Sixth project meeting

From 6 December till 9 December another project meeting was held in Příbram. The sixth project meeting was really inspiring and focused on the traditions connected with the celebration of St. Nikolas and Christmas. During the visit to the Kindergarten Bratri Capku, the delegation was greeted with bread and salt and children dresses up as St. Nikolas, devil and angel presented how this feast is celebrated in the Czech Republic. In the Kindergarten Klubicko our Dutch guests tried creative work with ceramics and in the afternoon they took part in an artephiletics workshop called “The hell”. The figure of devil and angel does not exist in Holland. The Dutch St. Nikolas, in comparison to the Czech one, is accompanied by a number of Petes who help him distribute Christmas presents to Children for three weeks in November. On 5 December St. Nikolas leaves Holland on his white horse and returns to Spain on a boat. On this day giving presents finishes in Holland and children do not find any presents under the Christmas tree. Christmas atmosphere was supported by the visit to the Miners´ cottage and St. Anna Pit. In both parts of the Mining museum Pribram we could learn about the lives of miners and their traditions in the time of Advent which was also new to our Dutch partners as Advent is not celebrated in Holland. Comparing of customs and traditions id the aim of this project and during this meeting we found plenty of interesting similarities as well as a number of things which are significantly different in both participating countries. Besides the particular project work, a part of this visit was also a meeting at the municipality office at which the possibilities of future cooperation between Pribram and Hoorn were discussed. The whole meeting was successful and the Czech as well as Dutch partners are looking forward to our ongoing cooperation in the next year.