Category Archives: Uncategorized

La Befana, aka a present-delivering old woman on a broom, officially ushers out the Italian Christmas season… read on… This is an exciting nite for many an Italian child, as they will hang stockings before bed tonite in anticipation of … Continue reading →

While here in the U.S. we’re back to work, back to school, the tree’s out to the curb, and the manger’s back in the box… in Italia it ain’t quite over just yet. Back at the presepio, or nativity scene, … Continue reading →

Lentils (Lenticchie) /lehn-tee-keeay/ Lentils are little round flat legumes, often used in soup or stew. Popular Italian tradition has it that since the lentil shape resembles a coin, eating it on New Year’s Eve or Day guarantees good health and … Continue reading →

KEY WORDS The Days: La vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) Natale (Christmas) Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen, Dec. 26th) Capo d’anno (New Year’s Eve) Epifania (Epiphany, 6th Jan.) Greetings: Buon Natale (Merry Christmas) Buone Feste (Happy Holidays) Felice/Prospero Anno Nuovo (Happy/Prosperous … Continue reading →

Italian Christmas Traditions & Practices – A Survey I asked my friends in Italia (Milano, Lombardia Region) the following questions: Generally, what is the tradition on present-giving in Italy? Who gives gifts to whom? Do adults exchange gifts? And when … Continue reading →

Decorations (Decorazioni) /day-cohr-ahts-yohn-ee/ As a rule, Italians do not much decorate their homes for the holidays, except for a nativity scene, and perhaps a Christmas tree, but it will usually be small-ish, possibly a live tree still in the pot, … Continue reading →

Ah at long last! An Italian spell-checker….. free & online! Tho I am pretty good at spelling, I am NOT the world’s best typist… and so as a writer, the spell-checker is one of my favorite tools. I’ve long wished … Continue reading →

18 dicembre 2009 Oggi e` il compleanno di mia sorella Wendy & le voglio augurare una bellissima giornata– Ciao bella, che te la godi fin in fondo… ed altro cent’anni così`!!

“Si Chiama Pietro e torna indietro!” This is a popular and silly idiom/rhyme. What it literally means is “It’s name is Peter (Pietro) and it comes back (torna indietro). It’s a little non-sensical… and is used when you lend something … Continue reading →

Buon giorno! In Class #7 we began prepping for our hands-on cooking tutorial next week. We covered: Italian words for food and cooking Conversations in Italian about Thanksgiving and what we are grateful for The Italian recipe for Spaghetti Aglio, … Continue reading →