Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category
Remembering the Ghost of Christmas Past
I am a loyal reader of Petite Anglaise, and her December 13 post has been resonating with me for days now. Petite is separated from the father of her young child, and in this entry, she admits struggling to make Christmas special for Tadpole, as she calls her daughter.
If you’ve read my 100 things about me, you know that my parents were divorced when I was very young. And so, I’ve been in the shoes of Tadpole–having adults around me trying to make everything seem normal when, it turns out, I suppose it wasn’t (whatever “normal” means).
So the more I’ve thought about Petite and Tadpole, the more I’ve been thinking about my own childhood Christmases–and the more I’ve felt the need to write this post.
By Christmases (plural), I mean that we had two every year. If today were 20 years ago, this might have been the morning that I woke up at my Mom’s house, opened gifts, and then prepared for our Christmas dinner, which usually included my father and his family.
That’s because one or two weeks before the big day, we had “Mom’s Christmas,” a full celebration only a little early. More than the early gifts, though, the highlight for me was the unveiling of Mom’s cookies–chocolate chips, Michigan rocks, ricotta, kolaches, butter pressed, pizzelles. Of course, some time in the weeks before, we had decorated the cut-outs, which involved a couple of my girlfriends and a slumber party.*
Man I’m missing home (and childhood) right about now.
Anyway, some of the reason behind having two Christmases was that my mom is a nurse and always worked Christmas day; on actual Christmas morning, she usually came over to my father’s house for a little while.
But I’m sure the bigger reason was that with two full holidays, nobody missed out on a family Christmas experience. In fact, as kids, we were blessed to have to double the fun.
And the best part was that all of this seemed completely normal to me even though I knew the other kids at school weren’t having the same deal (suckers!). Now, as an adult, I see that this was the plan. And it worked.
Don’t buy it? My testimonial not enough?
Take Exhibit A, then, depicting what the two Christmas set-up made my normally curmudgeonly grandfather (may he rest in peace) do to himself one year:
See, Christmas miracles do happen.
*These are not the actual recipes my Mom uses. As you can surely understand, these are top secret and under heavy guard (in my Mom’s head). I did, however, try to find some that are close to hers.
Finding Holiday Cheer in Southern Italy
In the past week of posts, I’ve mentioned buying Christmas gifts, putting up my mini-tree, and having visions of sugarplums…but I have a confession to make.
Despite the occasional clementine orange leisurely strolling through my thoughts (there’s simply no dancing), I’m not feeling it this year. After my one morning of Christmas songs a few days ago, I haven’t heard a bell jingle let alone rock.
I’ll admit it. I’m putting up a Christmas Cheer front.
What’s the problem? Is it because the weather has been so mild (sweater, no jacket days)? Is it because in Italy we’re not bombarded with carols and decorations for months? Should I be turning to Jimmy Stewart and “It’s a Wonderful Life” for a heartwarming holiday story?
Hmm…there may something to that. With all the tales of woe in the world–the fact that our troops will be spending another holiday season in Iraq comes to mind–I need some good news for a change. I don’t have the It’s a Wonderful Life DVD, but I do have the Internet. So I went a-searching for some contemporary warm fuzzies.
My favorites:
- Naughty Christmas “Pornaments” are not nice, say Florida prosecutors: A chain of novelty stores in Florida is selling sexually explicit tree ornaments, but one Miami lawyer wants to play Scrooge. Ho ho ho!
- Holiday Shoppers Keep Buying During Fire: Thick smoke billowing through an Ohio department store didn’t stop these bargain hunters. Firefighters even had to block the doors to prevent more shoppers from entering. Now that’s the spirit!
- Get your reindeer hotdogs for $8!: As an apparent lesson to all the reindeer on Santa’s “Bad” list, a suburban Chicago hotdog vendor is selling these treats. Yes, grilled onion and mustard *are* included in the reasonable holiday price. Think of the touching memory:
Mother: What would you like for dinner tonight, Johnny? Johnny: Hmm…how about Dasher?!
Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Italians
It’s dark at 4.30 p.m., I have an insatiable craving for candy canes, and visions of sugarplums are dancing in my head. All of this can mean just one thing–the holidays are quickly approaching.
How are you doing on that list? Are you a bit behind? Stuck on what to get your favorite Italian? I just may be able to help you out. If a Vespa is in your budget, by all means, go for it. But for my loyal readers (one week today!), I’ve set up my own Amazon.com store with Italian gift suggestions. Books, movies, and music for now, and more items will be added periodically. Buying directly from my site earns me a small referral fee (as does buying a gift certificate from the above link), so please have a look.
Today’s feature pick is a book that a dear Italian amica gave me before I left for Italy three years ago: Sprezzatura: 50 Ways Italian Genius Shaped the World by Peter D’Epiro and Mary Desmond Pinkowish. The word “sprezzatura” is defined by the authors as “the art of effortless mastery,” and as something that no one has demonstrated quite like the Italians.
The volume is comprised of fifty fact-filled and entertaining essays that celebrate Italian contributions to the world. Subjects include well-known Italians such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Columbus, and Palladio, and also some lesser-known Italian feats including the establishment of the world’s first university in Bologna, the first medical school in Salerno, and the inventions of both the piano and violin. Catherine de’Medici, the godmother of French cuisine, and Cesare Beccaria, the founder of modern penology, are also featured.
Other essay topics include Ovid, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, Petrarch, Monteverdi, Bernini, Garabaldi, Marconi, and, of course, the Ferrari and Italian fashion.
There’s a little bit of something for all interests within these 50 essays, and it’s especially convenient because you can read one at a time and let the information resonate or skip around to where your interests lead you. Sprezzatura is also an excellent resource book–it can decide many “who was the first to” arguments in your house for years to come. The gift that keeps on giving, if you will.
Please take a tour around my store and let me know what you think. Suggestions are welcome, especially if you have a favorite Italian-themed item you’d like to see there. I’ve written some reviews, and more will be added as time permits; in the meantime, if you have specific questions about something I’ve listed, please feel free to email me at the address in my Blogger profile.
Happy shopping!
Note to Paris Hilton: That’s Not Hot
For those of you who don’t know, today is a holiday in Italy. Every December 8, the country has the day off for the Immaculate Conception. And yes, the separation of church and state is the law here. Why do you ask?
So, since it’s a yearly free day, I’ve chosen December 8 as the day my house turns into Christmas Village. And that’s what I did all morning. Harry Connick Jr. serenaded me while I put up our mini-tree (no room for much else) and other assorted cheer.
When I got tired of Frosty melting away (am I the only one who finds that song kinda sad?), I put on the television.
Um, when did Paris Hilton become important enough to do telefonino (cell phone) commercials in Italy? Who has allowed this? I doubt most Italians have the faintest clue as to who she is, even if she is pictured sometimes in the gossip rags. But still…is she *really* going to make them switch phone service?
The funniest part of the ads is one of three things. I can’t decide. In the running are:
(1) Her trying to speak Italian. Horrendous doesn’t begin to describe it. Let’s just say that I had to translate Paris’s Italian into actual Italian for P;
(2) Her voice is dubbed over in some of the ads; or
(3) The voice over girl was apparently given instructions to speak Italian only slightly less horrendously than Paris and (most importantly) to keep the valley girl American accent.
That Paris appears in these ads with one of Italy’s most beloved actors, Claudio Amendola, is more disturbing than funny, so that didn’t make the list. But at least she’s not playing opposite La Loren (who does spots for a different company). Imagine the horror!
So what I’m really wondering is this: is there a way we can petition to get this, um, girl off of Italian airwaves–a way to tell “Tre” that these ads are so *not hot* here?
Has Italy plain run out of people famous for no reason other than their wealth? Aren’t there some Agnelli or DeLaurentis kids running around blowing their inheritances? Or how about members of the ex-royal family now that they’re allowed back in?
Sorry for the rant, but hearing Queen Daft butcher one of the most beautiful languages in the world has effectively drained my Christmas cheer.
Maybe I should go back the dying snowman for a pick-me-up.
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.
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