L’Epifania and La Befana

Viene, viene la Befana
Vien dai monti a notte fonda
Come è stanca! la circonda
Neve e gelo e tramontana!
Viene, viene la Befana

American children leave a stocking out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve (December 23th) however here in Italy children leave a stocking out for an ugly old witch called la befana on the eve of the Epiphany.  The Epiphany is an important festival for Italians.  It is celebrated on January 6^th and marks the end of the Christmas season/holidays as it’s the day when the Three Wise Men arrive to Jesus’ manger and present him with gifts.

I’ve written about the folklore regarding the Befana in the past.  Most kids, when asked, don’t exactly know what La Befana has to do with the Epiphany.  For them, it is more about the excitement of receiving  candies, small gifts and even money.

The supermarkets are filled with chocolate coins and pre-stuffed stockings filled with other candies and treats.  In fact, Kinder and Ferrero have a special limited edition Befana doll that comes equipped with a sack filled with your favourite Kinder treats.  Every year, they launch two different Befana dolls and some people have even begun starting collections.

Italians give each other a Befana (there are so many varieties) to hang up somewhere in their home.  It is believed to bring good fortune.  I’m not sure if it’s important where you hang it, I’ve heard different things from different people.  I’ve personally never had my own Befana until this year.  My cousins gave me one of the infamous Kinder Befana from the 2013 collection.

She is hanging up in my bedroom waiting to give me a 2013 filled with good fortune! Or at least that is my hope.  Regardless, she was given to me with love from my cousins, and for that she will always hold a special memory and for me that’s enough.

Happy Epiphany!

My Top 5: Italian Female Singers (2nd Edition)

So, here it is finally.  The 2nd edition to My Top 5:  Italian Female Singers.  My musical preferences change very often and I’m sure there will be more revisions to this top 5 list but for now, here are the Italian female singers I have in constant rotation in iTunes.

The disclaimer is always the same – these are my own personal favourites and I don’t expect everyone to agree with my choices.  In fact, I’d love it if you’d comment with your Top 5 Italian Female Singers.

I hope you enjoy it and maybe discover some new music!

1.  Alessandra Amoroso

Alessandra Amoroso always had a passion for singing.  Since she was very young, she participated in local competitions.  When she was 17 years old, she auditioned for the popular talent show “Amici“, however didn’t make it.  This didn’t hinder her.  In 2008, she auditioned for the show again and passed the audition and taking first place.  Her first EP was released in 2009 through Sony Music Italy and achieved gold status before it was even released due to the high number of pre-orders.  She has since released two more albums and received a number of awards.  With her killer vocals and amazing talent, her star will continue to rise and remain a constant figure in the Italian music industry.

For more information, visit www.alessandraamoroso.it/

2.  Emma

Emma was born in Firenze and was surrounded by music at an early age.  Her father, the guitarist of a local band, played festivals and clubs and it was from her experiences watching her dad, that she developed her passion for music.  She started her path to music stardom in 2003 when she took part in an Italian talent show called “Popstars“.  After the show, she formed a group called Lucky Star which was later disbanded in 2006 after their CD release didn’t receive commercial success.  She was part of another group before she took part in the popular talent show “Amici” in 2009 and won.  She released her first solo EP in 2010 which garnered a lot of success in Italy.  She has since released 2 more albums with great success.  All of her albums have achieved Platinum sales status. Emma competed in the 2012 edition of the Sanremo Music Festival and placed first with her song Non e’ l’inferno.

For more information, visit www.emmamarrone.net

3.  Annalisa

Annalisa began singing when she was just 13 years old with her band in local venues and pubs.  She catapulted to fame after participating in the popular Italian talent show “Amici” in 2010 and taking second place.  In 2010 she released her first album Nali which certified platinum and in 2012 she released her follow-up album with great success. This young talent is slowly shedding her shy and timid character as she grows as a professional singer-songwriter.

For more information, visit www.scarroneannalisa.it

4.  Elisa

Elisa was born in Trieste and started writing music when she was just 11 years old. She appeared on a televised karaoke program, Karaoke, when she was 15. A couple years later, she was signed to a record label, Sugar. At 18, she moved to California and started working on her debut album. It wasn’t until September 2000 that Elisa recorded her first Italian song, “Luce (tramonti a nord est)“, which was originally written in English. It went on to win her the top prize at the 2001 Sanremo Music Festival. Elisa is a natural born talent, only 31 years old and already has numerous albums already under her belt including a greatest hits compilation.

For more information, visit www.elisatoffoli.com

5.  Noemi

Noemi was born in Rome and was always surrounded by music.  Her dad was a guitarist with a passion for Italian and English music of the 60s and 70s.  She began taking piano lessons when she was 7 and later went on to study guitar.  In 2007, she participated in the SanremoLab, however wasn’t chosen to participate in the Sanremo Music Festival.  In 2008, she took part in X Factor but was eliminated in the 12th episode.  In April 2009, she released an EP and has since recieved great success including colloborations with other artists and performances in big concerts throughout Italy.  Noemi was a participant in the 2010 and 2012 editions of the Sanremo Music Festival and has had continuous success with her singles, albums and tours.

For more information, visit www.noemiofficial.it

Italianizzarsi ~ Becoming Italian

Italianizzarsi - diventare simile a un italiano per lingua o cultura (to become similar to an Italian by language or culture)

One of my good friends here in Italy mentioned that I’ve become more Italian since she’s known me.  I found her observation very interesting because I felt Italian before I moved here but then immediately felt less Italian as I tried to integrate into this relatively “new world”.  There were many times when I felt like a fish out of water and it began to make more sense that the Italian word for foreigner is “straniero” (which sounds a lot like stranger in English).

I’ve been in Calabria for almost 2 years now and have slowly over time found my footing, albeit clumsy, in my new home.  I guess after so much time in one place, it’s inevitable that some change would take place; I just didn’t realize that it would be so apparent to those around me.

I know that I’ll never be completely Canadian or Italian and I’m perfectly okay with that.  I’m fortunate to have a point of view a little different than many of the people I encounter here. It allows me to stay open-minded and less jaded about the day to day life that someone in Italy experiences.  It’s nowhere near perfect here but deep down away from all the dysfunction, corruption and desperation you hear about on a daily basis in the news, there is a natural beauty that I’ve never experienced anywhere else.  This is the part of Italy I hope to take in and make a part of who I am.  If this is the part of me that has become more “italianised” than I can most certainly live with that.

In your opinion, what does it mean to be “Italian”?

My Top 5: Italian Male Actors (2nd Edition)

When I first moved to Italy, I didn’t know most of the personalities of the world of television and cinema.  Although I watched a lot of Italian movies in Toronto, there was so much that I wasn’t aware of.  After updating My Top 5:  Italian Male Singers, I thought it only fitting to update My Top 5:  Italian Male Actors which was also originally created in 2009.

The disclaimer is always the same – these are my own personal favourites and I don’t expect everyone to agree with my picks.  In fact, I’d love it if you’d comment with your Top 5 Italian Male Actors.

So here is the 2nd edition to My Top 5:  Italian Male Actors.  Enjoy!

1.  Raoul Bova

It didn’t take long for Raoul Bova to reach “sex symbol” status in Italy but it wasn’t until he starred in Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) as Diane Lane’s love interest that women in North America began to take notice. Who can forget the hunky Bova strutting around the city in his broken-in jeans and stress free cargos from the Gap. What’s not to love? Raoul Bova isn’t just a pretty face; he has also done some producing.

Other movies to watch him in: La Finestra di Fronte (2003), Scusa ma ti chiamo amore (2008), Immaturi (2012)

2.  Alessandro Siani

This Napolitano comedian/actor started his career in 1988 dabbing in various different areas of the world of entertainment such as theatre, television and film.  He has done many things over the years but in 2010 his status exploded when he starred in Benvenuti al Sud as a lovable and endearing postman from a small town in.  He reprised this role again in 2012 with Benvenuti al Nord.

Other movies to watch him in:  Natale a New York (2006), La peggior settimana della mia vita (2011)

3.  Giampaolo Morelli

Giampaolo was born in Naples and it is there that he got his start in theatre.  As time passed, he decided to focus more of his time and energy on acting and with that in mind, he transferred to Rome.  He is an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter and is particularly known for his television work.   He has appeared in several television mini-series including Baciati dall’amore (2011) in which he played a single father of five children who is unlucky in love until he meets his “soul-mate”; a woman who is engaged to be married.

Other movies/mini-series to watch him in:  L’uomo perfetto (2005), La donna della domenica (2011)

4.  Luca Argentero

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Italian cinema or television, you might recognize Luca Argentero from Eat Pray Love (2010) in which he played Julia Roberts’ Italian tutor.  Luca hails from Torino and got his start on Grande Fratello (Italy’s version of Big Brother).  After that, he appeared in a number of films and also had a recurring role on the popular Italian television series, Carabinieri (2005-2007).  Luca has decided to use his fame for good and recently signed on to help WWF (The World Wildlife Fund) to bring attention to the need to protect three of Italy’s forests.

Other movies to watch him in:  Diverso da chi? (2009), Oggi Sposi (2009), Lezioni di cioccolato 2 (2011)

5.  Michele Riondino

Michele was born in Taranto, Puglia but transferred to Rome to attend “L’Accademia d’Arte Drammatica” where he began to do theatre roles.  In 2000, he started a three year stint on a popular Italian television series, Distretto di Polizia”.  In 2012, he bravely took on the role of a young Salvo Montalbano for the prequel to the beloved Italian television series, Il Commissario Montalbano.  Taking on a role of such a beloved character, such as Commissario Montalbano is difficult but Michele’s interpretation didn’t seem to disappoint Italian viewers.

Other movies to watch him in:  I’m sure there will be many in the next year!

Now it’s your turn.  Who are your Top 5 Italian Male Actors?

5 Questions With… In Italy Tours

Calabria is the place I’ve been calling home for almost 2 years now.  It is a place that at times is overlooked but there are also many times when someone, much like Tania of In Italy Tours, find themselves completely smitten with the beauty and history and overall magic that is found in Southern Italy and decide to do what they can to share this little secret with those willing to hear it.

I am really happy to have Tania Pascuzzi of In Italy Tours take part in this installment of my 5 Questions With… series.  Her passion for the south of Italy has flourished into a business that offers unique culinary adventures in the south of Italy including Calabria. If you are a fan of Italian food, it’s pretty safe to say that in the south of Italy is where you’ll find some of the most delicious foods that Italy has to offer.

So let’s dig in and learn a little bit more about Tania of In Italy Tours.  As we say here in Italy, Buon Appetito!

You offer many different varieties of tours through your company.  What makes tours in Calabria unique and different from other parts of Italy?

I think every part of Italy is unique given the diverse history of each region.  Having said that, Italy as a whole can vary from one place to the other.  As far as Calabria is concerned, I have focused on giving my guests a chance to experience local life in a region that has remained unspoiled.

When I first arrived in Tropea I noticed that it had so much potential. Given the beauty of the town was a head start for me so I dedicated my time there in researching and creating things to do with the foreign traveller in mind with cooking being the highlight.   My tours basically focus on food and wine which varies from town to town and can be a fascinating experience for the new visitor to the region.

What do you say to potential tourists who want to visit Italy but aren’t sure about venturing any further south than Rome or the Amalfi Coast?

I think that what I have to offer is enough to entice anyone who wishes to venture into the region of Calabria.  I live there so it helps people to know that an English speaking person is there if they need it. Our guided tours and itineraries help in that our guests are in good hands and are able to see beautiful places that aren’t really found in guide books which gives for a more insightful holiday.  I’ve had many first time travellers even to Italy which has been great.   I think just knowing that I am an expat living in Calabria gives people that trust.  Although once here they can see how lovely and friendly it really is.

The whole of the southern part of Italy is a must for lovers of the country. It has the most beautiful beaches, great food and wine.  There is really so much to see with so much history and beauty.

I’m sure you meet many interesting people through your tours.  What has been the best experience for you so far?

I don’t have a ‘best’ but what I can tell you is that I have enjoyed each and every experience with my guests.  We have had such wonderful people here who have actually come back the following year to see us.  I think the most enjoyable experience for me is to see people having a great time.  There is such kindness and enthusiasm displayed from my cooks and with the people I work with. They extend themselves beyond what is required of them which really is nice to see.  Calabrese are very humble and generous people and are extremely proud of their region and generous in sharing it.

As a food and wine lover, what is your all-time favourite Italian recipe?

I have so many.  I do love seafood so living in Tropea is a great thing for me as it is here that seafood is eaten as opposed to the towns in the mountains.  I remember when I moved to Tropea it took me a while to taste the famous pasta con cipolla here.  It just didn’t sound appetizing to me but when I did eventually taste it, it has remained to be one of my favorites here in Tropea.  Of course you need to use the famous onions from Tropea.

I think more than recipes, I love the production of food here.  The fruits and vegetables which are  picked fresh from a contadino’s garden is what’s exciting for me and going to the port at a certain time of day  to meet the fisherman to see what was caught that day.  I also have a local butcher up in the hills who raises his own animals.  There’s nothing better than to eat pure food.

You recently completed the first annual Calabrian Table Tour with Cherrye Moore.  Was it everything you hoped for and will we see more editions of this tour in the future?

The Table Tour was such a success for both myself and Cherrye.  Last October was our first tour and it was such a wonderful time had by all that we have decided to make it available two times a year.

We had really good feedback from our guests who continually said that they were experiencing the Real Italy.  It’s a chance to experience the wonderful diverse cultures displayed in the different foods found in the mountains and the coastal area of the region.

It was insightful, fun and delicious and it felt like we were a small family travelling together.  We visited so many remote and beautiful towns and villages where the locals went out of their way to educate us on the unique culture and history of each place.  The people involved were so hospitable and gave that much more to us that those things played an important role in how wonderful the tour was.  Not to forget the wonderful meals that were prepared by our chefs and personal cooks and a chance to learn about how wonderful the wine is in Calabria.

We hope to have the tour available 3 times a year , maybe more and in the future we may include different food and wine tours in other areas of Calabria.  There is so much more to discover and knowing that we both live in the region allows us to research deeper into the heart of each place included in our itineraries.

***

Grazie mille, Tania!!

You can learn more about In Italy Tours and get more information on any of the tours they offer by visiting their website ~ In Italy Tours

Check out my other “5 Questions With…”:
5 Questions With… RomePhotoBlog
5 Questions With… Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
5 Questions With… Cherrye of My Bella Vita
5 Questions With… Diana Spechler
5 Questions With… Megan of TorreBarolo
5 Questions With… Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo Visitor Guide in Calabria

5 Questions With…Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo – Visitor Guide in Calabria

Anyone who reads my blog will be able to tell almost instantly how much I love Calabria.  It is a beautiful place with so much culture and history that is often overlooked by tourists visiting Italy.  So, as you can imagine I was so excited when Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo agreed to participate in my “5 Questions With…” series.  Without any further hestitation, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you all to Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo as she tells us about one of Calabria’s travel gems.

Tell us a little about why you chose to create La Dolce Vita di Pizzo – Complete Visitor Guide.

I created the website because when I tried to visit Pizzo in 2008 I found it very difficult to get any information.  In fact, it was so difficult that I gave up and went to Spain that year instead!  But the following year I returned to the task, and finally got to Pizzo in April 2010.  I had done two years of internet research gathering every scrap of information I could find about Pizzo, but I still went on a wing and a prayer with many questions unanswered.  My feeling was that if I – who spoke Italian and had lived in Pizzo – found it so difficult to get there, what must it be like for the first time English speaking visitor?  I started bringing all the information I had together in one place.  I didn’t plan to create a guide, but like Pollyanna, it just grew and grew, until I realised that I was in fact writing a guide to Pizzo.

I put everything I had wanted to know about Pizzo into the Guide to create a one stop information service.  It is very important to me that it is an independent, impartial guide, and for that reason I don’t have advertising, charge for inclusion or get any commission from the services in the guide.  My aim is to provide information and services that I would recommend to a friend visiting Pizzo.  For that reason, I call it ‘your friend in Pizzo’, and if you are planning a visit you can do so with confidence knowing that you have all the information you need.  My aim is to make it easy for English speaking people to visit Pizzo, and enjoy their stay.

Why should someone visiting Calabria include Pizzo in their travel plans?

I am totally biased, but for me Pizzo is a very special place.  I’ve lived in Reggio and spent a 2 week holiday in Tropea, and Pizzo is a place that just makes my heart sing in a way that I don’t experience anywhere else.  Locals say that I’m in love with Pizzo, and it’s true, but it’s not just me, I find that other people who live here feel the same way.  You should come to Pizzo for the warmth of the people; to experience the real Calabria unspoilt by overcommercialised tourism; to come on one of my unique Guided Walks; and to eat the best ice cream in Calabria.  But most of all, to see if it captures your heart.

Describe some of the services you offer and what potential clients can expect from those services.

Apart from the free online guide, the services I personally provide are a Welcome to Pizzo package – where I spend the morning with you on your first day to help you settle in and get to know the area – and the Secret Pizzo Guided Walks.  These are very exciting walks (which leave from the Piazza in the evening and San Francesco in the morning) to explore the Old Town of Pizzo.  I would meet lost tourists wandering around the warren of streets and alleys in the Old Town, not understanding what they saw and not getting the most from their stay.  So I decided to share my knowledge and understanding with English speaking visitors, and take them on guided walks to see the parts of Pizzo tourists don’t usually see.

How did you first discover Pizzo?

I first came to Pizzo by accident in 1976, and ended up living there for four years until 1980.  In the 1970s very few foreigners made it down as far as Calabria, but my sister had been on an inter-rail trip with her friends and she’d met a boy in Reggio, so she decided to stay there and work as an au pair.  I came out to join her, and we both worked in Reggio for nine months.  We were on our way back to England, travelling up the coast staying in Youth Hostels, when we wandered into Pizzo one idle October afternoon.  It seems incredible to believe now, but at that time the ancient historic Spanish castle of Pizzo (built in the 1400s) was a Youth Hostel.  We used to sleep in the old prisoner’s cells and run up and down the narrow stone stairways, and eat ice cream on the battlements where Joachim Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon and defeated King of Naples, was executed by firing squad!

There was some Pizzo magic at work, and within hours of arriving we had both been offered jobs and an apartment to live in, so we decided to stay.  I ended up staying for four years, and we were the first foreign girls to work in the Piazza as waitresses.  Eventually I left, not knowing it would be thirty years before I returned!  When I finally came back after thirty years, I found that everyone remembered me, and it felt like I’d never been away.  Now I feel like I’ve come home.

What is your favourite thing about Pizzo?

That’s easy… it’s the ice cream!  Pizzo is famous for it’s ice cream.  Closely followed by the cakes from the Toscano Pasticceria made by 70 year old Sicilian trained pastry chef Salvatore, who came to Pizzo as a young man.  Then it’s the views, the blue sea and sky in every direction, the sunshine and the beaches, the lights around the bay at night and the amazing sunsets every evening.  I buy an ice cream or a cake, and sit by the sea and watch the sunset every evening.  It’s only seven minutes from closing my front door until I’m swimming in the sea.  Market day, with all the stalls and excitement.  Cheese, especially country made fresh warm ricotta and homemade pecorino sold door to door and bought at my own front door.  The people, who never cease to amaze and delight me… the list is endless.

***

Thank You, Anna!! I think you have done a wonderful thing by providing such detailed information to tourists (and future tourists) of Pizzo.
You can find out all there is to know about Pizzo at Anna’s guide ~ LA DOLCE VITA di Pizzo The Complete Visitor Guide

Check out my other “5 Questions With…”:
5 Questions With… RomePhotoBlog
5 Questions With… Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
5 Questions With… Cherrye of My Bella Vita
5 Questions With… Diana Spechler
5 Questions With… Megan of TorreBarolo

Festa di San Leone (February 19-20, 2011) ~ Saracena, CS

On Saturday, February 19th, my roommate and I headed to her village called Saracena.  It is located high up in the mountains near Castrovillari.  We were visiting her town to celebrate the Festa di San Leone, the patron saint of Saracena.

As we pulled into her town the streets were almost completely taken over by huge piles of tree branches.  They would later become bonfires to light the way for the people participating in the fiaccolata (torchlight walk) through the town as well as welcome them to typical foods and homemade wines.  In the early evening, the church was packed tight for the mass and distribution of blessed bread.  Once the mass was over, the people poured out into the already full streets and piazzas outside of the church.  Many people had their torches lit, ready to begin the long walk through the very steep streets of Saracena.  We passed many of the piles of tree branches which had now become big bonfires lighting up the streets and providing a bit of warmth as the night set in.

The procession is not a quiet one like the ones I’m accustomed to.  Everyone is dancing, cheering, and playing music.  It is a very happy and celebratory occasion.  Throughout the walk we stopped to admire the many displays of fireworks that were organized along the route.  We decided to take a shortcut towards the end of  the procession so that we could be at the church for the final part of this journey.  We made our way to the front of the church and stood beside the altar.

The church began to fill up with people again, singing various songs in honor of San Leone, Bishop of Catania.  Then, one by one, various groups of musicians proceeded to the altar and stopped in front of the Statue of San Leone perched high above the altar and began to play.  This went on for at least a half hour with a total of 6 or 7 different musical groups.

After the procession we ate dinner and then walked the town again, this time visiting all the different bonfires we had passed during the procession.  At every bonfire was music, singing, food and wine that went on until the early morning hours.  It is tradition that on this day you open your house to everyone and share food and drink together.

I have never experienced anything quite like this festival before.  It was full of positive energy and celebration, which I guess is why so many people come from all over to participate in this festival.  It is an experience I will never forget.

Greetings in a small town in Italy

When you live in a small town like the one I’m staying in right now, odds are you know everyone that lives there.  Although I’m still confronting new faces daily, I am slowly getting to know each and every resident here.  In small towns, and some large ones, the custom of greeting people while out and about is very much present.  I’ve learned that even if you don’t know the person you are encounter (yet), that is no excuse not to say “hey!”

There are a few common greetings I’ve come across so far:

Salve

I have found this greeting is used most commonly when you are not already acquainted with the person you are greeting.  That is not to say it is never used with friends, family and others you know.  Salve, when used as a greeting, means “good health to you”.

Buon Giorno/Buona Sera

This greeting can be used formally and informally and is essentially your no fail greeting.  When you aren’t sure, you can use salve or buon giorno/sera.  I still haven’t managed to pinpoint the exact time when you giorno becomes sera.  I’ve read that you begin to say buona sera after 1:00 in the afternoon and in other places I’ve read it says differently.  For me, I use 3pm as my switch point because by that time the day is more than half gone and the evening is still to come.  You could also wait for your neighbour to greet you and use whichever one they use for you in return.

Ciao

This is obviously the less formal greeting.  I tend to use it with friends, relatives, and those I know well.  However, when I encounter those that are older I tend to use a more formal greeting out of respect and will use either salve or buon giorno/sera.

Beep! Beep!

Yup, you read that right.  Car horns are used quite a bit here:  to warn oncoming traffic when you are approaching a curve or to notify people to move aside so you can pass.  It is also used to say “hello”. Two cars pass each other on the road (when the road allows it) and you will hear them honk at each other in greeting.  Other times, you will hear a car horn as you are walking down the street and it’s not to tell you move but to say “hey” as it passes by.  The rule seems to be, that even if you are in a car, a greeting is still made.

I have to admit coming from a big city where in some cases you don’t even know your neighbour, it’s hard to get used to the notion of saying hello to strangers.  As each day passes though, I find myself getting more comfortable with the idea and it gets easier as the faces become more familiar to me.  I knew I was settling into the idea when I was on my way back home from a run along the winding country roads just outside of my town and as I walked back to my house I noticed an older gentleman sitting on a balcony watching me as I was trekking up the narrow street.  I waved to him to say hello and without hesitation he waved back, and it wasn’t weird at all.

Yes, I think I can definitely get used to this.

Five Favorite Italian Words

I’ve been in Italy for over a week now and figure now is as good a time as any to give you my five favorite Italian words.  A while back, Melanie over at Italofile started a meme as a result of Jessica’s guest post “Five Favorite Italian Words” and challenged fellow bloggers to post their own five favorite Italian words.

Here are a couple blogs that rose to the challenge:

Cherrye @ My Bella Vita ~ My Five Favorite Italian Slang Words
2 Baci in a Pinon Tree ~ My Five Favorite Italian Words and Five More Words

I am currently spending time in the south of Italy, in the small Calabrese town my father was born in, so as you can imagine, I am immersed more in the town’s dialect than in “proper” Italian but there are still some Italian words that have popped up in conversations that I’ve taken note of and have made me smile whenever I hear them.  There are many Italian words that I just love to hear, but if I were to list them all, I’d be here forever.  Instead, I have condensed the list to five words (I know!  Trust me, it wasn’t easy).

magari (mah-gah-ree)

This particular word caught my interest when I was in Italy a couple years ago.  I kept hearing it in conversations and it always seemed to stand out to me.  I heard it in various sentences and scenarios, so the meaning of the word was always a bit cloudy for me.  You see, this word means different things depending on the context in which it is used.

As an adverb, it means “perhaps” or “maybe”.  When used as an exclamation, it is similar to saying “I wish!” in English.  If can also be used as a conjunction in which it means “if only”.

Regardless of how it is used, it is one of the words that always seems to fit so nicely into a sentence.

assai (ah-sigh)

When I first heard this word, I had to know what it meant.  It was such a pleasant sounding word.  I came to learn that it means “very much” or “plenty of”.  Needless to say, this word has come in handy when my Zia is scooping enough pasta in my plate to feed the entire Italian army and I need to tell her that one spoonful of pasta is plenty.

guai (goo-why)

You don’t necessarily want to hear this word, because in English it means “troubles”.  It is used when you want to say you are in a fix, in a hole, or in a tight spot.  In Italian, you would say “nei quai”.  If you are “out of the woods” you would say “fuori da quai”.

quindi (queen-dee)

There always seems to be words that you hear all the time and you know what they mean but for some reason or another the meaning always seems to slip your mind and when you remember the meaning you can’t figure out how you forgot it.  For me, this is one of those words (I may have to make a list of unforgettable forgettable words).

Quindi is the Italian word for “therefore”.  There is a popular saying “I think, therefore I am” which in Italian translates to “penso, quindi sono”.  I am trying to use this saying as a way to remember what this word means.  I’ll let you know how it works out.

farfalla (far-fah-le)

This word is on my list of favourites because its meaning holds a special significance for me.  Farfalla is Italian for butterfly.  Growing up, and still to this day, I see the butterfly as a reminder that those who were special to me who have passed are watching out for me.  It brings a smile to my face whenever I see a butterfly and here in Calabria, they seem to be everywhere.  It’s beautiful!

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So, I’m sure I will have more favorite words to add to this list as time passes.  In the meantime, I welcome you all to share some of your favorite Italian words.  It’s also a great way to learn the language!

II° Raduno Delle Mongolfiere in Calabria ~ Santo Stefano di Rogliano (CS)

Last year, the town of Santo Stefano di Rogliano held its first ever Raduno delle Mongolfiere.  The festival featured beautiful colourful hot-air balloons (or mongolfiere in Italian) that painted the skies of the town with a rainbow of colours. The success of last year’s festival has led to the Secondo Raduno delle Mongolfiere which will be held from May 6^th-9^th.

The festival will be similar to last years and filled with gorgeous hot-air balloons and parachutists taking to the skies as well as, a street market, music, and other treats catering to all ages.

Check out the itinerary below (in Italian) of the scheduled events taking place during the festival.

SECONDO RADUNO DELLE MONGOLFIERE
SANTO STEFANO DI ROGLIANO (CS)
6-7-8-9 MAGGIO 2010

Programma

GIOVEDI’ 6 – Apertura della manifestazione
Ore 15,30: saluti del Sindaco, del Presidente dell’Associazione ACLI Santo Stefano di Rogliano e delle Autorità Istituzionali agli equipaggi delle mongolfiere ed ai partecipanti
Ore 16,00: esibizione della Jazz Band: Takabum
Ore 17,30: decolli inaugurali
Ore 21,00: “Savior”
Ore 21,30: “Modoc”
Ore 23,00: “Mr. No e i ragazzi del jukebox”

VENERDI’ 7 – Giornata dedicata alle scuole
Ore 7,30: villa Comunale – raduno e preparazione degli equipaggi
Ore 7,30: accoglienza
Ore 8,00: decollo mongolfiere in volo libero
Ore 8,30 a seguire durante la giornata:
• spettacoli itineranti “I Pagliassi”
• apertura stands gastronomici, di artigianato e di prodotti tipici locali
• “In volo con gli aquiloni” e attività teatrale a cura della “Compagnia Teatrale del Savuto”
• laboratorio di disegno “Sogni di carta” a cura dell’Associazione “Libero Tempo”.
• laboratorio di filosofia “Facciamo volare il pensiero” a cura dell’Associazione “Archè Onlus” con mostra fotografica di Annalisa Laganà
• laboratorio di creatività a cura dell’Associazione “ACLI S.Stefano”
• mostra di pittura nel centro storico
• visita guidata: Santuario S. Liberata, mostra di icone, Chiesa Matrice, Cappella S. Rocco, Museo di antichità
• dimostrazione di scherma a cura dell’”Accademia di Scherma Calabrese”
• concorso fotografico
Ore 11,00: esibizione Paracadutisti e Paramotori
Ore 17,30: villa Comunale – Decollo mongolfiere

A cura dell’ Associazione ProLoco S.Stefano di Rogliano
Ore 19,30: scuola di danza “Tersicoredance Grimaldi”
Ore 20,30: scuola di danza “Meridance”
Ore 22,30: scuola di danza “Spadafora”

SABATO 8 – Giornata dedicata alle persone con disabilità
Ore 7,30: villa Comunale – raduno degli equipaggi, decollo delle mongolfiere in volo libero
Ore 7,30: accoglienza
Ore 9,30 a seguire durante la giornata:
• dimostrazione di ippoterapia a cura dell’Associazione “For ever horses”
• “dialogo al buio” a cura dell’”Unione Italiana Ciechi di Cosenza”
• musicoterapia a cura di C. Feraco e A. Bevilacqua
• laboratorio di disegno “Sogni di carta” a cura dell’Associazione “Libero Tempo”
• laboratorio di filosofia “Facciamo volare il pensiero” a cura dell’Associazione “Archè Onlus” con mostra fotografica di Annalisa Laganà
• laboratorio di creatività a cura dell’Associazione “ACLI S.Stefano”
• mostra di pittura nel centro storico
• visita guidata: Santuario S. Liberata, mostra di icone, Chiesa Matrice, Cappella S. Rocco, Museo di antichità
• dimostrazione di scherma a cura dell’”Accademia di Scherma Calabrese”
• concorso fotografico
• artisti di strada – tamburellisti e zampognari
Ore 11,00: esibizione Paracadutisti e Paramotori
Ore 12,00: Supplica alla Madonna di Pompei e Santa Messa nella Chiesa Parrocchiale
Ore 14,00: gara per il CAMPIONATO REGIONALE CALABRIA MOUNTAIN BIKE
Ore 17,30: villa Comunale – decollo mongolfiere
Ore 21,00: “Suburbia”
Ore 22,00: “Miss Fraulein”
Ore 23,00: “Nescio vos”

DOMENICA 9 – Giornata dedicata al gemellaggio con il Comune di Fragneto Monforte (BN)
Ore 7,30: villa Comunale – raduno degli equipaggi e decollo delle mongolfiere in volo libero
Ore 9,00: volo vincolato delle mongolfiere
Ore 9,30 a seguire durante la giornata:
• estemporanea di pittura
• mostra di pittura nel centro storico
• annullo filatelico
• laboratorio di disegno “Sogni di carta” a cura dell’Associazione “Libero Tempo”
• laboratorio di filosofia “Facciamo volare il pensiero” a cura dell’Associazione “Archè Onlus” con mostra fotografica di Annalisa Laganà
• laboratorio di creatività a cura dell’Associazione “ACLI S.Stefano”
• Concorso fotografico
• artisti di strada – tamburellisti e zampognari
• esibizione Paramotori
• visita guidata: Santuario S. Liberata, mostra di icone, Chiesa Matrice, Cappella S. Rocco, Museo di antichità
Ore 11,00: ufficializzazione gemellaggio con Fragneto Monforte (BN)
Ore 14,30: esibizione Paracadutisti
Ore 17,30: villa Comunale – Decollo mongolfiere
Ore 18,30: premiazione estemporanea
Ore 19,00: saluti agli equipaggi
Ore 21,00: Chiusura manifestazione con fuochi pirotecnici

Durante tutta la manifestazione saranno, inoltre, presenti:
• un’unità oftalmica mobile attrezzata per visite oculistiche
• la società ICARUS con elicottero per effettuare voli panoramici