The ancient springtime festivity known as May Day marks a period traditionally associated with abundance and rebirth, and represents a moment in the seasonal cycle to celebrate the virtual explosion of life happening all around us: herbs and flowers, springtime foods, lovers and longer days….
Essays
Piazza dei Ciompi: A (Sort of) Homecoming
I have been a contented country mouse for the better part of my 16 years in Italy, tucked snugly away in the ultimate sleepy Tuscan village where fresh air, quiet nights and friendly smiles from passers-by are the norm. Small-town gossip and the molasses-slow arrival…
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Traditions
La Notte di San Giovanni: Midsummer Food & Drink Rituals in Italy
La Notte di San Giovanni: Midsummer Food & Drink Rituals in Italy Presented at the Eleventh Legendary Weekend of the Folklore Society ‘Food & Drink in Legend and Tradition’ Conference 4 September, 2016, York For ages people the world over have perceived the period around…
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Essays
To the Edge and Back: A Love Letter to Penzance, Cornwall
Let’s call this a love story. Better still—a love letter. Whatever we call it, it is without a doubt a tale of love, one that could very well turn out to be the greatest of my life. I arrived in Penzance in late summer…