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Category Archives: culture
Feast of the Seven Fishes
We spent Christmas in Portland with my family this year, but we still celebrated the Italian-American Christmas Eve feast, La Vigilia, or the feast of the seven fishes. It’s not certain where this tradition arose, but fish is symbolic in … Continue reading
Posted in America, culture, food, Italians, Italy
Tagged baccala, Catholicism, Christmas Eve, culture, Feast of the Seven Fishes, Italian-American, Italians, Italy, New Jersey, Vigilia
4 Comments
The good witch visits again
Felice Anno Nuovo! I’ve been lax in my entries lately due to holidays and work, but it’s 2011 and a new year to write. Yesterday was the Epiphany, which celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings bearing gifts to Jesus, … Continue reading
L’ora dell’aperitivo
Ah, the aperitivo hour in Italy, like happy hour in the U.S. but so much better. I love bitters and Italy is full of bitter aperitif options: Aperol is a spritzer favorite in Italy and is very refreshing, combining the … Continue reading
The power of wind
Italians like to talk about wind. Many Italians (the older generation in particular) think that too much air can be unhealthy and can cause mal di gola (a sore throat) or cervicale (cervical syndrome, which affects the neck). I’ve often … Continue reading
Grazie!
Yesterday, I received the nice surprise of having my post on “the culture of driving” featured in WordPress.com’s Freshly Pressed section. I was a little overwhelmed with the sudden spike in traffic, but it was nice to see. I wanted … Continue reading
The culture of driving
Something I appreciate about Italian drivers is that they rarely honk their horns. In America, drivers honk anytime someone is going too slow, or pulls out in front of them, or when they’re stuck in traffic (as if that will … Continue reading
Posted in culture, driving, Italians, Italy
Tagged cars, centro storico, Cinquecento, culture, driving, Fiat, Italy, motorini, SUV
79 Comments
Buon onomastico
September 29 is the feast day for St. Michael the Archangel—my husband’s “name day” or onomastico, in Italian. In Italy, people treat their onomastico as a second birthday celebration which is pretty cool. St. Laura’s feast day is October 19 … Continue reading
Posted in cappuccinos, culture, Italians, Italy
Tagged American, birthday, cafe, cappuccinos, Catholic, espresso, feast day, onomastico, panetteria, Pesaro, religion, St. Michael
1 Comment
Buon Ferragosto!
August 15 marks Ferragosto—an Italian holiday that the Catholic Church celebrates to commemorate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In fact, the tradition goes back even further, to ancient Roman times. First proclaimed by the Emperor Augustus in 18 BC, … Continue reading
Posted in culture, food, Italy
Tagged August, August 15, Augustus, Catholic Church, Ferragosto, festa, Festa del Duca, holiday, licorice, Renaissance, Roman, Urbino
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Pass the olive oil and cheese, please
Alex isn’t eating solid foods yet, but that introduction is only a few weeks away. I see how he stares at my pasta during dinner! So, I was reviewing the food chart our pediatrician gave us earlier this month and … Continue reading