Jon and Angela Button Just another weblog 
Some of our experiences here are likely going to be once in a lifetime. One of those was attending the midnight serenade that kicked off the week long celebration called the “Quiema das Fitas” It is translated “the burning of the ribbons” in English and signifies the beginning of the end of the school year. Every day of the week hosts a different event and a concert at night.
Serenata
Everyone gathers hours before the start to establish their spot in the square outside an old church. The musicians sing from the steps which create wonderful acoustics that echo across the square. They sing and play the traditional music of Coimbra: “Fado”. Strong male voices and gentle guitar rifts with building climaxes sung in melancholy tones and lyrics induce a sense of longing, nostalgia and wonder. We appreciated our friend bringing us and showing us a back alley so that we could all view and hear better. It was inspiring and I think we have a greater appreciation for the music of Coimbra now.
Corteja
The other event we observed was the University Parade. Each major constructs their float, or series of floats, that represent their specific colors and usually a political or social theme. It was on a Sunday this year, so after church we walked up to university where it starts, as we had heard that things tend to be a little more calm at that stage. With almost every float giving out beer and some food item, the parade ends up in drunken revelry. We didn’t really have much interest in seeing this or trying to push our way through the crowds, so we only stayed around until car number 40 out of 110. Instead we left and headed to the park with some friends so the kids could get burn off some energy.
We are thankful for our experiences here and have enjoyed studying another culture. Even though things are not all that different, the pros and cons help us to evaluate our own beliefs and measure them in light of God’s Word. We are learning not to measure our own culture by comparing it to another culture, or visa versa, but rather against God’s Word.
