the pace
tracks. In the place of the
and pretty soon I found myself
father's castle, there were only
in front of a small fishing hut.
an empty rocky coast. I did not
Fire burned in the kitchen, but
recognize my native land. The
no one was nearby.
fishing huts, fields, meadows
- The host would not burn a fire,
disappeared from the surface. I
if he was not close! - I said and
guessed that the blame was
decided to wait. But no one was
unforgiving sea that the second time took everything that I had.
While there was all-powerful
I dragged myself along the
triumphant sea, that reminded
coming. I tied the horse to the fence and sat on the bench in front of the house and fell 43
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asleep. I was awaken by the
your peace of mind, but in this
no one except you!
rustling. Before the hut there
area there is no one who could
- The sea took everything! -
was a girl with an armful of
explain to me what misfortune
Replied the girl, and she got so
freshly cut grass.
has fallen to this earth and why
desperate sobs that almost
- Who are you, sir, and what
is it so devastated and
broke my heart.
brings you to my hut? – Asked
deserted. When I left my
- It was so powerful storm, that
she.
castle, it was a rich
took everything on its way. I
- Excuse me, that I disturbed
neighborhood ... Today there is
survived because I was collecting mushrooms in the forest. When I came back I saw an only huge cliff . The land and people were taken by waves. Brave girl, who also lost everything in the storm, seemed to me the dream, sought for years companion. - Will you let me to stay in your cabin until I rebuild the castle? - I asked. Tomorrow I'll take builders and 44
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
build a new castle!
not stain her hands and was
- If fishing hut is enough for
not tired of any work. As the
your shelter , you can stay! -
months, years passed a lack of
replied embarassed girl. I lived
work started to trouble my
in the fishing hut, helped the
wife. In a beautiful castle
girl in a modest farm and one
where the service meets all
day I fell on my knees in front
her whims, like a beautiful
of her and confessed:
bird in a gilded cage she
- I was looking for happiness all
missed for an unlimited space
over the world but it was close!
and freedom. When I
You are my happiness, become
returned from hunting, a smile
my wife, please! You will no
appeared on the face of my
longer have to mow or flow boat
wife, and I did not think at all
to catch fish! Weeks passed. On
that my wife was suffering
the hill, far away from the
fisherwomen were hidden at the
despite of the wealth around
beach,a new castle was built.
bottom of the trunk. Knight's
her. One day the fishermen,
One day I brought there a young
wife did not seem right to catch
offering freshly caught fish
wife whose modesty and beauty
fish, and she was not allowed to
came to castle. My wife spotted
were praised by the growing
grow garden. Courtiers were
them from the tower and ran
number of arriving guests.
carefully watched that she did
down the steps to listen to their
Clothes of the great young
stories about the fight against 45
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
unfettered sea, with a network
joined the fishermen. Only in
ever, as I am cursed by you! My
full of fish, strenuous and joy
the evening service realized
words were sounding in the air,
that each working day was
that my wife had left the castle.
when a powerful wind sprang up
brought for them.
When I returned from the
and the tide reached higher and
hunting they reported to me
higher, until it reached the foot
that my wife ran away. I waited
of a cliff. The roar of the water
in vain for her return. In vain I
drowned out my words.
made a big fire to help a fishing
Whirlpools broke trees, flooded
boat finding a way home.
the ground , cliff broke down
The fishermen’s tales awoke her memories about her busy days her eyes sparkled. Fishermen said that the sea had been their joy and a curse. They were
and fell into the sea. The cruel
afraid and loved it at the same
The hapless wife lost without
very time. It gave freedom and
tidings. After many days of this
bread for them! My wife
terrible truth when I realized
ordered the service to have
that the jealous sea took her as
fishermen over , ran up to the
it had already done before and
attic and pulled the heavy chest
did not want to come back her I
old fishing outfit. She dressed
went to the edge of the cliff,
up it hastily that no one from
picked up my fist and shouted
the service couldn’t prevent her
that the cruel sea for the third
I died, but the memory of my
intentions. In the guise she
time took the most expensive
fate survived in fishing stories.
slipped out of the castle and
object in my life! Be damned for
sea took revenge on me for cursing. In the morning when the waters subsided, there was not land as well as me. Only ragged, steep, craggy shore reminded that land lost the battle with water again.
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A Voyage of Sea Discovery
Although the centuries passed, the same drama always experienced people whose relatives were taken by the sea. They cursed its cruelty but gave up inconceivable power, ordering the sailors, fishermen, sailors to leave the family home and set out in the way - to the immense space and freedom.
47
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The story of Mikołajek
husband and asked him to punish the joke-maker severely. This time Neptun didn’t forgive the boy. He changed him to a beautiful plant which grows on sand dunes. In English the plant is called ,,sea holly’’ but in Polish its name is Mikołajek.
Once upon a time, on the sea coast, used to live a playful boy called Mikołajek. He liked making jokes to fishermen, amber-hunters or even the nymphs from Neptun’s wife’s retinue. Nobody was angry with him for a long time because of these jokes. Once, Mikołajek
When someone picks leaves of the plant, Mikołajek suffers because these are the parts of his body. Fortunately, the plant called Mikołajek is in Poland protected by law so it cannot be picked by anyone.
decided to make a joke to Neptun’s wife when she came to the beach with her nymphs to sunbathe. When the sea-ladies did not look in his direction,
Magdalena Dobrek
Mikołajek took all their clothes and hid in the nearby bushes. After the ladies finished sunbathing, they couldn’t find their clothes. Neptun’s wife was very angry. She called her 48
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
Sometimes he came over the water, he hit shield by the ironbound and the sky became in fire. The
Wars and Sawa
Witch through then the spell, which made the birds
In the depths of Wisla lived the scariest Witch. His beard was cover by weed, his armour was done by fish scales. He had an ironbound shield and the sword from mail of climbing irons. His eyes were cold like an ice and heart hard like a rock. He hated good, beauty, little, weak, defenseless. But the most he heated birds which sang on trees.
unable to sing:
Soon give me the flame, To shake birds from the trees, Play me my melody! After he says that, the Which heard that something is in the bushes. A moment later a girl ran out of them. Her name was Sawa. She was crying a lot, in her little hands she had a nest with little birds inside. -Mister! Dear Sir! Please, have a mercy on me! -Do you prefer to live in the water? As a pike? Or an eel? Er, you are too pretty. Your hair is like a lightning bolt and your eyes are green like a water. You will serve me as a mermaid. I will change your legs in a tail and your body will be all in scale. 49
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
-No! Please, don’t- shouted girl. The Witch didn’t show her his charity. She went to the depths in serve of the evil Witch. On the other side of a river there lived a trapper with his three sons. The youngest already got a job as a fisherman. For seven days and seven nights he alternately hack the oar and link the web. Later he said goodbye to his father and brothers and went for his first own trip. He swam calm with the
resemble birds, which he has seen so far. The creature, like reading in his minds said: -I am a king of a birds. My appreciation for saving me is enormous. And I will help you, when you need this. Before the fisherman wised up, the bird was gone. Tired, after all day of work, he moored boat to the bank and went sleep. Suddenly, something moved the boat. And Wars saw a mermaid.
stream of the river. The water carried him under the wicker island. -Hello! Is someone there?- asked a boy. -Can you see me?- responded a bird voice. -Of course I can. -Can you help me? I thing I stuck here. Wars came closer and released the bird. He was in shocked while looking on a creature, which didn’t 50
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
Who won’t by afraid about the evil, In his webs will catch me, Then he will teak away my tail. The boy was looking very carefully. In the middle of the river he saw the evil Witch. The Witch took the shield and the sword to endanger Wars:
To come here, you have to swim by seven waves, Then you meet seven whirlwinds, And at the end my cruel lightings Will fall down to your boat. Some days ago I was a girl, Pretty, slim an alluring,
The fisherman decided to try. When the Witch saw that the boy has a chance to win,
I stand in defense of birds And the Witch bedevil me. But you can save me. 51
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
he started to break the waves.
whirlwinds, and he took away the lighting. Then he said to Wars and
And then Big Bird came to help
Sawa:
Wars. He transited a boat by seven waves and seven
-I’m going to take that malefactor after seven mountains and seventy river. He will never come back here. You can be happy! The ending is happy, as you may suppose. The mermaid became a girl and she fell in love with Wars. They lived long and happily. The place where they settled was named after them - Warszawa.
Mielczarek Julia, Klasa 2a
The Legend of The Queen Jurata From time immemorial a trade route called “the amber route” led across the Polish lands. In the first centuries of our era, Roman traders arrived to buy the amber which in these times was called “Jantar” and was even more precious than gold . Even long before the reign of Mieszko the First and then his son King Bolesław Chrobry, traders from the Far West had begun to arrive.
52
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
For centuries jantar had been
beautiful Jurata and revenge of the god Perkun was created.
saving the fishermen from their misery when they couldn't catch any fish. They collected some
At the bottom of the Baltic Sea near the Hel peninsula, there lived
pieces and sold it to earn some
the queen of the sea called Nymph Jurata. She understood how
money and save themselves and
severely fishermen had to work. Once she showed her servant-maids
their families from starvation.
how hard they worked. When the servant-maids saw this they wanted
But people didn’t know where
to help. So Jurata decided to bewitch the wind which had hindered
jantar had come from. They
their work. The fishermen were amazed that the wind had become so
believed it had emerged because
calm and waves softened.
of the
Once the youngest of the fishermen called ToĹ› stated that somebody had helped them. The oldest of them called Ksander announced that they had to do something to thank the one. Ksander decided they would kindle the fire during the full moon and sacrifice the best fish every one of them caught, so then they would wait for someone to show up. They did as he said and with hope in their beating hearts they began to sing appealing songs. Suddenly the waves of the sea opened and from between of them a beautiful woman
fight between good and bad ghosts. And so the tale of
resurfaced. They became silent, a bit frightened, a bit in awe. The woman smiled and introduced herself as the queen of the sea in which 53
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
they fish and that she was the one who had helped them. Suddenly from the crowd a handsome fisherman ToĹ› stepped out and with his bravery shining eyes he bowed to her and asked for her name because he would like to write a song for her to thank her and that they would sing it every time they would go fishing. The woman smiled gently and told him that she is called Jurata or Amber queen and it would be a pleasure to listen to his song. After this event life went on, their catches were still plentiful and fishermen sang to Jurata the song created by ToĹ›. Soon
they realized he had fallen in love with her. But the fishermen didn’t know that the song had been heard by Perkun the god of the sea and the Earth. He decided he wanted to ascertain if the queen Jurata indeed was so beautiful. When he arrived to her underwater palace he fell in love with her at the first sight. He immediately proposed to her. He announced that he was a god and had great power over the whole Earth. But Jurata declared she didn't want someone who was infatuated by lust for power and that her heart actually belonged to the young fisherman and she was going to marry him. Enraged Perkun gave her five days to think it over and if she would still refuse him, he would get revenge on her and the fisherman.
54
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
One night, when the young
fast and his hands began to tremble. The Queen noticed this and told
fisherman was coming home
him that he didn't have to be
solitarily, he saw Jurata sitting
afraid of love, that this is a
at the dying fire on the
beautiful feeling. Then she
seashore. His heart began to bit
looked him in the eyes and whispered her words of love to him. She asked him if there was someone he cared dearly for. He stammered that there was no one, he was completely lonely but Jurata smiled lovingly and said that he was no more alone because she was with him now. She then asked him if he wanted to spend her last five days together with her but warned that when the days would have passed they would be killed. But Toś didn’t care, he loved her and if it was 55
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
the only way to be with her, so let it be. After that the queen put her arms around his neck
the truth. And when they realized that their beloved queen and clever young fisherman had died to give them life - in gratitude named their settlement Jurata and the golden stone - amber.
and kissed him for the first time.
Natalia Adamkiewicz, kl IIa
Five days after Perkun had learned the whole truth about the queen and the young fisherman he hit the underwater palace of Jurata with a powerful lightning. Jurata died as well as the young fisherman and all the goddesses of the sea. The whole palace, built of a golden stone, crumbled into ruins. The water furiously threw its crumbs on the sea shore. Surprised and frightened the fishermen not soon discovered
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A Voyage of Sea Discovery
Why the Baltic Sea is salty?
helped everyone. One day the man saw a boy walking down the beach. He was
I think you always wanted to
really sad and emaciated. The
know why a see is salty. Now I
man invited him for dinner. When the man was making a
will tell you a legend about it.
dinner the boy saw a magic mill. He didn't ask about it but he
Somewhere in Poland a long time ago there was man. He lived in a house on a beach and he had a magic item. This magic item was a mill which
thought how he can steal it. He thought about stealing it at night. When the man fell asleep,
produced
he woke up, stole mill and ran to
salt. Salt
a harbor and asked about the
was very
earliest ship. He must have
expensive,
waited 3 hours for the ship. He
but he
was really stressed that man will
didn't
catch him. When he enter the
want to be rich. He was a really good
ship no one could stop him.
person.
He was really happy because he
Everyone liked him and he always
thought he will be rich. 57
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Now the mill is producing a lot of salt all the time Šukasz Gołojuch Klasa 3D
After 5 hours of swimming he thought that he doesn't know how to use the mill. He started touching it and unfortunately the mill started producing salt. Salt was felling down to the sea and the mill fell to see accidentally.
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Lapaluodon kaunis Gunilla Beautifull Gunilla of Lapaluoto
In Raahe, there is a place called Lapaluoto.In 1800, a seacaptain lived there in a house with his beautiful daughter. Her name was Gunilla. Gunilla’s mother had died. Gunilla fell in love with a handsome fisherman.Gunilla wanted to marry him.Her dad didn’t accept that. Gunilla`s dad forced him to leave.Gunilla had to stay in Raahe.
One day nobody knew where Gunilla was. Gunilla had disappeared. Anyone didn´t know where,how and why. Her body was never found. Did Gunilla jump down from the balcony? Did she drown herself?. 60
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Did her father shoot her? A bullet hole was found in the wall of the villa. These issues have been open over a hundred years without an answer. Gunilla became a ghost. She threw things at night,she also made scary noises.Her dad was desperate and he invited Gunilla’s lover, the fisherman, to visit Raahe.Her dad thought that she would calm down if
Gunilla came at midnight as her dad had hoped. The old fisherman got up from his chair and walked slowly towards Gunilla. When the lovers meet each others again, the man dropped dead on the floor. What happened in that tragical night didn’t calm Gunilla down, even though she got her man back. Would there be even more horrible things to come? People didn’t even dare to think that. Some people think that they have seen Gunilla. You can see a lady wearing a long dress moving on the waves.
she sees him one more time.
One summer evening a man from
The man accepted the
Lapaluoto walked across the yard and
invitation and came to visit
noticed, that in front of the door, there
Lapaluoto. 61
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was a woman. Suddenly the
the lights off and light candles. They continued the meeting
woman disappeared. For a
with caution, everyone was holding on to the chairs they were
little while the woman stood
sitting on because they had heard that Gunilla might easily
inside the house by the
pull the chair from underneath the person sitting on it.
window and she was wearing
Animals are told to be scared of Gunilla, too. Once an
a black dress. Anybody lives
army`s dog trainer was spending a night in Gunilla’s house
in the house anymore...
with his dog. At midnight the dog had started to growl. It
The local tourist guides were having a meeting in the house of Gunilla. The evening went fine drinking coffee, and discussing. At midnight, the guides heard weird knocking from upstairs. The lights started blinking: They went off and then back on, bright as ever. The guides decided to turn
had run upstairs and the dog just sat there in silence. The dog had been shaking, but there was nothing that could have made him calm down. Scared people have run away from Gunila. A boss of a garden company tried to stay over night in the house of Gunilla. One night a beautiful woman come to her room.Then woman come across the room and went through closed door... the boss called a taxi and hurried to hotel for a night.
Text: 6th grades Pictures: 2nd grades 62
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Taskun Saunan Haltija The Holder of the Tasku Island Tasku Island lies about 5km from the coast of Raahe. There is an old wooden seamark called “pooki� and a little cottage for fishermen. Fishermen slept in the cottage.There were a sauna and one room in the cottage. In the room there was a table and places for resting. Public saunas were to be found all along the beach. It was very important that there had to be always dry wood, matches and salt, ready for the next visitors in the sauna. Everyone took care before leaving that it was clean everywhere.
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There is The Holder living in this sauna. The Holder is famous among fishermen, who all knows the Tasku-Sauna Holder. The Holder lives in the sauna at Tasku Island and he makes tricks for fishermen who stay there overnight. It has been told that the Holder may wake up by pulling toe when somebody is sleeping. When I was a child I heard a little story : It was late autumn. Two Fishermen from Raahe were going to stay overnight in the TaskuSauna. They went to sleep. In the middle of the night they woke up, when the door of the sauna suddenly opened. Men closed the door. Storm went on. Fishing things had to be saved in a
64
A Voyage of Sea Discovery
hurry. Fishing things were in danger. The Holder had woken the men up. So they succeed to save their fishing things. Another story of the Holder: A group of fishermen from south of Finland were going to stay overnight in The Sauna of Tasku. They had to pull their boat up to the beach, because in autumn the weather can change a lot in a short time. The men carried their food and bed clothes into the cottage. Then granddad-Sakri lit a fire to the fireplace. Now everything was ready in the sauna. Men sat down for a cup of coffee. Suddenly the door of the sauna opened wide. The men closed the door. They just thought, that the wind opened it. Then the door opened again wide open. Ash flew around and fire went down. The men were scared: what was that? They knew the story of the invisible Holder living in that sauna of Tasku Island. Maybe the holder didn’t want them to stay in there? Perhaps the holder wanted them to leave at once! So the men 65
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took their food and clothes, closed the cottage’s door and left Tasku Island in a hurry. After leaving the island they looked behind to see if the door of the cottage was still closed. They saw a big black sea bird - a cormorant- sitting on the top of the roof of the sauna. “Oh, it turned like that”, thought granddad
Sakri, when he saw the bird on top of the roof. Then the men sailed safely to Raahe city’s harbour for the night. Hopefully those fishermen finally got their rest that night.
Text: 6th grades Pictures: 2nd grades
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The lovestory of Johan and Catharina
The house of Sovelius is the oldest house in Raahe. There is also a lovely love story to tell. The story begins, when Johan Sovelius and Catharina Freitag fell in love. They wanted to get married, but they were cousins. At that time cousins needed The King’s permission for 67
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marriage. Youngers had to ask a permission from king Kustaa III, but The King said no. Johan tried again. He even sailed to Stockholm to ask a permission in person. But the King still said no. Johan tried again. He even sailed to Stockholm to ask a permission in person. But the King still said no. Nobody could make the king to change his mind. Nobody knows why. Even the King said no, Catharina and Johan were deeply in love. They promised eternal loyalty to each others. Both Catharina and Johan were from very rich families, so they got many other marriage proposals.
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But they both said no. They didn’t want to marry anyone else but each others.
They burned candles everytime when they missed each others. Usually they lit candles at the same time. People learned very soon to know the meaning of the candles. Johan lived in the house of Sovelius and Catharina in a house opposite it. The market place between them kept them apart. The local blacksmith made special candlesticks for Catherina and Johan. The candlesticks were a symbol of their love. 69
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In 1802 The New King Kustaa IV Adolf came to visit Finland. He was staying at the house of Sovelius. Johan had a chance of a lifetime to ask the permission again. But even The New King said no. Nobody knows why.
At that time Finland was a part of Sweden. There was a war between Sweden and Russia – and after the war Finland wasn’t a part of Sweden anymore. Now Finland was a part of Russia. So Finns had a new King: Russian emperior Aleksanteri I. People said that Aleksanteri I was nice and understanding man. So, Johan and Catherine decided to try again. This was the last time they asked for a permission for the marriage. 70
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The answer was still no. Aleksanteri I didn’t give any reason why not. Years went on. The lovers kept going on their lonely lives, loyal to each others. Johan did his business and tried to live his life. Year after another went by and he become more lonely and also very angry. But memories still came back to his mind. In many evenings he lit up his candles in the window. When the light of the candles were seen in the other side of the market place, Catharina lit her candles too. Then she sat by her window, reading or doing her needlework. In 1840 Catherine didn’t lit up her candles anymore. She was dead. Johan lived twelve more years. He was loyal to her till the end. He never got married. Even today, The Candles are not in the same house. Johan’s candle is in Sovelius’ house and Catharina’s candle is in The Museum of 71
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Pakkahuone. The market place lies still between them. Interesting part of the history is, that at the same time Johan’s sister Katarina Sovelius got The King’s permission to marry her cousin Johan Nilsson Sovelius. It is a mystery, why Johan and Catherine were kept apart.
Even today, The
The story is not over…
Johan’s house is still standing in the middle of Raahe. It is said, that Johan Sovelius never left his house. He is still wondering in his house. Today it is called The Ship Owner’s home and it is an exhibit area of the museum. Here we have some ghost-stories about Johan Sovelius. Even it is said that The House of Sovelius is haunted, people working in the museum have never really seen Johan - not even little marks of him. The weirdest thing happened to Eija Turunen in summer 1996. In a beautiful morning Eija came to work as usual and sat by her desk. She heard noises and thought they were coming from street. Noises went on and on, so Eija looked from window if someone was cleaning the streets. There was nobody outside. Eija understood, that the noise must come from inside the house.
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She went upstairs. The Ship owner’s home -museum wasn’t open for public yet. A builder with his men have been fixing the fireplace in the dining room the day before. In the dining room there were a huge vacuum cleaner on, all alone in front of a fireplace. Nobody was there. Eija turned the vacuum-cleaner off. Later she asked from the builders, why the vacuum cleaner was left on alone. The builder answered, that it is definitely not possible. He said he had vacuumed all the mess. Then he went downstairs to wash his tools and he had brought them back upstairs ready for the next day. Tomi told, that “a vacuum cleaner makes so awful noise that you can’t listen to it any more than you really have to.” So they thought that Johan has been there at night and he has turned it on – just a little test.
After Johan’s death, some of his relatives moved in. They told that every time there were young ladies in the house (daughter in candidate etc.) Johan the ghost was secretly watching at the door if there were any girls who could have become a member of his and Catherina’s extended family.
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In one night the lady of the house was reading in her bed. Suddenly a stranger knocked on her door: It was an old man with long grey hair and he had very old clothes. He said to her: “Come with me!” But she was so scared and she didn’t go. So The old man just disappeared. Later she was told that maybe The Man was Johan himself .
Anni-Marikki, Jiri, Juuso, Jennina, Emilia, Anni 74
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Don’t you forget The Love Story, or… In one summer a summer guide of the museum forgot to tell The Love Story to the visitors. All the visitors were his friends, visiting Raahe. A summer worker told stories about the house, but not everything. He forgot to tell The Love Story! When visitors came into the room, there was an open book lying in middle of the room (book can’t drop and fly so far). Afterwards they understood, that Johan the ghost “reminded”: “You
forgot something important!”
It was late that night, when our summer worker finally remembered what he had forgotten: To tell The love story of Johan and Catharina. Sometimes when
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Miss Aino Aino was young and beautiful lady. And Väinämöinen was an old and ugly man. Väinämöinen wanted marry Aino, but Aino didn’t want that ugly and old Väinämöinen - and Aino jumped in the sea. Aino tried to shout something…
- Eero-Pekka, Juuso, Esko and Roosa (5th)
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Aino was young and beautiful lady.
Aino was a sister of Joukahainen,
She was a sister of Joukahainen.
a very beautiful girl.
Väinämöinen was ugly and old man.
She was young and kind.
He wanted to get married with Aino.
But Väinämöinen was an ugly old man.
Aino said "I don't want to marry you!"
Ilmarinen wanted Aino to be his wife.
and she jumped in the sea
Aino wanted to marry Ilmarinen.
- and drowned.
But Väinämöinen said:- I love you Aino! Aino didn’t love Väinämöinen.
Matias V, Silja, Tiia and Niko (5th)
–
So, she jumped in the sea and died.
Noora, Siiri, Iida and Veeti Hai. (5th)
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Ahti – the King of the Sea His wife's name is Vellamo, and he is a king! If you don't get any fish you can give Ahti a gift. Ahti lives in the sea! Ahti the king of the sea! Ahti is the ruler of the sea! Ahti is the king of the European seaside. But he do not eat any algae, only pure mud. He has a beard of grass and He smells like trash. He helps every sea animals, and he looks like a seal.
- Ulpu, Anne, Sylvia and Johanna (5th)-
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Ahti is the king of the sea. His face is like grass, and he smells like trash. If you don't get fish you can give him a gift. Ahti owns the sea and he looks like seal! He is really ugly‌
- Tomas, Emilia, Reetta-Sofia, Sami and Aino (5th) –
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Ahti owns the sea - but he looks like a seal. He is so smelly, He is so slimy, He has a beard of grass, but still he is the king of the sea He is The ruler of all the sea all around the universe He is nice, but he can be bad too! You won’t have any lucky in fishing, without giving a gift to Ahti, His wife is the queen of the sea , but HE is the KING of the sea!
-Toni, Otso and Veeti Hau. (5th) – 80
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