Archive for 'Culture'
La Polenta Posted by Serena on Oct 17, 2011
La polenta (also known as polenda or pulenda) is an ancient dish made from cereal flour which is the traditional staple diet of the contadino (peasant farmer) especially in the northern Italian regions of Veneto, Lombardia, Trentino, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The name polenta comes from the Latin word ‘puls’, a type of polenta di farina…
Ottobre Posted by Serena on Oct 3, 2011
Nome (Name): The month of ottobre (October) takes its name from the Latin word octo (eight) because it was the eighth month in the Roman calendar. Festività (Festivals): On the 4th of October we celebrate San Francesco d’Assisi patrono d’Italia (Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy). When I was a child the 4th…
I Mestieri nel Borgo – part 2 Posted by Serena on Sep 21, 2011
I Mestieri nel Borgo, rievocazione storica della vita quotidiana di una piccola comunità contadina della Lunigiana = Trades in the village, historic re-enactment of the daily life of a small peasant farmer community in Lunigiana. Let’s continue our photo documentary of this year’s festival in Ponticello, Lunigiana: 1. La Cottura nei Testi – 1 = …
I Mestieri nel Borgo – part 1 Posted by Serena on Sep 16, 2011
Every August in the little borgo of Ponticello in northern Tuscany, a fascinating and picturesque festival is held: I Mestieri nel Borgo, rievocazione storica della vita quotidiana di una piccola comunità contadina della Lunigiana = Trades in the village, historic re-enactment of the daily life of a small peasant farmer community in Lunigiana. This year…
Settembre Posted by Serena on Sep 2, 2011
Nome (Name): The month of settembre (September) takes its name from the Latin word septem (seven) because it was the seventh month in the Roman calendar. Festività (Festivals): In September we don’t have any national festivals. This is not surprising given that the long summer holidays have just finished. Settembre è il mese del rientro…
I Tortelli di Dina Posted by Serena on Aug 12, 2011
Stamattina, siccome Serena è impegnata, tocca a me, suo marito Geoff, scivere il blog. This morning I went round to see our neighbour Dina in order to fix her old kitchen cupboard which is a bit the worst for wear. The works, however, had to be postponed because the kitchen was being used as un…
Agosto Posted by Serena on Aug 2, 2011
The month of agosto (August) is named after the first Roman emperor Ottaviano Augusto (Augustus), who died on the 19th of August 14 AD. Festività (Festivals): Traditionally here in Italy agosto is the month when all the factories close down. Everybody goes on holiday to the seaside, the countryside, or up into the mountains, and…