A Passionate Life

Discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary

Latest news

Christmas celebrations Italian style

Christmas table setting

My first christmas in Italy and what a celebration! In fact, two days of it. Christmas eve  (vigilia di Natale) with my dear friend Emi and her wonderful family, including i nonni. Christmas day  (il giorno di Natale) with my other special friends Rosa and Roberto and their families.

After a few days of pre-christmas frenzied activity—the Italians are as crazy as we are when it comes to food preparation, gift buying and last minute catching up to wish each other for the festive season—it’s all about the food… and family… and gifts.

A typical christmas menu

Antipasti

Served with different types of bread and foccacia

  • carciofi  artichokes
  • melanzane picante & ripieni eggplant
  • peperoncini capsicum
  • insalata russa potato salad, including finely chopped vegetables, boiled eggs and mayonnaise
  • acchiughe anchovies
  • frittelle  di baccala battered and fried fish

Primi piatti

gnocchi al pesto
Gnocchi al pesto
  • i pansotti stuffed pasta
  • i ravioli al tocco
  • le lasagne al pesto
  • i gnocchi al pesto

Secondi

Stoccafisso
Stoccafisso – loving made by Rosa
  • la carne arrosto roasted lamb or beef
  • stoccafisso alla Genovese stew made with stockfish or cod

I  dolci

Panettone Genovese
Panettone Genovese
Meringa con crema allo zabaione
Meringa con crema alla zabaione
  • panettone Genovese delicious christmas cake baked with dried fruit
  • meringa con crema alla zabaione a featherlight meringue with a creamy filling made with eggs and marsala

I confess that over the two days I ate everything on the menu and more, for research purposes (well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!).

Buon appetito! 

Colleen

Italian celebrations – Ferragosto

[dropcap size=dropcap]I[/dropcap]talians love celebrations. At any time of the year you can experience a sagra – a festival dedicated to a particular local food; truffles, polenta, fish… or a saint’s day when special dishes are eaten, or the well known celebrations like the Venice Carnevale or the Palio in Siena. On 15 August it’s Ferragosto, from the latin feriae Augusti (Augustus’ rest).

Ferragosto is an Italian tradition dating back to the year 18BC when Emperor Augustus  declared it the beginning of festivities to mark the the end of the harvest season. It was a time of rest and celebrations which included the animals that laboured during the harvest.

Later, the church proclaimed it a religious holiday, commemorating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And still later, Mussolini declared 15 August a national holiday with discounted train travel (called the ‘people’s trains of Ferragosto’) so that Italians could visit different parts of the country.

The festive tradition continues today with some shops and businesses closing not just for the day  — Chiuso per ferie — but for their annual vacation. Typically, it’s the hottest time of year and many Italians begin their annual holidays around this date.  On the 15th, they head to the beach or get together with friends and family.

If you’re in Italy, you’ll find celebrations in many places, with food, music and parades. There is the Festa del mare (festival of the sea) in Diano Marina, Ligura which ends with fireworks in the evening. Rome has the Gran Ballo di Ferragosto  which are live dance performances in the piazze and in Montepulciano there is an historical pageant and games. Whatever takes your fancy, you’ll find a celebration to suit you somewhere in Italy.

Pranzo di FerragostoIf you’re like me and you’re not in Italy now, you might like to get into the spirit of Ferragosto with the charming Italian film Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid August Lunch). It’s a bittersweet story about Gianni, a middle-aged man who lives with his demanding 93 year old mother. Gianni is a bit of a no-hoper who owes money around town and likes to have a drink. As a consequence of his debts, Gianni finds himself spending Ferragosto taking care of four demanding  women who have little in common. Humorous and sweet, the film also gives you an insight into the respect that Italians have for their older relatives.

 

Food of course is a big part of any Italian celebration. Grigliati (barbecues) are popular, and delicious summer fruits and vegetables as well as pasta are eaten. Chilled slices of watermelon (cocomero or anguria) is a favourite and you will find many roadside stalls selling this delicious taste of summer.

Here’s a great recipe for watermelon sorbet.

watermelon sorbet
Watermelon sorbet – Sorbetto all’anguria

http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Sorbetto-all-anguria.html

Whatever you’re doing today, have a happy holiday!

Buon Ferragosto!  …Isabella

PS: Thanks to Nicolette for the featured graphic