Alice in Wonderland

Tonight at 1900, several of the children from Aviano will be performing Alice in Wonderland at the Elementary School MPR. Tickets are sold at the door for $6/child and $10/adult. Family and student discounts are available also.

If you can't make it to opening night, no worries! It will be performed on Thur and Fri at 1900, with a matinee on Sat 1400.

Don't miss it!

{Look for the handsome Doorknob on Friday night!}

La Befana

If you're at Aviano, you've no doubt seen posters all over base for the Bella Befana Bazaar which will be held this weekend 30 Sep-02 Oct. The bazaar has vendors from several countries with goods like rugs and furniture, wine and oils, tapestries and paintings, and many other goodies. Outside of the hangar, squadrons will also set up booths selling any kind of junk food you can imagine. The famous fried Oreos will surely make an appearance!

Last year, I didn't bother to look into what the heck Bella Befana was. I mean, I went shopping at the bazaar of course. I knew bella meant beautiful, but I just thought that befana must be some other Italian word that I hadn't bothered to learn yet.

Then just before Christmas break, the kids came home with all kinds of information from their Host Nation teachers. Befana basically means witch. But as with all good things, there's a backstory.

Befana is a witch who visits on Epiphany Eve {5 Jan} to place toys and candy in the shoes of good little girls and boys around Italy. {Bad little boys and girls get coal, onions, or garlic in their shoes. Yuck!}

Why?

Source: http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/palma/2010/01/primo_di_la_befana.html

Well, there are a few variations on the legend, but many follow a similar line that Befana was asked by the Wise Men to accompany them to Bethlehem to welcome Baby Jesus. She was too busy with housework {hence the witch's broom} and chose not to go with them. Later, she regretted her decision and has been searching for the baby ever since.

Here in northern Italy, specifically in Friuli, the towns burn Epiphany fires to light the way for the Wise Men. The bonfires are called pan e vin {bread and wine}. The locals dress in Befana costumes and celebrate. Your whole town and your house will likely smell of firewood for a couple days after. I thought it was pretty awesome!

Epiphany is the end of a long holiday season in Italy and they celebrate it for all its worth!

Library Dogs

Source: http://www.31fss.com/library.shtml

The Aviano Library has a unique program that is well worth the trip to base if you have young ones. A couple of Saturdays a month a group of about 5 or 6 local Americans who have therapy dogs {or dogs who are training to become therapy dogs} bring their four-legged friends to the library to be read to by Aviano children. 

Sounds a little odd that the dogs are being read to maybe. But let me tell you, nothing is more comfortable than curling up with a big fuzzy puppy and a good book. The children, and the dogs, really enjoy it!

I can tell you from experience that my reluctant reader will go through at least four books at any given session. He happily reads aloud to each dog and even shows them the pictures. At home with this one, reading requires prodding, bribing, and begging! Put him with a furry audience though and he can't get enough!

Tomorrow, 24 Sep, from 1000-1200 is the next scheduled "Reading with Dogs" day.

Hope to see you and your little reader there!

Kids Eat Free on Sunday

Back-To-School Kids' Brunch at La Bella Vista on Sunday, 28 August, from 1030-1330.

They will have activities and movies for the kids.

Kids 12 and under eat for free!

{with parent's club membership}

Free Movie Friday Night

This event is BYOB {Bring Your Own Blanket}!

31FSS is hosting a Movie-In-The-Park event at the Area F ball field. Should be a fun time for the family!