On International Women’s Day, seven Canadian women in Portugal celebrated the new $10 banknote design, featuring civil rights champion Viola Desmond on the front and the Museum on the back. Pam Harrison met with her friends to usher in a new chapter in Canadian history. They gathered with their old $10 bills and as the reveal of the new banknote design was happening in Halifax, webcast around the world, they tossed their bills to the sky.

“A great day for women, and wonderful recognition for the Desmond family to know their beloved sister and aunt made positive change possible,” said Harrison, who is a Museum member.

Here are pictures from Easter in Portugal. They decorate the streets (4,000 Steps on my Fitbit) and this is the parade route from the church. Several families go to the fields and collect flowers in the moon light and come sunrise they decorate the streets with very special designs. It really is something to see.

At the church the men and boys gather with beautiful flower arrangements on broom sticks. They will carry them through the streets and walk over the flowers. One man will shout in Portuguese CHRIST HAS RISEN and everyone responds- alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. This will last until the parade finishes (approximately 2 Hours). They also hoist the Flower Torches high in the air while they are shouting.

They carry the cross, the lamb, the statue of Mary, and it finishes with a band. It appears like there may be a little competition for the group with the most decorated torches. Some of them were very impressive. I was told that there may be a family group, a group from work, maybe a soccer team, etc.

The original Torches used to have candles and then was a shortage of wax so the started just using flowers.