Mary Del Pino is getting ready to resume her Portuguese Cultural classes in Manteca.

She’s back after taking the previous year off.

Starting Thursday (March 27), Del Pino will be offering sessions to those ages 14 and older interested in getting acquainted with their Portuguese ancestry and roots. Included are a history (immigration to the U.S.) and a study of Manteca’s Portuguese community over the years, cultural traditions, and religious and fraternal groups.

Also taught will be language and folk dances with an emphasis of Azorean influences.

Classes are set for the Manteca Senior Center library, 253 Cherry Lane, from 6 to 8 p.m. Nine sessions totaling 18 hours of instruction is being offered.

Cost is $50 – or $60 for non-Manteca residents – and covers the printed curriculum materials, the main course for a planned Portuguese potluck, and Chamarita lessons.

Each of the nine islands of the Azores will be covered during the sessions which run through May 22. Those who miss the first session are welcome to join in at any time during the following cultural classes, Del Pino said.

She’s a credentialed teacher at Manteca Unified and the first editor of the Luso-American Fraternal Magazine.

The nine-week (each island of Azores will be discussed) course schedule is as followed:

•The Portuguese (Corvo) – Who are we and were did we come from?

•The Glorious Year (Faial) – Henry the navigator and exploration.

•How did we get here (Flores) – Waves of immigration! Volcanoes!

•The Portuguese “Festas” (Graciosa) – FESM and MRPS: Our Beliefs.

•Portuguese food (San Jorge) – We eat more “Sopas,” Portuguese potluck. 

• Portuguese dancing (San Miguel) – Chamarita! Let me show you how.

•Portuguese language (Santa Maria) – Learn the “Lingua” for your trip to the Azores.

•Famous Portuguese (Terceira) – You’ll be surprised who they are.

Registration is at Manteca Parks and Recreation, 252 Magnolia Ave.

For more information, call 209.239.8470.