Comments on: Calabrese Proverbs by Month: March

By: Jess Perino

Jess Perino — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:48:12 +0000

My father always said, “What you don’t have in your head, you make up for in your heels.” Meaning that people should plan ahead to save trips–this was reflective a very working-man, common sense, straight-forward approach.
He would have loved, “You want me to believe the donkey climbed the cherry tree.”
He had some pretty strong feelings (and words) about the rich, about waste vs. generosity, working hard and about falsity/mendacity in general.
I would love to hear more.

Thanks for commenting Jess! You remind me I have to post some more soon

By: Valentino Cerminara

Valentino Cerminara — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:40:34 +0000

Hi,
I left calabria at 6 years of age [to move to Australia...48 years ago ] so the spelling will not be right but here goes…my dad says “Voi fa credire ca il chucho anchana il cheraso” ……or translated “You want me to believe the donkey climbed the cherry tree”….or more to the point I think you are talking rubbish….or BS.
I will try the fava spread recipe later this week.
Thanks.

Gotcha Valentino! That *is* a great one

By: Jenny Woolf

Jenny Woolf — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:15:20 +0000

March is always a crazy month in England too. It’s sometimes called “Mad March”

Yes! Perfect for a Mad Hatter

.-= Jenny Woolf´s last blog ..And what about this for a Cheshire Cat – Croft on Tees =-.

By: nuccia

nuccia — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:55:35 +0000

“Marzu è pacchiu” has always been one of my mother’s favourite sayings. Must remember to call her tomorrow!

Yes Nuccia, call! Thanks for coming by

By: Caffettiera

Caffettiera — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:03:06 +0000

Ugh! Calabrese is sooo difficult. I don’t understand a thing, even though my man grew up there. More than proverbs, we use a lot of insults. I may be partial there, but nothing comes as near as being offensive and full of creativity as an Italian insult, and some of the best in my opinion do come from Calabria – unfortunately, nothing that I can share with any anti spam filter

However there is a sweet story related to dialect I have to tell – we have a very dear friend, who comes from Argentina, but whose grandparents came from Calabria. He does understand Italian but he does not speak it very well, though, weirdly enough, he asked my man about some expressions he remembers from his granma .. pure calabrese! so funny!

Hahaha…I know *exactly* where you’re coming from Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here!

.-= Caffettiera´s last blog ..Breakfast time =-.

By: Michael Kovnick

Michael Kovnick — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:06:26 +0000

How true! Actually, I did spend a few months down there in Gioiosa Ionica, but the only Calabrese that stuck with me was that to call a person, you must cut the name down to the first vowel and attach an ‘O’ at the beginning. As such, to call me over, one would say ” O’Mai “. Then I settled in Alto Lazio where I was simply ” Maicol ”

Haha, ogni tanto sono “Miscela”

.-= Michael Kovnick´s last blog ..In Search of the Perfect Espresso =-.

By: Michael Kovnick

Michael Kovnick — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:39:54 +0000

25 years in and out of Italy (Alto Lazio), and you would think I would understand a at least a little Calabrese …. man non ho capito per niente!

Oh it’s a whole other world down here, Michael Thanks for coming by!

.-= Michael Kovnick´s last blog ..In Search of the Perfect Espresso =-.

By: Milanese Masala

Milanese Masala — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:38:21 +0000

My husband has been speaking more Milanese dialect in the house now that we have kids. Some of his favourites are food-related, like "O te mangiet la minestra o te saltet la finestra" which is the translation of the Italian "O mangi la minestra o salti la finestra" (Either you eat this or nothing at all) or the short but effective "Mangia e tas!" (shut up and eat!). Haha, I've heard the window one here, but never anything in Milanese dialect...interesting! .-= Milanese Masala´s last blog ..Sorry, eh! =-.

By: Frances

Frances — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:52:54 +0000

Sometimes a visit to your blog is like a visit to Grandma’s house.
Today is one of those visits.
Enjoyed your post and all the comments.
Ciao bella.

So wonderful to know that, Frances; thank you

.-= Frances´s last blog ..a mosaic about me =-.

By: Melissa Muldoon

Melissa Muldoon — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:31:46 +0000

Ciao! una delle mie espressioni preferite e’ “Cadere dal pero” che significa di essere molto stupito, molto sorpreso. Immagino che sia simile a “You could have knocked me over with a feather”.

One of my favorite expressions is: “To fall out of a pear tree” that means to be very surprised. I guess is it similar to “you could have knocked me over with a feather.

Un’altra che mi piace: “La fortuna e’ cieca, ma la sfiga ci vede benissimo” Good luck is blind, but bad luck sees very well”

Magari stamattina la mia fortuna cambiera’ con la prima tazza di caffe – forte! Ti auguro una buona giornata! Melissa

Wonderful sayings, Melissa! Thank you for stopping by and sharing Buona giornata anche a te!

.-= Melissa Muldoon´s last blog ..• la malafemmena ritorna a Capri =-.