4 ELEMENTS

Project logo
Improve the foreign language learning and intercultural competences of adults through e-learning

The project

FOUR ELEMENTS is an initiative called to raise awareness and appreciation of the importance of culture and heritage as well as to train educators working with adult learners who want to improve their skills and competences necessary in today’s EU labour market.

The project will take advantage of the potential of the common European cultural values associated to the 4 elements earth, water, air and fire) to empower adults to improve their digital, foreign language and intercultural competences.

The partnership expects to develop and deliver innovative teaching materials presented in a culturally accessible E-book consisting of European legends and stories – giving visibility to the underlying common EU values and principles, especially adapted to learners with special needs.

To achieved such objectives, partners will develop:

An interactive map: a collection of legends and stories related to earth, water, air and fire, in different EU countries.

Digital Books with national legends and stories related to the four elements.

Methodological recommendations for adult educators.

To find more information, access the Four Elements platform here.

Digital books

The nations of Europe all have rich cultures of myth and folklore which give the different regions their particular individual flavour. Here we have grouped traditional stories from Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain according to the four elements: earth, air, wind and fire.

They are specially adapted to adult learners and can be used to develop language or ICT skills among your students while enhancing intercultural understanding.

Alongside the stories, this digital book contains interactive exercises and is in Easy Read format. All the material in it can be downloaded and printed. Teachers and trainers will find tips and suggestions for how to use it on the Recommendations section of this site.

European partnership

Four Elements is an Erasmus+ KA204 project designed to highlight the importance of culture and heritage at European Union level. It aims to train educators working with adult learners to enable them to acquire the skills and competences, including linguistic and digital skills and competences, required in the European labour market.

The project is coordinated by : CVO EduKempen (Belgium). The partnership also includes DomSpain Consulting (Spain), The Central Library of Võru County (Estonia), Les Apprimeurs (France), Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy), Slovenian Third Age University (Slovenia), MyArtist (Greece).

Erasmus+ project

Erasmus logo The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The Olorda Witches' Palace

LEGEND

Main element: Air

Language of the original: Catalan

To find more information about the legend, access the Four Elements platform here.

The legend says that there were often mists around the Olorda mountain. The wind fed these black mists and spread them slowly from the top to the plain. As the wind made them grow and grow, they began to spat large drops of rain that soon turned into damaging hail and heavy storms that shook the forests, while the hurricane winds tore trees and the rays ravaged the entire region leaving the ground covered with dry and withered leaves. The animals in the yards trembled; the beasts did not dare to leave their burrows and the dogs howled.

The peasant, who lived there, did not know how to alleviate his sadness of seeing his wife and his children go hungry. He prayed, and although his prayers seemed to have no effect, he did not lose faith. One day he observed that the fog was coming out from a well, and he remembered that his grandmother had once explained to him that the witches had their palace there. At once, he realized the cause of his misfortune. He decided to observe the area of ​​the well and saw that the earth moved making a hellish noise. Then the peasant understood that the fog and wind grew to cover the evil spirits and witches that lived there, and one day, the peasant even heard them laughing with terrifying and triumphant laughter.

For this reason, the friars of the convent of Torre Llimassa wanted to find a solution and summoned all the faithful of the region to follow their prayers to the sound of the bell, heading to the top of the mountain. Once on the summit they cursed the mists and nailed a cross to send the witches to the abyss.

The legend says that after this ceremony, neither the fog, nor the wind, nor the storms returned to the mountain.

El palacio de la bruja de Olorda

LEYENDA

Elemento: Aire

Idioma original: Catalán

Para más información sobre la leyenda, accede a la plataforma de 4element aquí.

Era muy habitual la formación de nieblas alrededor del monte de Olorda. El viento alimentaba estas nieblas y se extendían negras y lentas desde la cima hasta la llanura. A medida que el viento las hacía crecer y crecer, estas empezaban a desprender grandes gotas de lluvia que pronto se tornaban en granizo y en fuertes tormentas que hacían estremecer los bosques, mientras los vientos huracanados arrancaban árboles y los rayos asolaban toda la región dejando la tierra cubierta de hojas secas y mustias. Los animales en los patios, temblaban, las fieras no se atrevían a salir de sus madrigueras y los perros aullaban.

El payés que allí vivía, no sabía cómo aliviar su tristeza de ver consumiéndose a su mujer y a sus hijos pasar hambre. Él rezaba, y aunque sus oraciones parecían no tener ningún efecto, él no perdía la fe. Un día observó que la niebla salía de una poza, y él recordó, que su abuela le había explicado una vez que allí tenían su palacio las brujas. En ese mismo momento se dio cuenta de la causa de su infortunio. Decidió observar la zona de la poza y entonces comprobó cómo antes de la niebla, la tierra se movía haciendo un ruido infernal. El payés, entendió quedó convencido de que aquella niebla y viento crecían para cubrir a los malos espíritus y brujas que allí se congregaban, y a los cuales un día, el payés, creyó escuchar riendo con aterradoras y triunfales carcajadas.

Por este motivo, los frailes del convento de Torre Llimassa, quisieron buscar una solución y convocaron a todos los fieles de la comarca a seguir sus rezos al son de la campana, dirigiéndose a la cima del monte. Una vez en la cumbre maldijeron las nieblas y clavaron una cruz para enviar a las brujas al abismo.

Dice la leyenda que después de esta ceremonia, ni la niebla, ni el viento, ni las tormentas volvieron a la montaña.

Jordà, J. M. (2002). La creu del Puig d’Olorda. (PDF file). Materials del Baix Llobregat, Vol. 8, 113-120.