Girls from the Santa Luzia Troop perform a song to celebrate Carnaval at the Portuguese Scout hut in the city of Lajes, Feb.1, 2013. The Portuguese celebrate Carnaval with singing, dancing, performing skits and eating traditional food. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Horner)
Boys and girls from both troops gather together to participate in the Lajes Field Girl Scouts chant, in which the children hold hands and twist around and say ‘girl scouts out,’ at the Portuguese Scout hut in the city of Lajes, Feb.1, 2013. The Lajes Field Girl Scouts were invited to participate in the Carnaval festivities orchestrated by the Santa Luzia Troop. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Horner)
Audrey Headrick, daughter of Tech Sgt. Ryan Headrick, 65th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, watches as the girls from the Santa Luzia Troop 631 perform a skit to celebrate Carnaval, at the Portuguese Scout hut in the city of Lajes, Feb.1, 2013. The Lajes Field Girl Scouts were invited to participate in the Carnaval festivities orchestrated by the Santa Luzia Troop. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Horner)
Lajes Field Girl Scouts watch as children from Santa Luzia Troop 631 perform a skit to celebrate Carnaval, at the Portuguese Scout hut in the city of Lajes, Feb.1, 2013. The Portuguese celebrate Carnaval with singing, dancing, performing skits and eating traditional food. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Horner)
by Staff Sgt Erica Horner
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office
2/12/2013 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- The Lajes Field Girl Scouts experienced a piece of Portuguese tradition by attending a Carnaval celebration held by the Santa Luzia Troop 631 on Feb. 1.
Carnaval is a Portuguese tradition that involves dancing, singing, performing skits and eating traditional food. It's also a chance to make light of real issues affecting the world.
"We get together and make some music and make jokes about politics, public health and anything else," said Cidalia Dias, Santa Luzia Troop leader. "Everything is a motive to put on a dance or a skit."
According to Dias, a common phrase during Carnaval is 'Carnaval ninguem leva a mal,' which translates to 'you can say whatever you want because it's Carnaval and no one will be offended.'
While the Carnaval tradition primarily involves adults, the Santa Luzia Troop, comprised of 30 girls and boys, created a show of their own and extended the invite to the Lajes Field Girl Scouts.
"The girls and I felt like it was an honor for the troop to be invited to the Portuguese Carnaval party," said Susan Neighbors Headrick, wife of Tech Sgt. Ryan Headrick, 65th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller. "Even though everything was performed in Portuguese, they acted it out in a way that most of us could understand."
The Santa Luzia Troop filled the night with many exciting events for the scouts.
"First there was a musical performance, and then there was a skit performed by the Santa Luzia troop," said Megan Ramage-White, Lajes Field Girl Scouts troop leader. "After the group dancing, we all had lots of food."
Being overseas provides a unique experience for the Girl Scouts. It allows them to immerse themselves into another culture.
"What other kids are reading about, our girls get to actually experience," said Ramage-White. "No one speaks the same language but here they are trying to communicate with one another. I hope that it is teaching our girls something about being a citizen of the world and that we are all in this together."
Headrick said that all the girls enjoyed seeing the beautiful, traditional Portuguese costumes and watching their Portuguese friends play musical instruments.
"I would love to thank the Portuguese troop for inviting us and for their warm hospitality," said Headrick. "This is our first PCS overseas and we are having a great time. My girls are very lucky to be able to experience the Portuguese culture."
Carnaval started on Feb. 9 and will end Feb. 12 at midnight.
For more information on the Lajes Field Girl Scouts or to become a member, contact Maria David at terceiragirlscouts@usagso-na.org.
