Catch up on what is happening in Italy and Dream of Italy!

 

Cultural Corner

 In this section we feature some unique aspects of Italian culture, including, Gifts, Italy in Autumn, Christmas in Italy.

Christmas in Italy

Christmas is different in Italy.  For instance, there is the lack of crass commercialism that threatens to swallow up and completely secularize the season.  For instance, instead of writing letters to Santa Claus asking for presents, Italian children write letters to tell their parents how much they love them.  The letter is normally placed under their father's plate and read after Christmas Eve dinner has been finished.  Wow!!

The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas, known as the Novena.  During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.  In some parts of Italy, shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages and play and sing Christmas songs.
A feast is observed 24 hours before Christmas Eve and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panetone features, as well as chocolate.  On Christmas Eve, the dinner is called cenone and is traditionally a dish of eel.

Christmas lunch is often Tortellini in brodo, which is filled pasta parcels in broth.  Cappone (boiled capon) or roasts are also served in Central Italy.  (Capon is a rooster whose reproductive organs have been removed at a young age.)

In Italy, the children wait until Epiphany, January 6th, for their presents.  According to tradition, the presents are delivered by a kind, ugly witch called La Befana on a broomstick.  It was said that she was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus was born, but she was busy and delayed visiting the baby. She therefore missed seeing the Star that guided them to the baby Jesus and lost her way and has been flying around ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case he is there.  She slides down chimneys and fills stockings and shoes with good things for good children and it is said leaves coal for children who are not so good.
 

Gifts

It is traditionally considered bad luck in Italy to receive gifts for a baby before the baby is born.  No baby showers then! Other unwelcome gifts for superstitious people, generally speaking, include handkerchiefs and umbrellas.  Both items relate to unpleasant situations such as colds or crying and bad weather.

If you are going to an Italian friend's place for dinner, don't bring a bottle of wine, as this is considered insulting to the host, who will provide the best wine available for the evening!  Your bringing of wine is interpreted that your host does not have wine of sufficient quality.

If you are giving flowers to someone to express appreciation, do not include lillies, as these are traditionally provided at funerals and would be seen by the receiver as very bad luck.
 

Italy in Autumn

If you are travelling to Italy in the autumn, you will see roasted chestnut festivals in villages and street vendors in the cities.  Often the festival is held when the new harvest wine (il novello) is released.  Roasted chestnuts are called "caldarroste" meaning "hot roasted".

So much to learn!

mmm