June 2009 Archives

Proverbs are a fascinating element in language, as they say so much about our cultures (and the human condition really) in so few words. And whats more there seem to be so many that are universal: different words, same meaning! If we take a step back, it makes perfect sense in that the world tends to operate in a similar way: different geographies, same experiences. Also when you consider that many proverbs are the linguistic equivalent of a mother's words of advice and/or disapproving finger shaking in your direction, it makes even more sense...as what culture doesn't have this aspect to it?? ;) Here's a select few of many Italian proverbs:

"Pigliar due piccioni con una fava"=to catch 2 pigeons with 1 fava bean...or as we'd say: killing 2 birds with one stone.

"Meglio tardi che mai"=better late than never!

"Uno sciocco e il suo denaro son presto separate"=a fool and his money are soon parted.

"I geni s'incontrano"=(lit.) geniuses meet each other...or as we'd say: great minds think alike!

"Tal padre, tal figlio"=like father, like son.

"Sbagliando s'impara"= (lit.) one learns from making mistakes...or as we'd say: Practice makes perfect!

"Chi dorme non piglia pesci"=(lit.) he who sleeps doesn't catch fish.

"Quando la gatta non e' in paese, i topi ballano"= (lit.) when the cat isn't in town, the mice dance...or as we'd say: When the cat's away, the mice will play!

"Quando a Roma vai, fa come vedrai"=(lit.) When you go to Rome, do as you see...or as we'd say: When in Rome, do as the Romans do!

"I muri hanno orecchi"=the walls have ears.

"La virtu' e' premio a se stessa"=Virtue is its own reward.

"Ride bene chi ride l'ultimo"=He who laughs last laughs best.

"Cuore forte rompe cattive sorte" (lit.) A strong heart breaks bad luck..or as we might say: Nothing is impossible with a willing heart.

"La casa nasconde, ma non ruba"= (li.) The house hides, but doesn't steal...it's what you say when you can't find something, but you know it'll turn up!

"La troppa curiosita' spinge l'uccello nella rete"=(lit.) Curiosity pushes the bird into the trap...or as we'd say: Curiosity killed the cat!

"Bella femina che ride vuol dire borsa che piange"=(lit.)A beautiful woman laughing means a purse that is crying...or as we might say: The smiles of a beautiful woman are the tears of the purse.

And lastly, maybe my favourite: "La madre degli idioti e' sempre incinta"=The mother of idiots is always pregnant.

The population estimates of Italy as of 2007 was about 60 million.

Italy's biggest cities (in order of size): Rome (~3 million), Milan (~1.3 million), Naples (~1 million), Turin (~900,000), Palermo (~680,000)

Italy is 87.8% Roman Catholic.

Though it has been unified since 1871, there is still a huge degree of disparity and differences between the North and the South. The Northern regions are more industrialized and prosperous compared to less developed and more agricultural southern regions. The origins of this comes from the Renaissance when the North prospered and grew while the South suffered and didn't develop under French and Spanish rule.

Some of Italy's major industries are cars, fashion/clothing/footwear, machinery, and tourism of course!

The officially recognized modern Italian language was actually established by poet/writer Dante Alighieri, who you may know from his works The Divine Comedy.

Italy has several active volcanos: Etna (the largest active volcano in all of Europe), Stromboli, Vulcano, and Vesuvius (also the culprit in the great eruption which destroyed ancient city of Pompeii).

The Bubonic Plague killed one third of Italy's population in 1348!

Italy has bragging rights for being the birthplace of: the Renaissance (started in Tuscany), astronomy, University, and the Vitruvian Man.

Here's some Vatican City 101 for curious brains!

The Vatican City, or the Holy See, is the smallest country in the world (both by population and by area). It has a population of about 900 people (100 and some change of which are it's army, the Swiss Guards), and a land area of about 110 acres.

Although the authority of the Roman Catholic Church have been around for much longer, the Vatican City was only recently granted its sovereignty from Italy in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty. Part of the agreement was that the Vatican would open it's art and antiquities collection to the public (the Vatican museums)!

The Vatican collections inside the Museums include some of the most famous works of art in the world! Including works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Bernini.

The head of the Vatican City is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The Pope lives in the Apostolic Palace, located (and well guarded) within the city walls.

The Popes have lived in the area now known as the Vatican City since 1377. Before this time (and before living in France during the period from 1305-1377), the Popes lived in the Lateran Palace in an area of Rome closer to the Colosseum.

The official language of the Vatican City is Italian, though the official language for all legal documents is still Latin. It's rumored there is an ATM inside with Latin as a language option!

There are certain "properties" of the Vatican State which are located outside its city walls, for example Castel Gandolfo, and some major cathedrals like San Giovanni and Santa Maria Maggiore. In these cases they are actually guarded by Vatican police and not Italian police.

The enormous obelisk in the center of St. Peter's Square came from Heliopolis, Egypt. It was taken by the emperor Caligula and used to decorate his circus, which used to be in this very spot in the 1st century AD.

St. Peter's Basilica is built on the spot where it's said that Peter was crucified upside-down. Excavations underneath the basilica have discovered the remains believed to be St. Peter, dating to the 1st century AD and missing the feet (consistent with the belief that Peter was cut off at the ankles from the cross after crucifixion).

The currency of the Vatican is the Euro. Just like all other countries in the European Union, the Vatican has a mint and produces its own Euros (Euro coins are distinguishable by the back of them which has a symbol or picture unique to the country of origin). But if you come across a Vatican Euro, you might think twice about spending it on a gelato, as they are extremely hard to come by.

The Swiss Guards have been officially the army of and guardians to the Pope and the Vatican City since 1506 (though earlier Popes had employed Swiss mercenaries as members of their army before).

Citizenship of the Vatican State is granted to those who are employed and/or invited to reside inside, and spouses or children of people employed inside. But! It's temporary for most, as it is revoked as soon as you are no longer employed! 80% of the people with Vatican citizenship are members of the clergy.

Send a postcard from the Vatican, because the Vatican has its own postal system, boasted as being the best postal system in the world!

June in Italy is full of lots of festivities. There's a few major holidays, plus a lot of outdoor public events going on. Brave the heat, grab some sunscreen and take a look!

Corpus Domini is June 11th this year, and a major celebration by the Roman Catholic church. Usually it it celebrated with a procession through the city. Some processions worth noting are in Orvieto and Castelrotto. Also you'll see the beautiful "infiorate", which are basically drawings and designs on the ground made solely of flower petals.

La Festa della Repubblica is a national holiday on June 2nd. In Rome on this day there's a huge military procession through the historic center, down via Fori Imperiali! It's also the one day of the year when the Palazzo del Quirinale (Presidential Palace) is open to the public, from 3pm until 8pm.

Saint Ranieri: Pisa's patron Saint Ranieri is honoured on June 16th. They fill their bridged and buildings along the river with thousands of "lumini" (glass candle holders).

June in Lecce means all things olive...they celebrate olives, olive oil, and food in general!

In Lake Como there will be hundreds of little candle-lit lamps floating and fireworks above for the Sagra di San Giovanni, on the weekend nearest the feast day of Saint John on June 24th.

There's the International Ceramics Festival in a town in Tuscany called Montelupo (though surely you'll have no problems finding artisan-made ceramics all over Tuscany) which is usually the last week of June.

In Puglia you can overdose in brightly colored cherries during the festivities that surround harvest time.

Festival dei Due Mondi, or the Festival of Two Worlds, happens towards the end of the month in Spoleto. It's a famous cultural extravaganza of jazz and exhibits.

And last, but definitely not least, La Sagra dell'Aubrie (my birthday) on June 28th. ;)