Hello, Tuesday!

I was too tired yesterday evening (I got home after 7:30 pm) so I didn't have the energy to load more pictures.  Plus, my daughter put the camera hook up/computer thingy somewhere in her room, so I don't have pictures today to share, but hey---I have a video!  (No, I'm not in it---nor is any of my family, but I do know the guy in the white suit..) 

http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/video/2008/07/06/sentinel-video-holy-ghost-parade/

Click this site and you'll see where I was Sunday! It's from the local newspaper from my hometown.  I even used to work for the Sentinel, but that was many moons ago...

Every 4th of July weekend, for as long as I remember was a weekend of fireworks, trips to Pismo Beach, California, barbecues, and "sopas" (traditional Portuguese meal-my mom used to make every Sunday when I was young) at the Portuguese Hall.  It has been always been a weekend of being and feeling proud of my Portuguese-American heritage.  It always coincided with both of my parent's birthdays too, so it has been a special time. 

So, ironically--no, I did not plan this, I just discovered that TODAY is the feast day of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Aka: Queen Isabel).  Here is her story, and this is why, Catholic, Portuguese emigrants here in the states celebrate this day:

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal

Born in 1271, Queen Isabel was married to King Diniz (or Dinis). Like her great-aunt Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, for whom she was named, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal dedicated her life to the poor. She established orphanages and provided shelter for the homeless. She also founded a convent in Coimbra. There are many versions of the story of Queen Isabel's miracle of turning bread into roses, but they are all fundamentally the same. She is said to have been forbidden by her unfaithful husband to give to the poor. Having hid bread to give away in her apron, she encountered King Diniz, who asked her what she was carrying. Not wanting to let on that the contents of her apron were meant for the poor, she responded that they were roses. The bread was transformed into roses, and King Dinis, who could not understand how she could have possession of fresh roses in January, did not punish his wife. Known for settling disputes, Queen Isabel was called the Peacemaker. When her son Affonso (or Afonso) declared war on his father, jealous of the attention being paid by Diniz to his illegitimate sons, she rode between the armies, reconciling the two sides. On another occasion, she rode to Estremoz despite being ill to keep the army of Affonso, by then Affonso IV, from fighting that of Castile. Affonso, angry at the mistreatment his daughter Maria was suffering at the hands of her husband, the king of Castile, had ordered an attack. Isabel stopped the fighting, but the exertion proved to be too much for her and she fell ill, dying shortly thereafter. Isabel was buried in Coimbra. She was canonized in 1625 by Urban VIII, and her feast day is July 8. Many Portuguese and Portuguese-American organizations bear her name. The parade ends with mass at church, and then another parade to the Portuguese Hall, where the traditional "sopa e carne" is served all day long as a symbol of the Queen's love to feed the poor.  Oh, and yes, lunch and dinner is served until the evening at no charge-yes, it's free.  If you are wondering, no, I  never participated as a queen during these festivals.  The dresses you see these girls wearing are not very comfortable, and the capes are VERY heavy.  To be asked to be a queen to represent your city is a honor.  I once was asked to carry a 20 pound sign made of wood with my sister.  My mother made us matching, itchy, frilly long dresses, and we had to wear our hair back tight with enormous bows on our heads.  HATED IT!  What is "sopas"?  It's a basic, and very old recipe... I found it online-it's pretty much how my mom makes it.  Enjoy! Sopas & Carne Ingredients: 3 pounds pot roast 1 onion, diced 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 clove garlic, minced 3 bay leaves 2 teaspoons allspice 2 med. heads cabbage 1 cup mint leaves 1 teaspoon salt Water 1 loaf French bread Directions: In a large pot, combine the first 9 ingredients, salt and water. Cook on medium heat for 4 hours. Add more water as needed. Quarter cabbage and add to soup, cook 30 minutes until cabbage is tender. Serve over sliced French bread. This recipe from CDKitchen for Portuguese Sopas serves/makes 6

 

Tags: sopas e carne, Portuguese Festa, St. Queen Isabel,