It starts earlier and earlier every year, the hype and commercialism. Christmas stuff and Halloween gore side by side in the stores. Ads, articles, and movies all working to make us think we’re missing out on the perfect Christmas. The search for the perfect celebration can make Christmas a frenzy of stress and rush. The […]
“Merry and bright? With all the economic woes, inflation, and instability around us? A bright and merry Christmas seems unlikely this year. In fact, celebrating at all in the midst of it all seems nearly impossible, let alone trying to make it merry and bright! And forget about Christmas gifts! So this year I have […]
San Martino is celebrated on November 11, the day of his burial in Tours, France. But San Martino also refers to the unseasonably warm weather that Italy usually enjoys in the first half of the month! Which, according to folklore, is due to a good deed performed by this Roman saint. The Story of San […]
Adapting to different cultures is usually difficult and confusing, and quite challenging. Take the standard Italian greeting of a kiss on both cheeks. It’s really not as standard as you might think. Because many people here only touch cheek to cheek while kissing the air. And in many business or formal settings, a kiss on […]
Although often considered a French dish, Italians love their lumache (snails) just as much! And our village is no exception! In our area of Abruzzo, the little town of Scerni is known as the snail-loving village! My husband, a snail lover himself, fits in well with these villagers. Who are known in this area as the sciumacchini […]