by Dianne Hales | Jan 4, 2022 | books on Italy, culture, Epiphany, history, Italian, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Religion, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Uncategorized, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Long after many Americans have taken down their Christmas trees and packed away the decorations, Italians continue to celebrate. The final feast is l’Epifania, on January 6, which commemorates the arrival of i re magi, the three kings who followed the bright Christmas...
by Dianne Hales | Dec 28, 2021 | books on Italy, Food and Drink, history, Italian, Italian folklore, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Language, Religion, 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 | Dec 21, 2021 | books on Italy, Christmas in Italy, creche, food, Food and Drink, Italian, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Religion, Rome, saints, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Most families in Italy begin celebrating il Natale on the evening of December 24 (la vigilia di Natale) with a big dinner. Because Christmas Eve is a vigilia di magro (a day of abstinence on which the Catholic Church prohibits the consumption of meat), the centerpiece...
by Dianne Hales | Dec 7, 2021 | Books, books on Italy, Christmas in Italy, food, history, Italian, Italian folklore, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Language, Religion, saints, Sayings and expressions, Sicily, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
In the dark of December parts of Italy light up to celebrate a saint whose name derives from the Latin lux or lucis for light (luce in Italian). Lucia was a young girl who lived in Siracusa on the island of Sicily in the third century. According to various legends,...
by Dianne Hales | Nov 23, 2021 | books on Italy, culture, Italian, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Language, learning Italian, Sayings and expressions, Thanksgiving, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
There is an Italian name — la Festa del Ringraziamento — but no cultural equivalent for the day when the Pilgrim fathers (padri pellegrini) and the American native people came together to celebrate the harvest in the New World. Although turkey...
