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 | Nov 2, 2021 | Books, books on Italy, culture, history, Italian, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Language, love in Italy, Religion, saints, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Venice, Web/Tech, Weblogs, wine
Long ago on a cold and rainy November 11, a former Roman soldier named Martino came across a man stumbling and shivering on the road. Although he wanted to help, Martino had no money or blanket to offer. And so he took out his sword, slashed his cloak and gave half to...
by Dianne Hales | Oct 19, 2021 | Books, books on Italy, culture, history, Italian, Italian folklore, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Language, learning Italian, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
For centuries the Italian peninsula was a patchwork of hundreds of dialects, often as different from one another as French from Spanish or English from Italian. Sailors from Genoa couldn’t understand—or be understood by—merchants from Venice or farmers from Friuli. ...
by Dianne Hales | Oct 12, 2021 | books on Italy, Dante, Florence, history, Italian, Italian language, Italian words and expressions, Italy, Language, learning Italian, Travel, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
This year the Settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo (week of the Italian language in the world), from October 18 to 23, celebrates “Dante, l’Italiano.“ It is a fitting tribute during the 700th commemoration of the poet’s death in 1321. Born in Florence in...
by Dianne Hales | Oct 5, 2021 | art, art history, Books, books on Italy, history, Italian, Italian American, Italian language, ItalianAmerican heritage, Italy, Language, Leonardo da Vinci, literature, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Every October the United States celebrates Italy’s heritage—with good reason. More than a mere country, Italy embodies a culture that has transformed art and architecture, language and music, food and fashion. Western civilization would surely have sprouted...
