festa di san martino

[adriatica]

its not a poublic holiday here but its an important saints day....

its the traditional start of the winter season... more importantly to my mind we have friends that always invite us over to sample roast chestnuts and some very good wine....

san martino has a very strong abruzzo link as those that live in the majella will most probably know of the famous cave and spring....

its also a sort of pre-carnival celebration...some places they get dressed up in masks etc...

am sure its celebrated in different ways in other regions... but only know the abruzzo side of it... am sure its worth keeping an eye/ear out everywhere for any parties planned in your local area....

[IRITALIA]

Is it not normally celebrated tomorrow the 11th Nov Adriatica?
Goose is supposed to be order of the day as San Martino was annoyed by one and ordered it to be killed and served for dinner that evening.
It is also, hopefully, the start of an Indian Summer but no sign of one here!

[juliancoll]

Yes, I thought it was also celebrated on the 11th of November - and as far as I know it is also known as the "Festa dei Cornuti" or at least it is in Naples and the surrounding area. It's rather a strange ritual, celebrated every year by a procession of ~(supposedly) "betrayed husbands" who have been subjected to mockery by their friends and neighbours throughout the year by the adulterous behaviour of their wives. The men "celebrate" with dinner dressed as Stags and other "horned" animals.

All good fun.

[Gala Placidia]

Saint Martin's Day is on the 11th of November, but perhaps they start celebrating it earlier in Abruzzo....

[adriatica]

not sure why the date thing caused such a debate... did not mention it at all... nor the word "today"... had to check though as my normal meandering stile sometimes...if not often gets me a bit into trouble as regards accuracy..

so yes if there was a prize the subsequent posts to my original one would all win on there accuracy... and indeed if i had driven over to the friends house yesterday expecting my chestnuts with a bottle of new wine am sure they would have welcomed us all ...especially the wine and got busy cooking... however will be visiting them tonight...

San Martino is a pretty important saint... and here in abruzzo there are many celebrations ...

will post a link to a typical one in our area

Eventi Feste. San Martino Colognese Cologna Paese Roseto (TE), Abruzzo

i know scanno holds a big one also listed in the search below plus there are various others... but a google search will easily bring up one close by
festa san martino abruzzo eventi - Google Search

the main point to the posting was the fact that this festival is coming up , the weather is still pretty good and there will be plenty of things going on tonight here in abruzzo but i am sure throughout Italy ... hence posting it the day before...

[juliancoll]

I wouldn't worry about it Adriatica - I've just Googled and apparently the 'men only' dinner can be celebrated on the 10th of November in Abruzzo - so you would have been accurate anyway.

[Gala Placidia]

Originally Posted by IRITALIA

Is it not normally celebrated tomorrow the 11th Nov Adriatica?
Goose is supposed to be order of the day as San Martino was annoyed by one and ordered it to be killed and served for dinner that evening.
It is also, hopefully, the start of an Indian Summer but no sign of one here!

Shock, horror! I do hope that this has not been the end of our friendly visitor goose "Pavarotti" (see my album) as he disappeared a few days ago when there were some heavy rains.
In many European countries, they also kill a pig on St Martin's day to prepare sausages and cured meat cuts for Christmas.

[Cristiana]

Today in Italy we celebrate St Martin's Day, the highlight of which is the preparation of a sweet called frittelle (fried pastry) that are enjoyed with wine. Many Sagre across Italy will feature fritelle as their main theme either today or at the weekend so be sure to look out for them.

YouTube - Sagra delle Frittelle - Massignano (AP)

A great Italian poet, Giosuè Carducci, dedicated a poem to San Martino, and it is studied in every primary school in Italy. Plus, the singer "Fiorello" made a song by the words of the poem.

"San Martino" Giosuè Carducci.
« La nebbia a gl'irti colli
Piovigginando sale,
E sotto il maestrale
Urla e biancheggia il mar;

Ma per le vie del borgo
Dal ribollir de' tini
Va l'aspro odor de i vini
L'anime a rallegrar.

Gira su' ceppi accesi
Lo spiedo scoppiettando:
Sta il cacciator fischiando
Su l'uscio a rimirar

Tra le rossastre nubi
Stormi d'uccelli neri,
Com'esuli pensieri,

Nel vespero migrar. »

Enjoy the Day.
Cristiana

[juliancoll]

Didn't we have a thread about the poetry of Giosue Carducci some time ago? Anyone want to have go at translating "San Martino" into English? CaroleB?

It's too difficult for me.

[Nielo]

Right…. here goes…. head above the parapet… tin helmet on and ready to be shot down or corrected...here is my understanding of the poem

The fog glistens on the bare hills like a drizzle of salt.
Under the north wind it foams, white like the waves.


But in the streets of village the wine ferments in vats, to make the people merry.

The spit turns over a wood fire and the hunter leaves a note on his door.

Among the rosy clouds flocks of black birds fly like thoughts.

The evening melts away.