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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

La Befana, the Italian Christmas witch and I have a lovely gift for you!

January 3, 2017 by Melissa Muldoon Leave a Comment

befana-italian-christmas-witch-Dreaming-Sophia-Excerpt-Novel-set-Italy

Christmas has been celebrated and a new year has arrived with lots of pomp and circumstance. It seems like the holidays are finally winding down. Time to think about packing things away in boxes and clear the way for a brand new year.

Christmas is over… or is it?

The holiday season might be over and done within most parts of the world, but not in Italy. All the Italian children still await the arrival of the Befana. Who is the Befana you ask? She is the good witch who arrives on January 6th. She brings toys and sweets to fill their stockings. (Sound a little familiar?) The day of the Befana falls on Epiphany, the day the three wise men,  guided by a star arrived discovered Gesu, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

befana-italian-christmas-witch-Dreaming-Sophia-Excerpt-Novel-set-Italy
La Befana!

Would you like to know more about this lovely Italian legend? Sì! Well then, let’s step into the shoes of Sophia and eavesdrop on a conversation I imagine my character would have had with her mother, as the two prepare for the Christmas holidays and the arrival of La Befana*.

Sophia always loved the holidays and parties. I got that from her mom. Throwing bashes and organizing events were her forte, but never so much as at Christmas. Her mother was in her element during the month of December recreating all the Italian foods and traditions she had learned about living in Florence. With the help of Luciana, her Italian friend, she prepared biscotti and traditional treats like vin brulè, a delicious blend of warm wine and spices, and panettone, a sweet, yeasty Italian fruitcake. On Christmas Eve we dined on salted baccalà, a savory dish starring a dried-out piece of codfish. On New Year’s Eve, we played “Tombola,” Italian Bingo, and danced around our kitchen wearing silly hats and blowing into paper horns shouting, “Buon Capodanno!” Happy New Year!

Photo Credit: Studentessa Matta

But the winter holidays didn’t end there. In the magical manner of my mother, the warmth of the season, always a swirl of bright colors, music, and laughter, was drawn out into the New Year. On January 6th we celebrated the Epiphany and welcomed the Italian witch, La Befana, into our home. Each year my mother carefully unwrapped the puppet she had purchased in a Christmas market in Rome and hung her in the archway of the dining room. Looking up, I admired the old witch, dressed in red with a burlap apron tied around her waist. On top of her head was perched a pointed hat and she straddled a wicker broom.

Tilting her head to one side, my mother would look at me and ask, “Remember the story, Sophi?”

Of course, Sophia had heard the tale a million times over, ever since she had turned six. But just to make her happy she purse my lips and look up at the ceiling as if she was thinking hard trying to recall the story. Then Sophia would say, “I’m not sure, Mom. Maybe you could refresh my memory again?”

Her mother would smile broadly and begin, “Oh, OK, Little-Miss-Know-it-All. In Italy, they would call you ‘una saputella.’ Well, let me tell you the story again.” Then tossing me a cookie from a plate on the table she said, “As you may or may not recall, Signorina Saputella, Befana was a poor, poor woman who had no time to waste on the Magi Kings. No ma’am! She was much too busy cleaning her house to help them find baby Gesù.” She picked up an imaginary broom and pantomimed swatting me on the rear. Then she added, “When the kings came knocking at her door, she shooed them away with her broom.”

Looking over at Sophia she winked. “But in the end, Befana wasn’t so terribly bad. Regretting her bad behavior, she jumped on her broom and went off in search of the baby herself.”

At this point my mother began circling the room, her hand raised to her forehead as if she, too, was seeking the babe in the manger. Passing by the doll dangling from the doorway she tapped it gently causing it to swing into flight. Looking over at me, gesturing like Groucho Marx with an imaginary cigar in her hand, she said in a flippant tone, “She probably even arrived before the Three Kings, had a hot meal waiting for them, and even swept out the manger with her broom. Leave it to a woman to get things done properly!”

Becoming serious again she said, “But during her quest Befana gave a small gift to each child she encountered, hoping to make amends for her selfish behavior.” 

Enchanted by the holiday fairy tale, which Sophia actually never got tired of hearing, she waited anxiously for January 6th for more presents that I’d find in a red sock at the foot of my bed.

In the novel “Dreaming Sophia,” you will learn more legends about Italy, as well as learn a bit of Italian to boot! The book is now available on Amazon in print and e-book.

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My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and Eleonora… the heroines of my four novels set in Italy.

Escape to Italy in the pages of a novel!

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. 

Available on Amazon in Print, Epub, and Audio. Links in bio.

5 Stars - Dianne Hales (author of La Bella Lingua, La Passione, and Mona Lisa-A Life Discovered): A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine, Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th–century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historical figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel. Still, the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating. 
 
5 Stars - Lize Amazon Reader: What a lovely story! Melissa weaves the lives of 4 women across time, all with some connection to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 16th-century Italy painter. They represent the feminine strength that arises from life challenges, each with unique intelligence. Underlying their stories is the idea that love transcends all, even time; love is timeless. As with her other books, Melissa fills the story out with interesting facts and references to Italian life, culture, and its history; her attention to detail is immaculate. I loved the many connections in this story that tied it all together; very cleverly done. Wonderful read; I would highly recommend it.

#MelissaMuldoon #IndieAuthor #artemisiagentileschi #NovelsetinItaly
#Medici #Tuscany #Rome #Montepulciano #Florence #SofonisbaAnguissola #IsabellaMedici #Medici #ARezzo
Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. Sono c Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. 

Sono contenta che mi stia seguendo qui su Instagram!

I’m pleased you are following me on Instagram. I help you to learn Italian.

I organize, with my partner schools in Italy, small group language immersion programs in Arezzo, Lucca and Montepulciano.

For 10 or 12 days, you will study at the school at your level in the mornings and in the afternoons we will participate in activities and go on excursions— like make pasta, drink wine, talk to local artisans and see churches, museums, art —even the giostra del Saracino - the jousting festival if you join me in Arezzo.

Accommodations and most evening meals are all included AND you will have unlimited conversation practice and language learning when you meet my Italian friends and teachers from the schools who will accompany us.

The dates for 2023 Matta Italian Language Programs are

2023 Matta and Arezzo Italian Language Program: June 11 - 23

2023 Matta and Lucca Italian Language Program: August 24 - Sept 2
 
2023 Matta September Arezzo Joust Weekend: September 2 - 4, 2023 (Open to Italian learners and English speakers) 

2023 Matta and Montepulciano Italian Language Program: September 10 - 22

Join me in Italy 2023 and take your Italian language skills further.

More information and to sign up can be found on the StudentessaMatta.com website

Alla prossima! Ciao!

#learnItalian #ItalianImmersionPrograms #StudentessaMatta #Arrezzo #Montepulciano #Lucca #LuccaItalianSchool #LIS #Culture_Italiana_Arezzo #IlSasso #LearnInItaly#TravelItaly #tuscanylovers
Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian i Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian idiomatic expressions involving frogs and toads.

New post on the StudentessaMatta.com blog site.

Today I'm talking about lively idioms that practically jump up and down. These idiomatic expressions involve frogs and toads and will surely put a spring in your step and make you jump a level up. Want to sound like a native Italian speaker? Here is a chance to brush up on some Italian idioms involving our little web-footed friends.

#ItalianExpressions #ModiDire #Rano #Rospo #Ranocchio #Frog #Toad #SputareRospo #RanaGola #PrincipeRanocchio #FrogPrince #IngoiareRospo #StudentessaMatta

Image credit: AdobeStock
Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Prett Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Pretty Woman the Musical" at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. ( His Christmas gift to me this year!) We had so much fun! Began the evening with drinks at the Otopia rooftop bar to watch the sunset, then dinner at Acre 41. The show was fantastic, well staged, great singing — just a lot of fun to watch live theater again! #prettywomanthemusical #austintexas #bassconcerthall #theater
New on the Studentessa Matta Blog! Alessandra, It New on the Studentessa Matta Blog!

Alessandra, Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable dish

Alessandra, an Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable spaghetti dish made with artichokes and anchovies. 

In her guest post Alessandra tells us about Livorno and more about herself and her background. Alessandra has traveled extensively and made homestays in America so she knows what it’s like to be away from home and how important it is to find a warm and friendly environment that makes you feel comfortable as a family or among friends.

Find out more about the Italian Language Homestay opportunities offered on the StudentessaMatta.com website : See links in Bio.

#italian #ItalianLanguageHomestay #Livorno #HomestayLivorno #learnItalian #LearnInItaly #studentessamatta
Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema ital Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema italiano è scomparsa. È successo ieri, Mercoledì 18 gennaio. La diva italiana aveva 95 anni. 

Più ricordata come un modello e attrice - una vera bomba, molto sexy e seducente, Gina Lollobrigida era una donna di talenti incredibili che comprendeva tutte le arti - cinema, fotografia e scultore. 

Leggi il nuovo post su StudentessaMatta.com

#studentessamatta #GinaLollobrigida #Lollo #ItalianCinema #ItalianFilmStar #attriceitaliana✨👑🎬🎥
Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vici Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vicina di casa ha fatto marmellata in casa e mi ha dato un vasetto! Oggi l'ho spalmata sul mio toast! Il gusto è veramente ottimo! Grazie Brianna!

#marmellata #vasetto #vincina #dolce #italiano

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