Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category

L’Uovo di Pasqua: The Italian Easter Egg

Easter in Italy is generally much less commercialized than in the United States, but there is one tradition that recalls the Easters I knew growing up:

L’uovo di Pasqua. The Italian Easter Egg.

As you can tell from the photo, these are not those little bite-sized, even two or three bite-sized eggs you’re using to seeing. These are hollow and range in size from palm of your hand to ginormous (think: wrap your arms around it to carry it).

I bought some yesterday just to show you what an egg looks like wrapped and unwrapped:

Then since it was open, well, we had to smash it, because the eggs usually have a “sorpresa” (surprise) inside. Depending on how much you paid for your uovo di Pasqua, your surprise could be a dinky little toy or something more substantial, but still a toy nonetheless.

Having spent a whopping €1,50 ($2) on each one of these, we got dinky. And here’s P putting the stickers on the pathetic plastic car:

Stylin’ when it’s done, though, isn’t it? “Collect them all!” says the insert.

And in case you’re wondering, there’s no Easter Bunny and definitely no marshmallow stuff or jelly beans. Thank goodness for my mom! I love jelly beans, and now so does P.

Buona Pasqua to those who are celebrating!


La Settimana Santa (Easter Holy Week) in Calabria

Infinitely more so than Christmas, La Settimana Santa (Holy Week) is the biggest, most important event in Calabria — and it has nothing to do with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow treats (more on that later this week).

Many villages have their own special goings-on, and Badolato is one of them. Activities last all week long and culminate in a half-day procession on Venerdì Santo (Good Friday) and an all day procession on Sabato Santo (Holy Saturday).

Last year, I gathered a collection of my posts on Pasqua in Calabria for you:

Celebrating Easter in Italy

There are more stories, photos, videos, and a recipe linked there.

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I keep struggling with what to call what goes on here, though. “Celebration” and “festivities” simply don’t fit the somber, austere, and deeply emotional mood even for the non-religious like me. This will be my eighth Easter here, and I still get choked up for La Settimana Santa.

The rhythmic beat of a solitary drum echoing through the narrow streets, the bellowing yet wailing voices of men and sometimes women singing about the suffering of their savior, the trudging up these steep, unforgiving hills with the sun beating down on those dressed in layers of robes.

It all begins at the start of the week, with groups of men who walk around the village from church to church each morning leading up to Good Friday. This video was taken this morning from my balcony:


 
If you can come to Calabria for Holy Week even once in your lifetime, I highly recommend it.


Calabrian Zeppole di San Giuseppe for Italian Father’s Day

Today is La Festa di San Giuseppe or St. Joseph’s Day. Here in my corner of Calabria, we celebrate with “i zippoli” or le zeppole, which are quite different from what some of you know as zeppole, but we’ll get back to that in a moment.

This is what ours look like:

That photo was taken on Christmas Eve in the United States after my mom and I whipped these up for the traditional family get-together at my dad’s house. Why zeppole on Christmas Eve, you ask?

Well because these little guys are *huge* family favorites — think legendary status — and I had a sinking feeling that no one on that side of the Atlantic had tasted their goodness since my grandmother passed away in 2001.

My intuition was right, and these were a big hit, gone rather quickly, and the source of many happy memories floating around my grandmother’s old house. Even the Russians in attendance had to ask how to make these babies.

Well, you don’t have to ask as I’ve already posted the recipe at Calabrian Zeppole.

You can read more about today’s holiday, what fava beans have to do with it, and the different types of zeppole throughout Italy at Fava Beans and Cream Puffs.

And if you want to know how to handle those favas and what to make with them, check out Calabrian Sausage and Fava Beans.

And hey, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, why not take some vacation days, compare flights, and hop a plane in time for some zeppole? I’ll save you some. Probably. Hurry!

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to get snapping, literally, as I get my fava on.

Auguri to all the Giuseppes and Giuseppinas!

And buon weekend a tutti!


Giveaway: The Separated Woman’s Guide to a Bright Future

Today in honor of International Women’s Day, we have a special guest post and book giveaway geared toward women — separated women, in particular. Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. (CET) on Sunday, March 14, 2010 to be eligible for a free copy of The Separated Woman’s Guide to a Bright Future.

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Annette Jones is the author of The Separated Woman’s Guide to a Bright Future. In addition to being an author, Annette has an adult teaching degree, has trained as a Practitioner and Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and now has a private consultancy practice and also conducts two franchises in the retail environment.

Annette was born in Manchester, England and moved to Sydney, Australia with her parents at the age of eight. In 2000, Annette married her second husband, but after a separation, divorced in 2006. She is now enjoying the fruits of her journey and has a happy, loving relationship on the Gold Coast after previous stays in Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Queensland, and Brisbane.

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Hi and Welcome! My book is written to support and guide women through the process of separation and divorce and to inspire women to empower themselves through one of the most challenging parts of their lives. Lots of info, lots of ideas… and lots of fun; this book can help turn lives around!

Before writing my book, I spent many months researching databases on women’s issues and stories and interviewing a range of women who were divorced, separated, married or single. One overwhelming thing came from all of this: that women need to nurture themselves and each other to take control of their lives, loves and futures.

My book developed in three sections:

1. A practical guide to separation: What to do about property, children, money etc.; seeking legal and financial advice from trained professionals who have your best interests at heart (not the dearest but the best for you).
2. Your time following a break up: Nature and nurturing yourself, healing, dreaming, doing and finally re-entering the world of fun and love small steps at a time.
3. Socializing, such as dancing and dating: Whether it is the Salsa, burlesque, jazz, Belly Dancing, Latin Dancing or Tap, go for it! You’ll be amazed what it brings out in you.

This book will make you laugh, cry and think, and I will definitely help you “act.” If you’d like to act right now, here is purchase information for the book.

Some quick tips for “How to Survive Separation”:

Do:

1.    Attempt to work things out for property settlement with your former partner.
2.    Be realistic and get the facts about your entitlements in a property settlement.
3.    When you decide on a property settlement, do have a solicitor advise on the settlement.
4.    Monitor your children (if you have them) for behavioural changes.
5.    Make time for yourself every day, time to nurture and care for yourself.
6.    Do surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Girlfriends are wonderful at this time for you. They’ll support you, entertain you, laugh with you, cry with you or just be there for you.
7.    Do take a moment, take several moments to sit quietly by yourself and ask, “Where would I like to be two years from now, what would I like to be doing, where would I like to be living, and how do I want to be feeling?
8.    Get Grateful. What DO you have in your life right now that you are thankful for? Make a quick list of 10 things.

Don’t

1.   Necessarily employ the best family law solicitor money can buy or one with the most impressive credentials and experience, as your partner may just use a common law solicitor.
2.   Don’t speak ill of your former partner.
3.   Don’t go on a spending spree.
4.   Don’t jump into a new relationship straight away.

I hope you enjoy my book, and I would like to leave you with a final quote:

Find out who you are and do it on purpose.
~ Dolly Parton

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Thanks Annette! Remember to comment to enter the contest,

and Buona Festa della Donna!


Buon Compleanno Papà!

Tanti auguri a te…

Tanti auguri a te…

Tanti auguri a Babbo…

Tanti auguri a te!

Ti voglio tanto bene Papà!


Michelle KaminskyMichelle 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

Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake