Ecco, il grande giorno è arrivato.
Questa notte grande attesa e trepidazione per molti bambini in alcune regioni italiane, sta per arrivare Santa Lucia che porterà doni e dolci ai bambini buoni (ed anche a quelli più bricconcelli, lei è una Santa e perdona tanto!).
Da piccola non seguivo questa tradizione avendo trascorso la mia infanzia e giovinezza a Milano, dove aspettavo fino alla notte di Natale per l'arrivo di Gesù Bambino (per molti Babbo Natale). I miei cugini salernitani, invece, dovevano aspettare fino alla notte del 6 gennaio, quando la Befana faceva il giro di tutte le case sulla sua scopa volante. In alcune paesi montani del Trentino e dell'Alto Adige, si segue ancora la tradizione nordica dell'arrivo di San Nikolaus il 6 dicembre. In ogni caso, per tutti si scrive la letterina e si attende poi fiduciosi la mattina del risveglio!
Si dia quindi ufficialmente inizio ai festeggiamenti natalizi, questi giorni saranno per noi giorni pieni di molteplici anniversari, dal mio compleanno ( e non solo) al mio anniversario di nozze, per culminare poi nel giorno più atteso dell'anno, la vigilia e la consacrazione del Santo Natale.
Sarò molto impegnata in cucina, in addobbi, in regalini homemade ... sarà un periodo ancora più intimo e coinvolgente da trascorrere in casa con il prezioso e valido aiuto di chi si offre in gustosissime e piacevoli attività!
Ho trovato in rete questa storia (ma anche molte altre di tanti paesi) molto interessante riguardo tradizioni e costumi del periodo natalizio.
Un aperitivo semplice ma colorato e festoso: fresche bollicine festaiole impreziosite da dolci e succosi semi rossi di melograno (punica granatum), da sempre considerato il frutto della fertilità, dell'abbondanza e del buon augurio (non a caso i pittori dei secoli XV e XVI mettevano spesso una melagrana nella mano di Gesu' Bambino, alludendo alla nuova vita donataci da Cristo). Qui alcune proprietà benefiche del frutto.
Ingredienti:
un paio di melagrane mature
prosecco o champagne
- Aprire la melagrana a metà ed estrarre tutti i semi. Frullarli brevemente in un mixer (tenerne da parte qualcuno), versare in un bicchiere e lasciare riposare qualche ora (anche in frigo) in modo che la parte liquida rossa e limpida risalga in superficie e il siero torbido si depositi sul fondo.
- Mettere qualche chicco di melagrana nei bicchieri, aggiungere due dita di succo ed allungare con il vino frizzante fresco (presto i semi risaliranno presto a galla!).
This recipe is my personal entry to WHB # 263 hosted by
Huan from Eat.Read.Live for English edition
Kristina from Tutto a Occhio for Italian edition
Thanks again to Haalo who manages greatfully all events,
and to Brii for the Italian edition.
Thanks again to Kalyn for her successfull idea!
Huan from Eat.Read.Live for English edition
Kristina from Tutto a Occhio for Italian edition
Thanks again to Haalo who manages greatfully all events,
and to Brii for the Italian edition.
Thanks again to Kalyn for her successfull idea!
Who's hosting
WHB Rules
Sparkling Happy Holidays Cocktail
- Open the pomegranate in half and remove all seeds. Briefly blender them in a mixer (keepsome aside), pour into a glass and let stand a few hours (even in the refrigerator) to allow liquid turn back to the surface red and clear, the muddy part will deposit at the bottom.
- Put a few grains of pomegranate in the glasses, add a little bit of juice and fill up with sparkling wine (the seeds will soon come up to the surface soon!).
WHB Rules
Sparkling Happy Holidays Cocktail
Here we are, the magical day is just around the corner!
Tonight great expectation and trepidation for many children in some Italian regions, Saint Lucy is coming and will bring gifts and sweets to good children (and even to the naughty ones, she is a Saint and used to forgive!).
When I was a child, I did not follow this tradition. I spent my childhood and youth in Milan, where I had to wait until Christmas Eve for the arrival of Baby Jesus (for many Santa Claus). My dear cousins in Salerno (near Naples) however, had to wait until January 6th, when Befana comes and stops in all the houses on her flying broom. In some mountain villages in Trentino and Alto Adige, they still follows the Nordic European tradition and wait for St. Nicholas on December 6th. In any case, everyone writes his own letter and wait so confident to wake up on the following morning!
So let's give then an officially start to Christmas celebrations, these days will be very anniversaries' crowded for our family, from my birthday (and not only mine) to my wedding anniversary, ending up with the most expected, Christams Eve and Christmas Day.
When I was a child, I did not follow this tradition. I spent my childhood and youth in Milan, where I had to wait until Christmas Eve for the arrival of Baby Jesus (for many Santa Claus). My dear cousins in Salerno (near Naples) however, had to wait until January 6th, when Befana comes and stops in all the houses on her flying broom. In some mountain villages in Trentino and Alto Adige, they still follows the Nordic European tradition and wait for St. Nicholas on December 6th. In any case, everyone writes his own letter and wait so confident to wake up on the following morning!
So let's give then an officially start to Christmas celebrations, these days will be very anniversaries' crowded for our family, from my birthday (and not only mine) to my wedding anniversary, ending up with the most expected, Christams Eve and Christmas Day.
I will be very busy in the kitchen, decorating till the last minute, preparing homemade goodies and gifts ... it will be a more intimate time to spend at home in tasty and enjoyable activities: anyone offering precious help is welcome!
And what better than a festive brilliant red sparkling drink with sweet and juicy seeds of pomegranate to celebrate our holidays? Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has always been considered the fruit of fertility, abundance and good luck. In fact XV e XVI centuries' painters often put a pomegranate in the hand of Jesus Child, alluding to the new life brought by Christ. In ancient Greece this plant was sacred to Juno (Zeus' wife) and Venus (goddess of love ). Roman brides used to weave branches of pomegranate in their hair. The significant number of its grains has inspired many legends: in Vietnam they use to halve the fruit whiich will bring two hundred children, Turkish brides throw the fruit to the ground and they will have as many babies as the grains released. In Dalmatia the husband takes a pomegranate plant from his father-in-law's garden to his own garden. In Indian they believe that the juice of this fruit is very active against infertility.
And what better than a festive brilliant red sparkling drink with sweet and juicy seeds of pomegranate to celebrate our holidays? Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has always been considered the fruit of fertility, abundance and good luck. In fact XV e XVI centuries' painters often put a pomegranate in the hand of Jesus Child, alluding to the new life brought by Christ. In ancient Greece this plant was sacred to Juno (Zeus' wife) and Venus (goddess of love ). Roman brides used to weave branches of pomegranate in their hair. The significant number of its grains has inspired many legends: in Vietnam they use to halve the fruit whiich will bring two hundred children, Turkish brides throw the fruit to the ground and they will have as many babies as the grains released. In Dalmatia the husband takes a pomegranate plant from his father-in-law's garden to his own garden. In Indian they believe that the juice of this fruit is very active against infertility.
You need:
a couple of ripe pomegranates
prosecco or champagne
- Open the pomegranate in half and remove all seeds. Briefly blender them in a mixer (keepsome aside), pour into a glass and let stand a few hours (even in the refrigerator) to allow liquid turn back to the surface red and clear, the muddy part will deposit at the bottom.
- Put a few grains of pomegranate in the glasses, add a little bit of juice and fill up with sparkling wine (the seeds will soon come up to the surface soon!).
6 commenti:
Auguri per tutto, cara!
Periodo intenso eh?!?? Beh questo bicchiere fa già festa!
Mi viene in mente solo Natale! :)
Auguroni!
Un bacio
Auguroni per tutto Cindy! :D Baci
Auguri cara Cindy, buona festa a te e al resto della ciurma. Bacio :-)
Grazie, Simo, sei sempre un tesoro!
Vicky,è tanto che volevo fare questo post,adoro le melagrane e poi mi piacevano i chicchi che venivano a galla! Periodo ogni anno sempre più incasinatissimo, mi riprometto di arrivare con piùcalma e piùorganizzata ma ... sembra sempre di nuotare controcorrente ... o gli anni che si aggiungono pesano di più???
Silvietta, grazie, speero anche per te un Natale gioioso e sereno!
Pagnottina, grazie mille!
Emi, grazie cara, sabato inizieremo i festeggiamenti col grande tacchino, ricordi? ... che bei tempi andati ... sarebbe da ripetere!
Smack a tutti!
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