It's not always so easy here. This year I resorted to making mini-Jack o' Lanterns from Melinda-brand golden delicious apples instead of sculpting a nice orange American pumpkin. I was in the Dolomites for Halloween this year and it is not as easy to get American-style things there. Then I was further disappointed last night because my lanterns were outside during the rainiest eve of the last 5 years, in my opinion. There wasn't a soul outside to even enjoy them during the deluge that hit this area this weekend.
Next year will be better I'm sure. Then again, I'm not in the US so I shouldn't expect much. Yet in recent years Italy has put more and more effort into promoting this American tradition. What started as an excuse for extra sales in shops like the cartoleria selling masks and witch hats and theme-nights for pubs and bars, has become an authentically borrowed festivity.
The kids in my building hanged pumpkin streamers in the stairwell 10 days ago. The elementary school teachers are doing units about the Halloween traditions. The Italians can now go trick-or-treating in the malls like many US childen do. At least this is what happens in the city.
However this year in the Dolomites, Halloween did not seem to have any impact. Rather, the people were more concerned about their own holidays: Ognissanti (All Saints' Day) today and La Festa dei Morti (The Holiday of the Dead) tomorrow. In their tradition, church was in order today to honor the saints and tomorrow they will be visiting the cemetaries and their deceased relatives to pay respects.
Showing posts with label halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label halloween. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween in Italy? Not Really
Italy tries to borrow a lot of American tradition. High school students want to organize "prom" their last year like they see in our films. Santa Clause now brings Christmas presents on Christmas Day instead of the traditional Befana delivering them on the Epiphany, a more Catholic version of the giving.
Halloween has been promoted steadily since I first came to Italy about 10 years ago. The children sometimes dress up. The bars host themed parties as an "exotic" and rather easy way to create a novel environment for a night and attract more customers. Clubs do the same. But most of what I see here is just a lot of merchandise being sold at the cartoleria and a few orange pumpkins appearing in the local supermarkets for inflated prices.
It's just not the same. Rarely do I see an honest homemade costume. The energy is simply not right among supposed revellers.
I wonder why this American tradition was borrowed by this country when it has no real place or connection to this particular culture. As for costumes, Carnival offers Italians 2 weeks of time to don a different face or persona, so there is no need to do the same now in October. Once a year is enough.
Pumpkins don't naturally grow here. They have to cultivate the special squash variety precisely for this foreign holiday. Nothing is indigenous about the whole thing.
This holiday is another example of globalization gone wrong. We really don't need to celebrate Halloween all around the world. As for those of us in Italy, just wait til winter and you've got Carnival to be masked and mischievous!
Halloween has been promoted steadily since I first came to Italy about 10 years ago. The children sometimes dress up. The bars host themed parties as an "exotic" and rather easy way to create a novel environment for a night and attract more customers. Clubs do the same. But most of what I see here is just a lot of merchandise being sold at the cartoleria and a few orange pumpkins appearing in the local supermarkets for inflated prices.
It's just not the same. Rarely do I see an honest homemade costume. The energy is simply not right among supposed revellers.
I wonder why this American tradition was borrowed by this country when it has no real place or connection to this particular culture. As for costumes, Carnival offers Italians 2 weeks of time to don a different face or persona, so there is no need to do the same now in October. Once a year is enough.
Pumpkins don't naturally grow here. They have to cultivate the special squash variety precisely for this foreign holiday. Nothing is indigenous about the whole thing.
This holiday is another example of globalization gone wrong. We really don't need to celebrate Halloween all around the world. As for those of us in Italy, just wait til winter and you've got Carnival to be masked and mischievous!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Tour del Gelato: Los Andes
Eat a dream
That would be the flavor Sogno at Los Andes, an excellent gelateria in Padua which I am adding to the Tour del Gelato hosted by Ms. Adventures in Italy.
(Sogno ingredients: coconut and almonds)
Click here for the official Tour del Gelato blogroll.
As the name Los Andes reveals, the owners have a passion for South America and ice cream. Their delicious flavors include the normal line-up of vanilla, chocolate and fruit varieties, as well as Tierra del Fuego in honor of Chile's landscape and Mar del Plata. The South American tastes often include the ingredient Dulce de Leche, for an exotic flair.
The locals stop here on a Sunday afternoon while biking or strolling along the riverbanks nearby that cross through Terranegra, the neighborhood that houses Los Andes. During the week when school is in session, mothers and children get in line at the end of the school day from the English Language School of Padua. This means that lots of the kids found at Los Andes can speak English so they could even help you order your own cup or cone. I took this picture during the unofficial "children's hour" with tons of tots wandering around and salivating over their gelato.
If you are fending for yourself and need some pointers about how to order a good gelato on your own, consult this link from WhyGo Italy for excellent advice on vocabulary and gelato philosophy.
Outside Los Andes, at the corner of the Residence Terranegra
The husband and wife owners, Donato and Angelica, in front of their fruit shake section. This is a favorite for the ladies who want to eat something fresh without the guilt of a caloric gelato. Los Andes offers about 20 combinations with apple, orange, kiwi, pineapple, banana, ginger and more! Fruit shake is centrifuga in Italian.
The owners with their gelato assistant John from Colombia. The partitially-covered sign on the wall reads "il gelato artigianale per passione" (homemade ice cream with passion) and the flavors at Los Andes prove that statement both in the quality of their ingredients and obvious dedication.
Don't worry about fall and winter's arrival. Los Andes has special themes and launches for the changing seasons. Halloween will inspire flavors like la zucca assassina (Killer Pumpkin), la vedova nera (The Black Widow), il morso di Dracula (Dracula's Bite). Also for October, about 50 chocolate flavors will arrive at the gelataio's discretion ranging from white chocolate to 100% cocoa. An Angolo del Thé (tea corner) is planned for the winter where a high-quality selection of teas will be available to add to the gelato delights.
Yes, Los Andes is off the beaten track of Padua's tourist areas but well worth the trip. Even the Gambero Rosso agrees, based of what I hear! Take bus line 4 south from the city center to the final stop "Terranegra" (about 10-15 minute ride) and continue north a couple of blocks to get your cooling gelato thrill next the Alì supermarket in the Residence Terranegra complex on the left.
A good idea might be to come out of the city center after a day of touring Giotto and Saint Anthony wonders, have a delicious gelato or centrifuga and then walk those calories off along the nearby riverbank, just like the locals do! It's a slowfood philosophy gelato solution!
Los Andes di Furlan Donato
Gelateria Artigianale-Caffetteria
Via Mons. G. Fortin, 43
35128 Padova (Terranegra)
tel and fax: 049.8022382
closed on Tuesdays
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