How To Holiday Like An Italian

{"category":"Out of Office","body":{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"space":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"Space","id":"iy53htc1d0h4"}},"id":"17aJpdKcZlzV1m0iI4uzhb","type":"Entry","createdAt":"2019-12-13T20:38:45.263Z","updatedAt":"2019-12-13T20:38:45.263Z","environment":{"sys":{"id":"master","type":"Link","linkType":"Environment"}},"revision":1,"contentType":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"ContentType","id":"imageSet"}},"locale":"en-US"},"fields":{"images":[{"sys":{"space":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"Space","id":"iy53htc1d0h4"}},"id":"1ncSbUX3Gpll6cohsvFRNV","type":"Asset","createdAt":"2019-12-13T20:38:42.165Z","updatedAt":"2019-12-13T20:38:42.165Z","environment":{"sys":{"id":"master","type":"Link","linkType":"Environment"}},"revision":1,"locale":"en-US"},"fields":{"title":"visit milano hero Desk","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iy53htc1d0h4/1ncSbUX3Gpll6cohsvFRNV/7b01cce52da19c80d8ebc2ab2114f94c/visit_milano_hero_Desk.jpg","details":{"size":1890823,"image":{"width":1670,"height":1056}},"fileName":"visit_milano_hero_Desk.jpg","contentType":"image/jpeg"}}}],"caption":"@visit_milano & @_fede.manzo_ on Instagram"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Northern","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Patron Saint Sant’Ambrogio ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Across Italy, every town has a patron saint that protects it. In Milan, the Feast of Saint Ambrose (Ambrogio) is a public holiday that is celebrated annually on December 7th. There is a dedicated church service and mass honoring him at one of the city’s oldest churches, the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio. Another highlight is the ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Oh Bej! Oh Bej! ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"street market—one of the oldest traditions in the city with its’ origins tracing back to 1288. Attracting thousands of tourists and locals each year, it is a huge market with over 350 vendors selling arts, crafts, antiques, clothes, seasonal sweets and desserts, and decorations. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The origin of the market name dates back to 1510, when Giannetto Castiglione, delegate of Pope Pius IV, visited Milan on December 7. Giannetto wanted to ingratiate himself with the Milanese, and thus entered the city carrying boxes full of sweets and toys for children. The name ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"“Oh bej! Oh bej!”","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" (“How wonderful! How wonderful!“) is a reference to the cheerful shouts of the Milanese children who received presents from him.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"space":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"Space","id":"iy53htc1d0h4"}},"id":"5tI99ABrwQtJdb8Kjq3PLa","type":"Entry","createdAt":"2019-12-13T20:39:25.767Z","updatedAt":"2019-12-13T20:39:25.767Z","environment":{"sys":{"id":"master","type":"Link","linkType":"Environment"}},"revision":1,"contentType":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"ContentType","id":"imageSet"}},"locale":"en-US"},"fields":{"images":[{"sys":{"space":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"Space","id":"iy53htc1d0h4"}},"id":"4KomkDfXI50dXw0UxIbKl7","type":"Asset","createdAt":"2019-12-13T20:39:23.404Z","updatedAt":"2019-12-13T20:39:23.404Z","environment":{"sys":{"id":"master","type":"Link","linkType":"Environment"}},"revision":1,"locale":"en-US"},"fields":{"title":"novelrie 2 Desk","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iy53htc1d0h4/4KomkDfXI50dXw0UxIbKl7/783ad7beceb62d84e1baa27220e363ca/novelrie_2_Desk.jpg","details":{"size":1609291,"image":{"width":1678,"height":1160}},"fileName":"novelrie_2_Desk.jpg","contentType":"image/jpeg"}}}],"caption":"@novelrie on Instagram"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Central ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"La Befana ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"While many children receive gifts from Saint Nicolo or Father Christmas, a uniquely Italian tradition is that of ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"La Befana","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", an elderly woman who brings children gifts and sweets on the Eve the Epiphany on January 6th, which marks the end of the Christian Christmas calendar. The legend itself is thousands of years old and claims that while the Three Wise Men or Three Magi were passing through villages on their way to see the Birth of Christ seeking gifts and followers, ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"La Befana","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" declined their request as she was “too busy with housework.” ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Soon after, she changed her mind and frantically went in search of the Three Magi bearing gifts with her broomstick still in hand. But, unable to find them, she is said to be still searching for the Child.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Ever since then, the woman has been known as ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"La Befana ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"or simply ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Befana ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"and on the Eve of the Ephiphany, she flies from house to house delivering gifts and sweets to good children, and onions, garlic, and coal to those who have acted poorly over the last year. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"She is commonly depicted in a dress covered by a black shawl covered in soot from the chimneys she climbs down to deliver the toys and presents. Children hang hand-stitched stockings along fireplaces and write her long letters anxiously anticipating her arrival. \n","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"space":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"Space","id":"iy53htc1d0h4"}},"id":"1Zh1me5WCjhwV7p1Y855md","type":"Entry","createdAt":"2019-12-13T20:40:28.512Z","updatedAt":"2019-12-13T20:40:28.512Z","environment":{"sys":{"id":"master","type":"Link","linkType":"Environment"}},"revision":1,"contentType":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"ContentType","id":"imageSet"}},"locale":"en-US"},"fields":{"images":[{"sys":{"space":{"sys":{"type":"Link","linkType":"Space","id":"iy53htc1d0h4"}},"id":"1mPUMfyLRrZJPewu3Bgqcr","type":"Asset","createdAt":"2019-12-13T20:40:25.674Z","updatedAt":"2019-12-13T20:40:25.674Z","environment":{"sys":{"id":"master","type":"Link","linkType":"Environment"}},"revision":1,"locale":"en-US"},"fields":{"title":"bugelli barbara 3 Desk","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iy53htc1d0h4/1mPUMfyLRrZJPewu3Bgqcr/cfcd8859916c5819854b6e8388b5db9e/bugelli_barbara_3_Desk.jpg","details":{"size":2287249,"image":{"width":1670,"height":1150}},"fileName":"bugelli_barbara_3_Desk.jpg","contentType":"image/jpeg"}}}],"caption":"@bugelli_barbara on Instagram"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"underline"}],"value":"Southern","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Bagpipes & Italian Bingo ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"No Italian Christmas would be complete without the sound of bagpipes, or the ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Zampognari","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Dating back to ancient Roman times, bagpipe-playing shepherds would descend in pairs from their hillside mountain villages into the piazzas, or market squares, to entertain the townspeople. They still keep with tradition and are clothed in sheepskin vests, pleated, wool skirts, and a pointed hat. Historically, the piper is accompanied by a shawm, a medieval woodwind instrument; but more commonly today’s pipers are usually accompanied by an oboe player. Popular all over Italy, the ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"zampognari","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" are most notable in the Southern regions including Abruzzo, Campania, Molise, Puglia, and Lazio.\n\nAlso popular around the holidays is the board game, ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"tombola","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":".  A lottery-style, 90-square colorful board game similar to bingo, the most-played version originated in Naples in the 19th century. It is frequently enjoyed by grandparents and children alike and joins the whole family for hours of play. The full rules of ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"tombola ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"can be found ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.italianfoundation.org/wp_cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tombola_Smorfia_Rules.pdf"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"here","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Buona Festa from our M.Gemi family to yours!","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"\n","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}}