One of the Spanish songs we sing in class this season, “Ay Carmela,” takes us back to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The war was an epic battle between the Republicans, composed of a spectrum of Spaniards from moderates to leftists to far leftists, including Anarchists, and the Nationalists – conservatives in coalition with Fascists. After three years of intense fighting the Nationalists emerged victorious, thrusting their leading General, Francisco Franco, into power. Franco and the Fascists ruled Spain until 1975. “Ay Carmela” references one of the main battles of the war and oozes passion and optimism:
“But their bombs can do nothing, Rumba la rumba la rumba la!
Where there is still heart left! Ay Carmela, ay Carmela!
Even as we fight, Rumba la rumba la rumba la!
We promise to resist them! Ay Carmela, ay Carmela!”
Sadly, Spain had to resist for 35 years after the war to achieve freedom.
We are revising the AllAroundThisWorld.com site — the information you’re seeking may still be here, but a lot of links are broken and details may be out of date. We are currently using a new (better!) site — ExploreEverywhere.com — to tell you all about our class offerings, our “pen pal” program and how to become one of our teachers, and will eventually be moving all the goodies from here over to there. So, GO TO THE NEW SITE!
