In reality, we have a such a lovely, mild climate there the harvest could be celebrated year round. And thanks to the spread of the plastic greenhouses, even seasonal crops keep going all year. The harvest however is a time of great traditions all over the world and that goes for Southern Spain as well.
Across Andalucia children and teens are back in school. On one hand the regional government is underlining the many gains made for this school year: new schools, subsidised text books, expanded cafeteria services. Doctors however have raised a red flag. In fact, none other than the Spanish Flebology Society (specialists in veins and circulatory problems) has made a visit to the Andalucian province of Almería to study 400 students between the ages of 13 and 15 years old.
Whether or not you are a member of any particular religious organisation, you will probably be interested to know what the mayor of the town of El Borges in Málaga province is up to these days. Jose Antonio Ponce is a member of the Communist Party and a proud atheist. Supposedly he's the first mayor of Spain to have his name removed from the Catholic Church registers. And now he proposes that the town hall of El Borges offer secular baptism ceremonies for children.
I've just received an info pack from the Instituto Andaluz de la Juventud - the Youth Institute, and I must say I'm impressed by the creative and "intercultural" focus this autumn. It so happens that Intercultural Dialogue Day is September 26th - sponsored by the European Federation of Intercultural Learning. You can find out more at www.interculturalday.eu - and this could be a great chance to dive into your local community to offer a bit of cross-cultural experience to friends and neighbours!