January 29, 30, and 31 are generally considered the coldest days of the year here, particularly in northern Italy. These days are also known as the Days of the Blackbird (i Giorni della Merla). This can be traced back to the Italian “Legend of the Blackbird”. Different regions of Italy have their own versions of […]
An elderly neighbor stopped my husband on the street one day. “I need to talk to you,” she said softly, through her toothless grin. “I want to apologize,” she added hanging her head. “For not showing you proper respect. But I didn’t know you were a professor! I’m so sorry!” “Don’t worry about it, Zia (auntie)” he comforted […]
Time seems to fly by, especially as we get older. Since our return to active ministry, the to-do lists get longer, time seems shorter, and some days it’s hard to keep up. I can’t believe February is almost here. That means many people will be keeping an eye out for groundhogs (marmots) peeking out of […]
Autumn in Italy! It’s the season for harvesting the olives — and right in our own garden at that! Ah, autumn in Italy! Olives falling from the trees, grapes ripening on the vines, and chestnuts roasting on open fires! My husband harvests our olives the traditional way. He picks them by hand, one by one. […]
National anthems evoke many thoughts and feelings. They can inspire anything from healthy love of country to overly aggressive patriotism. Music has an extraordinary ability to ignite hearts and passions. And Song of the Italians, the national anthem of Italy, is no exception. Not being Italian, I can’t really say what the The Song of the Italians […]
How do you celebrate Mother’s Day Italian-style? Well, nowhere are mothers celebrated more than they are in Italy. In fact, Mother’s Day seems made for Italian mammas! Many Italians idolize their mothers, and she’s never far from their lips. From the simple phrase Mamma Mia (oh my goodness) to songs that honor and revere her, like the […]