Strollerderby : Spain

Leap on Over to the Baby Jumping Festival

SunnyChanel — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:05:00 GMT

Those Spaniards, they sure know how to party. The people of Spain pride themselves on a variety of odd, unusual and compelling regional traditions. They’ve got the world famous Running of the Bulls, the Catalan Xmas Pooping Log and, of course, the annual Baby Jumping Festival.

Not unlike a small scale Evel Knivel, men dress up as Lucifer and leap over a couple of rows of babies laying on the street. The belief is that as the “devil” jumps over the infants, he takes the “evil” out of them and the kids are therefore cleansed. This curious tradition has been in full effect since around 1620 and takes place in tribute to Corpus Christi. The Baby Jumping Festival happens this year from June 11-15 in Castrillo de Murcia. So you still have time to buy your tickets and get your baby ready for a good old-fashioned exorcism.

Would you ever participate in such an unusual and unique tradition?

Source

Mother Sets Fire to Her Daughter's Gloating Rapist

Cole Gamble — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Antonio Cosme Velasco Soriano, 69, was sentenced to thirteen years in Spanish jail for the rape-at-knifepoint of a thirteen year old girl. Nine years into his time, Soriano was given a three day pass to return to his home town of Benejúzar and who should he run into but his victim’s mother. Reportedly Soriano taunted the mother saying, "How's your daughter?" right before entering a crowded bar.

The victim’s mother followed him.

Shortly after, the woman walked into the bar, poured a bottle of petrol over Soriano and lit a match. She watched as the flames engulfed him, before walking out.

According to a witness:

"She didn't acknowledge anyone but walked up to Soriano, who was drinking a coffee, put her hand on his shoulder and turned him round to face her.

"Then she pulled the bottle she was carrying from under her arm and began to tip it over him. At first I didn't realize what was happening, but then I smelt the petrol. I jumped up and tried to grab her, but when she struck a match I got clear.

"The petrol was in a pool around Soriano, and she threw the match into it. It ignited with a whoosh, and he screamed and staggered about covered in flames. As people rushed outside to escape the flames, she just looked at him, then turned and walked away."

Soriano suffered 60 percent burns on his body. 11 days later he was dead.

After her daughter’s attack all those years ago, it’s said the mother suffered from mental illness. When questioned by police about the encounter with the rapist, the woman claimed to recollect nothing of it.

She is currently incarcerated.

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The Pooping Log - A How-To Guide To a Christmas Tradition

SunnyChanel — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Are you looking for a new family tradition to start this holiday season? Perhaps I can entice you with a popular Spanish Christmas custom. The Catalan magic of the Tió de Nadal, or what it is popularly refered to as the "Caga tió". Translation? The Pooping Log.
Now you’re probably wondering how you, yes you, can participate in such a glorious family event.

• Get your self a hollow log about 30 centimeters in length, stand it up with two or four sticks, paint a smiling face on the end, stick on a three-dimensional nose and then finish him off with a red sock hat (a barretina as it is known in Catalan).

• On December 8th, the beginning of the Feast of Immaculate Conception, start to give your little tió a little something to “eat” each evening.

•    Before you go to sleep cover him with a blankie so he doesn’t get cold at night.

•    On Christmas day (or Christmas eve if that’s when you party it up), put the tió part way into the fire place and order him to “poop!” (you don’t need to use the fireplace if you don’t have one).

•    To make him “poop” “one beats him with sticks, while singing various songs of Tió de Nadel (lyrics below).

•    Tió’s poop is generally small items such as candies, nuts, torrons and the occasional dry fig. And that’s not it, “When nothing is left to "poop", it drops a salt herring, a head of garlic, an onion or ‘urinates’.”

•    Share all the poop and pee with your family and friends, they are “communal” gifts.

Here is a song of the "caga tió":
caga tió,
caga torró,
avellanes i mató,
si no cagues bé
et daré un cop de bastó.
caga tió!"

Translation:

poop log,
poop turrón,
hazelnuts and cottage cheese,
if you don't poop well,
I'll hit you with a stick,
poop log!

Source

Thanks to Jenna for turning us on to this lovely cultural tradition!

Spain Extends Human Rights To Great Apes

Amy S.F. Lutz — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:31:00 GMT

In a controversial move decried by groups as diverse as the Catholic Church, human rights organizations and scientists, the environment committee of the Spanish parliament voted to grant limited human rights to chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos.

Experts predict the law will be approved by the parliament as a whole, at which point it will become illegal to kill one of the protected animals except in self-defense. They couldn't be used in medical experiments (which has AIDS researchers up in arms) or forced to perform in circuses or movies. Apes in zoos wouldn't be freed, but their quality of life would be substantially improved. Naturally, they wouldn't be given all rights, such as the right to vote, but The New York Times says, "Their status would be akin to that of children."

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I know that we share a little less than 99% of our DNA with chimps, but I would never put one of them on the same level as a human child. So I guess I agree with the deputy program director of Human Rights Watch, Joseph Saunders, who believes that while human rights are still being threatened all over the world, "We're going to keep our focus there."

2nd Oldest New Mom Feels Young, Looks Old

Madeline Holler — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:29:00 GMT

For nearly two years, Adriana Iliescu was the oldest mom in the world. She gave birth to her daughter Eliza when she was 66 years old.

Her title was usurped by Spanish mom Carmela Bousada, who gave birth to twins just short of her 67th birthday.

But enough about records, how's life for the elderly mother of a three-year-old?

Lonely, according to the Daily Mail, although the mother-daughter pair seem to be plenty happy. They go shopping, Eliza goes to preschool, Mom still teaches classes at the university. Iliescu says she has never suffered any prejudice for being such an old mom. She says her country, Romania, admires mothers above all else.

Of course there is the matter of Eliza being orphaned at such a young age, were her mother to die. Iliescu had a falling out with her family over some inherited property, so there's no one in her bloodline to take the little girl in. However, the girl's godfather, mom's doctor, plays a role in the girl's life. Also, she would count on the state's child protective services to help out.

But none of this is expected, she says. Her own mother lived for so long, Eliza would be at least 20 years old if Iliescu were to age similarly.

Of course, she has a bit of advice already for her daughter. From the Daily Mail:

"I would advise my daughter to have a child before she is 30," she said.

Ahhh, a mother's wisdom.

Photo: Daily Mail

Identical Twin Discovered in a Spanish Clothing Store

Madeline Holler — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:34:00 GMT

An identical twin who was raised as a singleton by the wrong family is suing the diapers off the maternity hospital and city where she was born more than 30 years ago. Her biological sister, and the girl raised in her place, are doing the same.

It's sad that switched-at-birth stories aren't all that uncommon. Here's the kicker in this story: it was only by accident that they all found out about the mix-up.

The actual twins, who were born in Spain, reunited in 2001, after the one raised by non-biological parents was mistaken for her unknown identical twin at a clothing shop. A shop clerk was friends with the other twin and was dumbfounded when the unknown twin didn't recognize her. The twin came in a second time and that time the shopkeeper arranged for the two to meet. The rest unraveled from there.

All three of the girls are devastated by the discovery, the twin raised by another family the most, according to her lawyer. She's suing for $4.7 million. The others are also filing suits.

The hospital says the switch is the result of too many babies and too few nurses. From Reuters:

"In 1973 there were two assistants and one supervisor for 60 babies," Densi Calero, who worked in the maternity unit of the clinic at the time, told local radio. "It's not impossible to imagine something like this could happen."

Photo: ABCNews.com

Defense Minister Gives Birth to Latest Power Baby

Madeline Holler — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:38:00 GMT

Sure, I follow celebrity pregnancies as much as the next semi-conscious parent blogger. But truthfully, I'm way more obsessed with pregnant women and mothers in powerful jobs. I think that in the same way startlets stepping forward with their baby bumps has made pregnancy not just tolerable but fashionable, powerful women with buns in the oven will make pregnancy and motherhood in serious, powerful, wheeling-and-dealing type jobs as normal as open-ended expense accounts, billable hours and approval ratings.

With that defensive caveat of my secret little hope and hobby, please allow me to introduce the newest little power baby:

Miquel, son to Carme Chacon, Spain's first female minister of defense. You'll recall, Mama Chacon made a splash shortly after her appointment to the top military job when she reviewed the troops in a nice, billowy smocked maternity blouse and fabulous slacks.

There was some outcry in the country over her appointment and "condition." And criticism of her response to the outcry -- she took off for Afghanistan and elsewhere late in her pregnancy. But who cares. Powerful woman, happened to be pregnant, eventually became a mom. See No. 20 in Babble's list of reasons to have a baby, now.

Who is your favorite pregnant and/or post-partum CEO?

Photo: IHT

Governor Populates Alaska (By One More)

Madeline Holler — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:26:00 GMT

OK, that was fast. We just found out about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's pregnancy, and now she's already given birth!

About a month before her due date -- and while at a governors convention in Texas -- she went into labor. She headed right back to Alaska (!!!) and gave birth to a 6 pound 2 ounce little boy, Trig Paxson Van Palin. (Are we liking that name? Please comment.) Incidentally, Palin rhymes with Halen, as in Van Halen.

About the name from AP:

The name Trig is a Norse word meaning "true" and "brave victory," Leighow said. Paxson is an area of Alaska that both Palin and her husband, Todd, feel is "one of the most beautiful spots in Alaska," she added.

Here's the rundown of her other kids (and their names. "Trig" isn't a huge depature for the Palins.): a son, Track, 18, and three daughters, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13 and Piper, 7.

Gov. Palin is 44 years old and Trig is her fifth child. In her statement to the public, she said that Trig, while healthy and doing well, will have special needs.

From AP:

"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives."

Palin returned to work the day after giving birth to her youngest daughter, and she expects to be signing bills soon again.

Alaskan Governor Preggo Too!

Madeline Holler — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:33:00 GMT

While looking into the much talked about pregnancy of Spain's newly appointed Minister of Defense, I came across this news (how did we miss it?!!!). Alaska's governor, Sarah Palin, sometimes described as quite a MILF, is also pregnant ... really pregnant ... like more than eight months pregnant. She's due in mid-May.

This will be the fifth child for the popular 44-year-old Republican and her husband, on leave from his job at BP.

She said she doesn't think having a baby will get in the way of her job.

From FOX News:

She said her work as Wasilla mayor had only a brief interruption when she had her youngest daughter, Piper, six years ago.

"I had Piper on a Monday and I was back to work on a Tuesday," Palin said. "I even brought her to work with me."
Palin will be the second governor in American history to give birth while leading her state. Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift was the first, giving birth to twins in 2001.

Photo: juneauempire.com

Spain's Preggo Defense Minister

Madeline Holler — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:01:00 GMT

Do you ever get the feeling that the whole world is leaving the U.S. behind? Oh, only everyday? Good, then I'm not alone.

Here's what's got me all in a knot today: Spain's Minister of Defense is seven months pregant -- and, in general, that's pretty OK with the country (if not somewhat surprising).

Carmen Chacon, 37 (God, I know ... what am I doing with my life?), was recently appointed defense minister, adding her to socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's cabinet, which, in his second term, now includes more women than men.

Sure, some in the conservative military are like, "what the hell? A pregnant woman?!!!" Others see her as a symbol not only of the Socialist Party's ideal of gender equality but also of a more humanitarian armed forces. True, Chacon lacks military training. But she's a leader in a country where half the citizens want to pull out of Afghanistan and put the military to work on humanitarian missions.

Here are a few other mind-boggling (for this weary American) changes the prime minister has made:

In his first term, he passed a sweeping law against domestic violence, legalized gay marriage, eased divorce laws, and required political parties to practice gender parity. He also appointed equal numbers of men and women to cabinet positions, and named María Teresa Fernández de la Vega as his deputy prime minister.

Now the big question is whether Chacon will take the full 16 weeks (here's the math: FOUR MONTHS) of maternity paid (!!!!) leave guaranteed her by national law. Most think it's doubtful, but that her situation now highlights the need to up paternity leave, which is now only (only!) 15 days for men.

Photo: Time.com

Game Over! This Guy Locks Up Asshole Of The Century Award

Amy S.F. Lutz — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:04:00 GMT

Remember the geezer who sued the eight-year-old boy after a minor skiing accident? Well, compared to Tomas Delgado of Spain, that ornery Pennsylvanian is a complete amateur.

Delgado is suing the family of seventeen-year-old Enaitz Iriondo for damage done to his Audi A8 - damage done when Delgado's car smashed at 100 mph into Iriondo's bicycle. Iriondo was killed instantly.

Although Delgado was traveling at almost twice the 55 mph speed limit, a court split the blame for the accident between both parties, as Iriondo was wearing neither reflective clothing nor a helmet. Delgado's insurance company coughed up less then $50,000 for Iriondo's parents, and, I'm assuming, no part of the almost $30,000 in repairs and rental costs Delgado had to pay to get his car back on the road. So it makes sense for him to go after the family, seeing as they have fifty grand burning a hole in their pockets and everything.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When, oh when, will the pathetic greed, the absolute lack of compassion, the stunning mean-spiritedness of some of the people on this planet cease to surprise me?

67-Year-Old Mom of Toddler Twins Fights For Her Life

Madeline Holler — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:36:00 GMT

Remember last year when that 66-year-old unmarried Spanish woman gave birth to twin boys and became the world’s oldest mother? And a lot of people were outraged or disgusted or both? She’s too old! What kind of life can she give these boys! They’ll be orphaned before they’re out of diapers!

Well. Bad news.

She has cancer.

Now, Mama Carmen is not all up in arms. She was diagnosed when her sons were four months old. She’s getting treatments, believes she’ll survive it, thinks her cancer is “fashionable” (?!) right now. And those boys that everyone was worried about? Apparently her brother and her nephew and the kids’ godfather are not only on stand-by if the worst-case scenario were to come true, but they’re also helping her out now and have been since she came home from the hospital with the little squealers.

Her battle with cancer was revealed on a Spanish talk show, and audience members were still angry with the never-married woman for undergoing IVF in the U.S. and coming back pregnant. Some called her selfish and irresponsible, as experts did when she gave birth seven days before she turned 67 years old.

The woman’s a fighter, you have to give her that. She says she had always wanted to be a mother, but never married and gave much of her life over to working retail and taking care of her mother, who died at the age of 101. Once retired and free, Carmen decided to make her move, with or without a husband, with or without functioning ovaries. After Spanish doctors told her she was too old to undergo fertility treatments, she sold her apartment in Spain, cooked up some fake documents and came to the U.S. posing as a 55-year-old.

A fertility doctor in L.A. first reversed the menopause she had undergone 18 years before. Then implanted the donor egg of a brunette that had been fertilized by the sperm of a blond-haired, blue-eyed Italian-American’s sperm.

The results, as we all know, where 3.5-pounders Cristian and Pau and a whole lot of hand-wringing over grannies getting pregnant.

Photo: Solarpix via Daily Mail

Mexico Loves Its Bullfighters Young and Younger

Madeline Holler — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:36:00 GMT

I know I should hate this story, but really, I think it’s cute. Little 9-year-olds out fighting bulls!

Sure, they’re getting gored like the rest in the profession. But kids are resilient! They'll shake it off! Plus, I bet their parents don’t get accused of being helicopters!

The two boys featured in this New York Times piece are not allowed to fight in their home country, Spain, which has boring old age restrictions on professional sports that involve blood, livestock and the real threat of bodily harm. So the kid-matadors have been swinging their capes and thrilling audiences all over Mexico, where -- don’t you get the impression? -- anything goes.

The featured boys and their contemporaries – there are many, though Mexico doesn’t keep count – are a popular attraction at the bullfights. They are matched with bulls according to their age and experience and, in this case, trained by their fathers who are masters at the sport themselves. The very youngest matadors get matched with year-old bulls.

What do you think? Kind of makes the skate park look tame, doesn’t it? And, do stories like this make you feel like your kids are -- how shall I put this -- boring?