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 | Dec 1, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, Christmas in Italy, creche, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, Nativity scene, Religion, saints, Sicily, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Italy’s Christmas season begins with the celebration of San Nicola on December 6 and Santa Lucia on December 13. The son of a wealthy Christian family, Nicola grew up in a Greek-speaking colony of the Roman Empire, now part of Turkey, and became bishop of the city of...
by Dianne Hales | Nov 17, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, culture, Italian language, Italian movies, Italy, Naples, Sophia Loren, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs, women
The Life Ahead, a Netflix movie starring Sophia Loren and directed by her son Edoardo Ponti, marks the return to the screen of a woman with an unquenchable passion for life—and for acting. Born near Naples in 1934, Sofia Scicolone grew up amid Allied bombings that...
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...
by Dianne Hales | Oct 26, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, culture, Florence, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, Religion, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs, worldwarII
With so many lives lost in the global coronavirus pandemic over the last year, il giorno dei morti (the day of the dead) on November 2 takes on even greater significance. In the Catholic church, All Souls Day commemorates all who have died. When I’ve been in...
