Why do we call the people of Porto "TRIPEIROS"!



"In the year 1415, built on the banks of the Douro the ships and boats that were to lead the Portuguese, this year, the conquest of Ceuta, and later to the Epic of Discovery. The reason this project was secret and yards rumors were many and varied: some said that the vessels were intended to convey the Infanta Dona Helena to England, where she married, others said it was to bring the King John I to Jerusalem to visit the Holy Sepulcher. But there were still those who assert the feet close together that the fleet was intended to lead the Infants Pedro and Henry, to Naples to get married there ...
It was then that Prince Henry appeared unexpectedly at the Port to see the progress of work and, although pleased with the effort, thought it could do even more. And the Prince confided to master Vaz, trustee of construction, the true and secret reasons that were in their origin: the conquest of Ceuta. Asked the master and his men to greater efforts and sacrifices, Vaz master assured him they would do the same for the infant who had made some thirty years ago when the war with Castile, would give the city all the meat and eat only the casings . This sacrifice had valid even them the nickname "tripeiros”. Moved, Prince Henry then told him that the name "tripeiros" was a real honor for the people of Porto. The History of Portugal noted that most unusual of the heroic sacrifice "tripeiros" which contributed to the large fleet of Prince Henry Welsh seven and twenty ships, departed on their way to conquest of Ceuta. "
 



THE OLD LEGEND OF THE FISH-MAN

Once upon a time in Messina lived a man whose name was Colapesce (Colafish). His fingers were all linked together like those of waterbirds, he also had gills like a fish and every day he dived into the harbour waters to have fun.
One day the queen came to Messina and heard about this man who was so marvelous at swimming like a fish. The Queen wanted to believe in what they told her so she decided to test him.
She went by boat to a place on the sea called Garofalu, at Torre Faro, and said to him: "Here's a golden cup; I'm going to throw it into the sea and if you find it within an hour time, it will be yours."
After about an hour Colapesce dived into the sea and two hours later he emerged with the golden cup in his hand.
The Queen asked him what he had seen under the surface and Cola replied that there were two big caves which sucked sea-water and were connected to the Mongibello (the local name for Etna volcano).
Some days later, before leaving, the Queen called Colapesce and said to him:
"I'm going to throw another larger golden cup into the sea on condition that you go and see where the caves are exactly connected with the Mongibello." and Cola replied "Yes, your Majesty!"
The morning after the Queen returned and threw the cup into the sea.
Cola dived but he never came back and the Queen never knew the answer.

Note: the legend tells that, while swimming underwater Cola discovered that Sicily was supported by three columns. He saw that one of them was going to fall so he decided to sustain it himself and he remained there forever. That's why he never came back.

by Emy Barresi, Viviana Micalizzi, Anja Pisano, Ludovica Portovenero, Elisabetta Reni and Alessia Vita (Italy)

THE OLD MAN, THE YOUNG MAN AND THE FIRE

Today we start the publication of some ancient tales and legends of our respective regions.
The first one tells us about the origin of an old proverb which is very much used in Messina. In our Sicilian dialect it sounds like "u vecchiu/a vecchia avìa cent'anni e ancora avìa 'nsignari" which can translated into English: "the old man/woman was a hundred and still he had to learn"

Here's the story:
 Once upon a long ago they told there was a very old and wise man sitting by the fire. A young man passed and asked him: "Can you give me a little fire to light my fireplace?"
"Eh, my young man" the old man replied "I can give it to you but where can I put it if you haven't taken anything? Don't you know that fire burns?"
"Don't worry about this" the young man replied "give me the fire and I'll provide for the rest."
"Well, here you are" the old man said.
Do you know what the young man did? He filled the palm of his hand with ashes, put the lighted fire on and went away.
"Oh dear!" said the old man beating his forehead "I'm so old and with all my experience and years couldn't even imagine such a solution. It's really true: the more you live, the more you know.
And it was so that these words remained as a motto.


by Federica Barbaro, Irina Battiato, Roberta Di Paola and Francesco Greco (Italy)