Archive for 'Culture'
Angelino Posted by Serena on Jul 24, 2011
When we were children my mother taught us a little bed time prayer dedicated to l’Angelo Custode (the Guardian Angel), which went like this: Angelino bellino bellino, vieni e stammi sempre vicino, fammi buono come sei tu, e poi portami da Gesù. Beautiful beautiful little angel, come and stay always by my side, make me…
Similitudini Posted by Serena on Jul 17, 2011
A few days ago a reader wrote to me saying that he really enjoyed Italian similitudini (similes) such as cieco come una talpa (‘as blind as a mole’), and asked if I knew any more of them. Here is a list of some popular similitudini: dormire come un ghiro (‘to sleep like a dormouse’) furbo…
Farfallina Bella Bianca Posted by Serena on Jul 14, 2011
Learning a foreign language is hard work when you’re an adult! It’s always a humbling experience when, having diligently studied Italian for many years, you travel to Italy only to hear a group of four year olds playing together and speaking much better Italian than you! Non è giusto! Well obviously those children have had…
Luglio Posted by Serena on Jul 5, 2011
The month of luglio (July) is named after the Roman consul Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar), who was born on the 12th of July 100 B.C. Sopra: Giulio Cesare Unbelievably there aren’t any national holidays or festivals in luglio here in Italy (cosa?!) However, quite a few famous Italians were born in July. Here is a…
La Cicala: favole e leggende Posted by Serena on Jul 2, 2011
There are many popular sayings and proverbs about la cicala, and not surprisingly his frinio (strident song) plays an important part in most of them. Probably the most famous cicada favola (fable) is that written by Esopo (Aesop): La Cicala e la Formica. Here is an adaptation of the tale by the French poet and…
Il Referendum: come funziona? Posted by Serena on Jun 26, 2011
Firstly, I’d like to thank all of the readers who added their positive, supportive comments to my blog “Il Referendum”. It’s very encouraging to see how many people appreciate what an important democratic outcome the referendum had for us Italians. When I wrote my first blog about the referendum I had a feeling that people…
Le Vipere che Arrivano dal Cielo Posted by Serena on Jun 5, 2011
A few days ago we met an English couple who were renting a holiday house here in our village. The couple told us that they’d clambered down the rocky slope to the river Magra near the ponte medievale (Medieval bridge), and whilst pushing their way through brambles they had been confronted by an enormous two…