by Dianne Hales | Jan 27, 2021 | Books, books on Italy, Carnevale, culture, history, Italian folklore, Italian language, Italy, Language, Religion, saints, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Not many people have a classic comedy dedicated to their birthday. I do—although that’s far from the second of February’s only claim to fame. This date may always signify Groundhog Day to fans of Bill Murray and the shadow-fearing furry creature who put the...
by Dianne Hales | Jan 19, 2021 | Books, books on Italy, Dante, food, Food and Drink, Italian language, Italy, Language, learning Italian, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
As we celebrate this Anno Dantesco (Year of Dante), I’m reminded of a special pleasure that the poet shared with his countrymen: a passion for the local bread. In his epic Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri, banished from Florence for political reasons, bemoaned...
by Dianne Hales | Dec 29, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, food, Food and Drink, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, Roman history, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
In ancient times, the new year began in the Spring. In 153 B.C., the Romans moved the start of a new year to January 1 and dedicated the first month to Janus, the two-faced god who looks back toward the old year and ahead toward the new one. For six days, Romans...
by Dianne Hales | Nov 24, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, Leonardo da Vinci, Sayings and expressions, Thanksgiving, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Italians don’t observe the all-American holiday of Thanksgiving (la festa del ringraziamento). There are Italian words but no cultural equivalents for the day when the Pilgrim fathers and the American natives came together to celebrate the harvest in the New World....
by Dianne Hales | Nov 3, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, food, Food and Drink, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, learning Italian, Religion, Roman history, saints, Travel, Uncategorized, Web/Tech, Weblogs, wine
The warm days of early November –- known as Indian summer in the United States –- are called l’estate di San Martino (the summer of St. Martin) in Italy. Wine producers celebrate the saint’s feast on November 11 by uncorking the vino novello (new wine) from the...
