Floral Mishap
Until recently, when visiting the florist to compose a bouquet, it never occurred to me to choose a carnation. This flower was summed up for me by the bad reputation attached to it in the world of theater. In the 19th century, actors and actresses performed on a per diem basis, renewed weekly by the director… or not. The custom was that, at the end of the performance, the director would have a bouquet of roses delivered to the actresses whose contracts were maintained. But to kindly signal their dismissal, those whose performance had not convinced received carnations, much less expensive flowers.
On April 25, 2022 – we had been in Lisbon for about five months – our nanny rang our doorbell, cheerfully handing me a red carnation. Although skeptical, I could not bring myself to interpret this gesture as an offense. No, it was not a disguised way of telling me that it would have been better for me to resign from my role as a mother or homemaker. Having probably sensed my hesitation, our nanny explained to us in a few words the symbolism of the red carnation in the history of Portugal.
This year, the April festivities take on greater expression and significance, with the commemoration, in the streets and in various cultural spaces, of the fifty years of the Carnation Revolution which, on April 25, 1974, put an end to 48 years of dictatorship. It is more relevant than ever to instill the notion of freedom in the younger generations. How? Through proposals adapted to each age group.
Proposals adapted to each age group
M/12
For audiences aged 12 and up, Teatro Independente de Oeiras offers until June 2, 2024, the musical comedy “25 de Abril – Abril Mudanças 1000,” a show between documentary and fiction that outlines the history of the Revolution. Welcome to April 25, 1974! A day in the life of a country, a day in the life of João, a boy awake at dawn whose eyes recorded the events. A strong message that reminds us that the only attitude to adopt in the face of barriers that restrict democracy and our freedoms, however thin they may be, is to refuse them by destroying them!
M/10
LU.CA – Teatro Luís de Camões includes in its April programming (06/13/20 and 27) “Sintonizar Abril com as antenas no ar,” a “Frequency workshop” for children aged 10 and up aimed at exploring individual discourse, what each one thinks, and helping to verbalize it. Freedom in Portugal was broadcasted over the radio waves. Well, let’s listen and tell at the microphone what it represents for us. Experienced journalists, Sandy Gageiro (radio) and Marina Almeida (press), will try to guide young participants in the personal discovery of their voice, the sounds, and the news that surround them.
M/6
For fifty years, carnations have been not only flowers, but also ideas of freedom, unity, and justice. And what if we celebrated the 50th anniversary of April 25th by covering the Castelo de São Jorge with carnations?! On April 14, 21, 25, and 28, during the “Fazer do Castelo abril” workshop, children aged 6 and up will learn to make a paper carnation, and then, with the help of their parents, will be invited to place their flower accompanied by a message of freedom within the castle grounds.
M/5
On April 27, let’s celebrate the 50th anniversary of April 25th at the Almada Museum – Casa da Cidade with the event “Mural da Liberdade,” a creative exercise where parents and children aged 5 and up will illustrate the meaning of a very precious word: Freedom! More than a workshop, an invitation to reflection and sharing in a collective construction on decorative paper… within a place where desires and differences are respected. Here, our weapons of freedom are paints and brushes to add color to our interventions!
General audience
From April 25 to 28, the Pavilhão Leões de Porto Salvo will host a new edition of Oeiras BRInCKa, the largest LEGO construction exhibition in Portugal. This year, the festival will mark the 50th anniversary of April 25th with a giant interactive LEGO® construction, in a mosaic of over 100,000 pieces – built by visitors throughout the event – representing the symbol of April 25th: a gigantic carnation! With over 6 million pieces, you can see hundreds of original creations, including a monumental city of over 70m2 with details that will delight the public. Not to be missed for the little ones, the Playzones where they can build with the thousands of available pieces, in addition to participating in contests to win LEGO prizes.
Babies (from 6 months old)
On April 14, the musical workshop “Viva a Liberdade – Gosto de Ti Quase Sempre,” offered by Flauta Mágica at Árvore dos Bebés (Loures), will allow babies to dive into the deep connection between emotions and music. In “Gosto de Ti Quase Sempre,” Anna Llenas draws characters faced with universal dilemmas, each with their own struggles and victories. The story, interpreted to the sound of music and told by the parents themselves, reveals the nuances of the emotions described in the book. Each note, each chord, each tonal variation echoes the moments of love, loss, reconciliation, and self-awareness that punctuate the characters’ journey. Thus, much more than a simple story, “Gosto de Ti Quase Sempre” is a sensory experience that reminds us of the beauty and complexity of being human, as well as the powerful emotional language that music offers us to find and express our true essence, our FREEDOM to BE!
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