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 Fashion as a Way of Life
in Italy by deecat
What I really discovered is that Italians like to look fashionable, even if they are just going out for a stroll. Some Italians are so fashion conscious that they wear only designer labels.
Since ancient times, Italians have manufactured & traded rich fabrics. Today, some of the world's most famous fashion houses are based in Italy. The fashion & clothing trade is Italy's second largest industry after tourism. I'm sure that you have heard of such fashion giants as Giorgio Armani of Milan who is most famous for designing suits; Benetton makes sweaters & other knitwear; Valentino of Rome designs mostly women's dresses; elegant clothes in unusual fabrics by Miuccia Prada; Ferragamo & Gucci's shoes with the long-standing Italian tradition of excellence in leather work; other designers such as Biagiotti, Ungaro, Dolce e Gabbana, Ottavio & Rosita; Mariuccia Mandelli, Missoni, &, of course, the house of Versace.
Milan has established itself as one of the fashion capitals of the world. Twice each year, this city hosts its Collezione, or "Collections," fashion shows This is where fashion designers, photographers, journalist, & models from around the world attend these shows.
Although Italians wear the same kinds of clothing that North Americans do--pants, shirts, & dresses--their clothing is more stylish. Until about 20 years ago, Italians rarely wore shorts because shorts were considered sportswear. For me personally, I find it sad that Italian teens are starting to dress more casually, like North American teens.
If you don't want to feel "frumpy", don't dress in sweat suits, t-shirts, & white tennis shoes....you'll be sorry. Leave a Comment
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 Plaza Roma Gas Station Bar
near Venice by deecat
We were on our way back to Venice to return our rental car that we used in the northern parts of Italy.
We stopped at a gas station nearby to fill up the tank before we turned in the car. Allan went inside the station to use the restroom. When he returned to the car, he said that I just had to see the inside of this place.
Well, needless to say, I was impressed. First of all, it was so clean, virtually spotless. The rest rooms were just incredible.
A mother and daughter (in the photograph) tended the bar inside. Allan and I looked at each other in wonder. Of course, there were people at the bar drinking alcoholic beverages, and it was not even noon yet. This station was out in "no man's land" so all the customers had driven a car here, and they would drive their cars after partaking of the liquor.
Wonders never cease. Leave a Comment
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 Laundry hung Outside in
Ferrara by deecat
While staying in Gaeta, our apartment had an automatic washing machine but no dryer. We asked the landlord if that was typical, and he said that most people prefer to hang out their laundry. They feel it has a "fresher" feel and smell to it.
Even the wealthy hang out the wash. That's so strange to me because there are sub-divisions in many American towns and Condo Associations in cities that forbid hanging out the laundry.
Seeing the landry drying on lines certainly brought back memories from my childhood. It was a weekly chore to hang out the wash and then take down the dried items, folding them neatly and placing them in the basket.
I must admit, I do love the smell of fresh laundry that has been air-dried outside.
I took this particular photograph in Ferrara at the end of a narrow alleyway.
I think that the Italians have it right! Leave a Comment
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Christmas [Natale] in Italy is an entire season, not just a day. The 9 days before Natale, costumed musicians play bagpipes in the streets, & special church services are held.
On Natale eve, families gather for a feast. Usually, the whole extended family gets together at the multicourse dinner. This dinner centers on fish. Children sing carols & receive coins & praise from the elders. An old game similar to bingo is played after the feast & before the midnight Mass.
On Natale, it's quiet because most people relax at home. Another feast happens, & this one usually starts with a very rich stuffed pasta served in broth; next comes stuffed turkey or capon; plenty of delicious traditional sweets are then eaten. They vary from region to region.
The family has usually set up a nativity scene in the living room. I saw one & thought it certainly looked like an Italian town rather than Bethlehem. These sets of the nativity are passed from generation to generation The celebration goes for 12 days until Epiphany [January 6].
A week after Natale, the Italians celebrate Capodanno or New Year's. They attend parties & fireworks. The people open windows on Capodanno day to let out the old year.
12 days after Natale, Epiphany is celebrated to remember when the 3 Wise Men reached Bethlehem.
Even though Italy now includes Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus in the celebration, most Italian children are more excited about a different figure: Befana, a woman who was too busy to go with the Wise Men. She planned to see them on their way back, but the 3 returned by a different route.
Each year on Epiphany, Befana searches for the Wise Men as she rides on a broom or a donkey, bringing gifts to the children. She leaves candies & toys for the good children & a lump of coal for naughty children. Sometimes the children dress up in costumes that imitate Befana & go to neighbors' houses to receive small gifts [usually fruit & nuts.] These are called "Befanati". Leave a Comment
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I thought that it would be easy in Italy because I thought everyone living in Italy spoke the standard, written form of the Italian Language. WRONG! Many local dialects still survive in many areas of Italy, including places that we visited such as Sicily, Naples, and Venice. And, people who speak one Italian dialect do not necessarily understand those who speak another.
Also, foreign languages are used in several border areas. German is common near Austria, and Frence is spoken in Piedmont and in the Valle d'Aosta. In addition, speakers of Slovenian and Croatian live near the city of Trieste. Furthermore, many Albanian and Greek immigrants in southern Italy communicate in their native tongues. Just be aware when you travel from one area to another, the language is not always the same.
Italy has a population of 58 million, but the country is now at a stage where the death rate is higher than its birth rate. Thus, without immigration, Italy's population will decline.
But, because of its long coastline, Italy is vulnerable to illegal immigration, especially from Albania and the countries of North Africa. Recently, Italy has drafted much stricter immigration laws to try to stem the flow of these illegal immigrants. Italy has always offered asylum to people with a genuine fear of persecution in their home countries. However, it is now swamped by these migrants from places such as Kosovo and Bosnia. So, Italy has many tough decisions to make.
We were told that the Italian government has recognized the official use of Sardinian and Friulian [a northeastern Italian language] in their respective areas. Leave a Comment
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 Il' Campo Piazza in Siena by deecat
I love the emphasis on leisure time in Italy. The cafes, private homes, and restaurants are all popular spots for social gatherings in Italy. And every town has a piazza [pe-AH-tsah] or open square, where everyone gathers to shop, chat, play cards, or eat. Italians also spend leisure time each evening taking a passeggiata [pah-seh-jee-AH-tah]. The passeggiata is the evening walk where people meet to gossip, show their new clothing, "carry on" about the babies, argue, window shop, and enjoy life.
Much of Italy rests in August when people go to resorts for vacations. It used to be that most Italians stayed in Italy for the holidays; however, lately, an increasing number travel to other countries. Italians have long vacations in comparison to other European countries or the USA. They have between four and six weeks a year which they take as longer trips of 2 weeks or more in summer and short breaks at other times.
Italians love their soccer [football] and are very loyal to their home team. During their free time, many Italians enjoy attending the opera, reading newspapers/magazines, and watching television.
I was surprised at the number of people who have [and seem to use constantly] cell phones. I thought that it was only Americans who were so obsessed.
Italians also love to sit at outdoor cafes watching people as they sip coffee or wine. I think the fun that Italians express and the close family connections are two more reasons I admire the Italians so much. Leave a Comment
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As an educator for over thirty years myself, I'm always interested in the educational system in the countries that I visit. From people that I met on the three visits to Italy, I discovered the following about education in Italy.
From September [in the south, where the summer is long and hot, school starts at the end of September] until mid-June, Italian schools are open.
Children attend school SIX days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. But two days a week, the students go back in the afternoon. And some working parents send their children to school for the whole day from 8:30 a.m. until 4:15 p.m.
In the cafeteria, children do not get their own food. They sit at tables and are served by the school's lunch staff.
They have a 3-month summer vacation, but most children do "vacation homework" to review the year's school work.
Italian children are serious about school. In first grade, the children begin to study another language. Most learn English, but some study German or French. Because school is so important in Italy, the children spend many hours studying.
They have 5 years of primary education, which starts at age 6. Then, students take an examination to enter middle school.
When students are 14, they attend on of 3 types of secondary schools:
liceo [lee-CHAY-oh] offers classes in the arts, languages, and sciences.
Technical institutes offer vocational classes.
Magistrale [mah-gee-STRAH-lay] provides an education for future teachers.
Then the students take a nationwide examination to enter a university. More than 1.2 million students attend Italy's universities; others attend universities in other countries.
Public school students dress casually, wearing jeans, sweaters, or sweatshirts. Children who attend private schools wear uniforms. Leave a Comment
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 One of the Many Festival
Parades Held in Gaeta by deecat
For instance, a Jubilee is a special celebration that the Church declares on certain years. It's a chance for Roman Catholics to visit Rome and Vatican City to attend special ceremonies. I remember that the Jubilee in the year 2000 was the largest one so far in history
Carnevale means "goodbye to meat", and Carnevale is celebrated just before Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting during which Roman Catholics often do not eat meat or rich foods.
So, in February or March, Italians in towns & cities dress in costumes to take part in special fairs, feasts, and parades. These celebrations last anywhere from a few days to a week. Venice holds some of the largest Carnevale events. I sure would love to see the long parade of gondolas and a grand parade to the cathedral...people wear remarkable masks and clothes of the 1700s...all the movies I've seen make Carnevale in Venice seem mystical.
We were in Italy during Easter one year, and we learned about Pasqua[Easter] where families hold a special Pasqua feast of lamb followed by cakes and chocolate eggs. Of course, St. Peter's Square in Vatican City is the center of Italy's Pasqua celebrations.
In Florence, the people celebrate Pasqua with the Scoppio del Carro or "Explosion of the Cart". This is when a team of white oxen pull a car loaded with fireworks and flowers into the piazza in front of the city's cathedral. After church service, the priest lights a small rocket attached to a mechanical dove. Then the dove shoots along a wire and out of the church toward the cart, which lights the fireworks! Leave a Comment
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 Trevi Fountain by deecat
The fountain is really thefacade of a large palace decorated with statues and bas-reliefs on heaps of rocks. The water seems to gush out from every part. The Virgin Water was brought to Rome by means of an aqueduct.
We first saw the fountain in 1997,and it had a thorough restoration in 1991, which brought it back to its original splendor.
Note: It is quite difficult to take a good photo because of the mass of people who stand around it. Also, you have trouble getting back far enough to take in the entire edifice. Be sure to see it both in the daylight hours and at night with the lights. Leave a Comment
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 Costumed Musician During
Festivities in Gaeta by deecat
We were also in Italy twice for Italy's most important non-religious holiday, the Anniversario della Liberazione, or Liberation Day, on April 25.. This holiday celebrates the anniversary of Italy's freedom from the German occupation of their country during World War II.
We have been in Italy on Primo Maggio, May 1 also. It's called "Labor Day" or "May Day" & celebrates the hard work of Italy's many laborers. The unions organize parades, give speeches, & listen to concerts.
One of the most unusual festivals, I feel, is the Cricket Festival in Florence. It's their celebration of springtime with a special cricket festival that they call Festa del Grillo. It takes place 40 days after Pasqua.
Families buy crickets [the cricket's song is a symbol of spring]. Towns have special stalls for selling the crickets! Everyone gathers for games & feasting at Florence's Cascine Park. The believe is that "if the cricket is still singing by bedtime, it is a sign of good luck".
In wine regions, the grape harvest is celebrated. Food is honored in festivals such as the Fair of Mutton Chops in Castel San Pietro or the Festival of Spaghetti in Torre Annunziata.
The world-famous Festival of Two Worlds celebrates music, drama, & dance each year in Spoleto. In Marostica, the town square is turned into a giant chessboard with costumed humans taking the role of the chess pieces. Around all of Italy, food festivals called sagre celebrate the ripening & harvesting of local crops. Leave a Comment
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