Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category
La Befana: The Italian Epiphany Witch
Today marks the end of the holidays in Italy as La Befana arrived last night. You don’t know La Befana? Read more about her here in my post from last year at this time.
As always, I’m sad to have to take down all the Christmas decorations; the house just feels a bit more empty, a bit more somber.
I suppose that’s not such a bad thing as it’s time to get down to the business of starting this new year and focus is always a good thing.
Friends, I *have* been focusing. Although it is the Italian tradition to return to work tomorrow, I’ve been quite busy the past few days–and perhaps that’s making you feel a bit neglected here.
One of the main things I’ve been working on, though, is a brand new look and home for this here blog, and I think you’re going to like what I’ve come up with.
But you’ll have to wait just a bit longer.
In the meantime I’ve had tons of positive energy from the blogosphere to keep me going, and I’ll tell you all about it soon.
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!
Buon Anno!
Wishing everyone . . .
May 2008 be your best year yet!
And remember, don’t eat chicken today
or you’ll be scratching (for money) all year . . .
pork (to live high on the hog) and lentils (“coins” to bring you money)
are the way to go!
warmest holiday wishes
May your holidays be full of love,
and quiet moments to reflect on all that is good in the world.
Wishing you all the very best this holiday season–
why not start with a little Harry Connick Jr.’s When My Heart Finds Christmas?
little boy & tiger wishes
I’ve decided to start my own Christmas Eve tradition here on the blog, and it involves my very favorite Christmas Eve poem.
I know a lot of people will be reciting ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas tonight, but a few years ago I found myself enchanted by some lesser-known holiday verses that warm my heart each and every year.
For the handful of readers that were with me last year at this time, you already know about “Christmas Eve” by Bill Watterson, creator of the Calvin & Hobbes comic strip.
This year I’ve managed to find a scan of the original page with the drawing to go with it:
Gah! I just love it!
If you can’t read that, here’s the text:
Christmas Eve
On window panes, the icy frost
Leaves feathered patterns, crissed & crossed,
But in our house the Christmas tree
Is decorated festively
With tiny dots of colored light
That cozy up this winter night.
Christmas songs, familiar, slow,
Play softly on the radio.
Pops and hisses from the fire
Whistle with the bells and choir.
My tiger is now fast asleep
On his back and dreaming deep.
When the fire makes him hot,
He turns to warm whatever’s not.
Propped against him on the rug,
I give my friend a gentle hug.
Tomorrow’s what I’m waiting for,
But I can wait a little more.
I hope you’re snuggled up and warm this Christmas Eve too!
Do you have something you read every year at this time?
—————
[tags] calvin & hobbes, christmas eve, poems[/tags]
Weekend o’ Cookies II: Butter Cookies and Michigan Rocks
You’ve now seen four of the six types of cookies I made this holiday season. What? No you haven’t?
Well go here to see the thumbprints (with recipe!), here to see the kolaches, and here to see the chocolate chip and ricotta cookies.
Here are the final two starting with the scene of making the butter cookies:
And here they are after baking:
And, last but certainly not least, Michigan Rocks full of dates and walnuts:
And here’s a tray ready for delivery:
Well really a red plastic plate covered in blue plastic wrap, tied together with a gold bow. It’s easier to see the cookies through the wrap in person by the way.
And now I ask you:
can anything else say “AUGURI!” like a plate of American cookies?
I didn’t think so either.
By the way, if anyone would like recipes for these, just send me an email.
So is everyone ready for Christmas or what?
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
