In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Sally Donaldson;105270]Two Questions
Okay, thanks to Gala and many others who have provided some truly mouth watering recipies for Christmas dinner here. This now leaves me wondering
1) Whether Italians bother to put up decorations. I’m sure they do but how do they decorate their house at Christmas and do they extend their decorations to the outside as well??? 2) Do they bother to make the Christmas lunch/dinner table extra special???[/quote]
Come on...of course they [I]'bother'[/I] Sal... whatever do you [I]think[/I] they do?
here are some things they do....
[URL="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/438951887_29259e38c4.jpg?v=1191766440"][B]>Italian Presepio<[/B][/URL]
[URL="http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Italian%20Images/images/Siena%20&%20South/Siena-Images/Shops%20&%20Facades/Window%20of%20Angels%20Dec%2001.jpg"][B]>Decorations shop in Tuscany<[/B][/URL]
[URL="http://www.ermesambiente.it/wcm/ermesambiente/news/2004/dicembre/alberi_di_natale/albero%20di%20natale.jpg"][B]>Italian 'home made' tree<[/B][/URL]
[URL="http://digilander.libero.it/damien21/Archivio_Foto47_file/image001.jpg"][B]>Dinner at home 1<[/B][/URL]
[URL="http://www.corriere.it/Hermes%20Foto/2005/11/20/0IQ7SMGM--180x140.jpg"][B]>Dinner at home 2<[/B][/URL]
[URL="http://www.sanpaolo.org/fc06/imgcucina/fc51cucinag.jpg"][B]>Dinner at home 3<[/URL]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The answer will be yes to both of your questions, Sally. Christmas is a very important time of the year for the family and houses are decorated. In the old times, women used to embroider specially decorated tablecloths to be used for these occasions. Nowadays, very few will spend time and effort doing that. Still, in Florence, near the Ponte Vecchio, there are a couple of shops specialising in hand made embroidery who have these for sale.... at a very high price. The "presepio" or Nativity scene is also very important. As for decorations, you can nowadays find all sorts like in any city in the world. Many of them "made in China". I mentioned in another thread the beautiful (and expensive) items which were for sale at "La Rinascente" in Florence. In Lucca there are also beautiful things to buy.
If you want a special treat for yourself, buy one of the "presepe", there are all sizes to suit any budget but it is a real collector's item.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I'd also like to mention Christmas Eve which is traditionally a fish menu and Italians spend fortunes and ages in preparing the dinner which is followed my mid-night mass.
They don't have crackers, though, and few people know what they are. I'm afraid our Christmas pud is beyond their comprehension!
What I miss most of all is the music - Christmas carols are low key and quite sad. They make me homesick more than anything else.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
B****y climbing Santas appear to be breeding this year as there are more than ever before of the ridiculous things climbing in and out of windows and up walls. And we've already spotted several metre high inflatable Santas bobbing about in the rain. Many houses have tinsel and/or lights around windows and doors and our village market plant man sold out of Christmas trees before 10 am last Saturday. Good prices too, Euros 15 for 2.5m high longer-lasting-needle variety in pots.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We are astonished by the elaborate decorations we see on the outside of houses locally that need expensive electricity to make them work as soon as it is dark....must be made of money...hum bug!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Enjoy this - [url=http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/4100382/11060132]Barack Obama in the Nativity? on Yahoo! Video[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Sally, I found your video interesting, but I agree with Sister Angelica, the traditional figurines are the best and there are so many to choose from.....
I have something special which was given to me by my late mother and that I always display. It is a beautiful figurine of Baby Jesus, about 40cm long, so almost natural size in His crib. This is the last figurine I put for display at midnight on the 24th of December and I always remove it and pack it away for the next year on the 7th of January, immediately after Epiphany to conmemorate when they had to seek refuge in Egypt. I also remove all decorations on that day.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I'll try to post this link again. I did try last night but was unsuccessful.
IF it works I think you will enjoy it - I saved it two or three years ago and still enjoy it. Though I wouldn't lke this guy's electricity bill! British Gas copied a tiny bit of the idea for an ad last year too... but this is the whole thing.
Open the Word Document and then using 'Ctrl' click on the link...
I hope it works, and hope you enjoy it!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Ok, slightly off thread but only a little.
I dont know if any of you have experienced that joy and pride watching your little one perform in his/her first Nativity play. Normally an occasion which brings tears to the eyes. Well, parents at my 4 year old grandson's first got more than they bargined for and are still nursing their ribs after laughing so much.
1. Mary arrived late!
2. The Angel Gabrielle howled like a wolf during Silent Night, HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOly night,
3. The King bringing the gold refused to give it up. (Must know more about the current credit crunch than he should)
4. One of the Shepheds tripped over the microphone cable.
5. Another King gave the myrrh to a shepherd because he couldn't see where he was going as his crown had slipped.
6. Last and best, the headmistress's cardigan caught fire on a candle.
All in the space of 15 mins.!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Loved it Aretina! Many of us who performed in the Navity play as little children, are marked for life! I once interviewed a young woman and asked her what was the worst thing that had ever happened to her? Reply....being a Curtain Angel. Explanation....She was terrified/frozen to the spot, whilst holding back the curtain throughout the play. Some 20 years later she had complete recall!
1). Yes.
2). Yes.