Festa dell Zucca

It's time for the annual Pumpkin Festival in Venzone!

October 22-23

Italians have festivals celebrating everything from saints to mushrooms. But there are a few real standout ones that are not to be missed. The Pumpkin Festival in Venzone is one of them! It seems like a great way to kick of all of the celebrations from autumn through winter.

Venzone is about an hour and half north of Aviano. It was established around 900 A.D. and still has the Medieval walls and towers surrounding it. It is really interesting to see with or without the festival.

The festival includes Medieval reenactments, costumes, musicians, and anything you could think to cook with pumpkin! Pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin grappa...{I'm channeling my inner Bubba.}

You can easily drive there from our area, but parking really looked to be a mess. The train stop drops you within a 5 minute walk from the festival entrance. Normally, we purchase tickets one way at a time while traveling here, but since this is just a stop, not a station, we had to hunt down a bar in town that sold tickets to get back home. Then, not knowing the times for the returning trains, we had a long chilly wait at the platform. I'd still take the train again to avoid parking there. Just this time maybe I'd shoot for a little better planning. 

ITT also has a trip planned if you'd rather take a bus. Check out the ITT flier for a little more information on the history of the town and festival.

However you get there, you will be sure to have a good time!

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!

Festa dell'amicizia Italo-Americana

The Tenth Annual Italian American Friendship Festival is going to be held in Maniago tomorrow, 10 September.

Check out this article to read about all of the scheduled events, including a 9/11 victims' commemoration. If you would like to sign up for any of the activities, like paintball, swimming, or archery, check with the Dragon Fitness Center. Activites begin at 0930. 

Head down to city center and make some new Italo amici!



Source: http://www.aviano.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/110824-F-DQ240-002.jpg



In Case You Missed It....

A few images from the Aviano Antique Market this Sunday....

Going to Market

Italy is known for its open-air markets. Most of the markets carry similar items. As a matter of fact, a lot of the same vendors travel from town to town on market day and set up so they actually are very similar. The larger the town, the larger the market. So if you live in a tiny town and can't find much at your market, you should consider visiting larger towns market to see what more it has to offer.

The basics that you'll see at most every market are fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, and seafood; basic housewares, like rugs and curtains; fresh cut flowers; and clothes. There may be other items as well, but these are all sure bets.

This is the schedule of the weekly markets in various towns around the area. They usually run from about 0800-1300. I've been told that you should haggle over prices. I don't. If you've got it in you, go ahead though. I think it's expected.

Monday: Maniago, Azzano Decimo, Lignano, Vittorio Veneto, Trieste       
Tuesday: Aviano, Casarsa, Codroipo, San Quirino, Trieste    
Wednesday: Pordenone, Budoia, San Daniele, Cordignano, Oderzo, Latisana, Trieste     
Thursday: Roveredo, Fontanafredda, Fiume Veneto, Montereale, Sacile, Trieste      
Friday: Conegliano, Porcia, San Vito al Tagliamento, Trieste    
Saturday: Pordenone, Spilimbergo, Treviso, Trieste

A few towns hold antique markets as well. They are less frequent. There are usually some pretty interesting items and I think it's worth driving to another area to check out what they have. Aviano's is usually a pretty decent size, but of course, Pordenone's is larger. Definitely worth a look.

Aviano - First Sunday of the month
Pordenone - Last Sunday of the month
Trieste - Third Sunday of the month
Vittorio Veneto - Second Saturday of each month in the evening, and on the second Sunday of each month during the day

Aviano's antique market is this Sunday. See you there!

Knife Festival

Just a few images from Maniago's Knife Festival this weekend.....

A lot of....

Well...

                                                                                                     Knives!

If you missed the festival and are wanting some of these world-famous blades, no worries! There are shops all around Maniago selling them every week. So head on over and do a little shopping....

{This is where I shopped during the festival!}

                                          

If only I could make this scratch & sniff! 

8th Annual Maniago Coltello in Festa

This weekend, 20-21 August, our little town of Maniago is celebrating with a Coltello in Festa, or Knife Festival. Maniago is famous for its blades! There is even a museum here chronicling Maniago's knife-making history.

The festival will be held in city center. I saw the tents and stages going up yesterday. Hope to see you there!

Check out this awesome site for more details about this fair, and many other happenings in and around our area!

43rd Aviano-Piancavallo International Folklore Festival

 Last week, the city of Aviano held an International Folklore Festival. There were events each evening with a lot of traditional dancing and music from countries around the world.

 Here are a few shots of some of the dancers and musicians 



 





Wish I could tell you which country each group was representing. They weren't identified, but I did see signs for Panama, Argentina, and Sardinia.

These guys were doing their rendition of "Stop in the Name of Love".

{kidding!}

The dancers and music were great! Such a wonderful cultural experience right in our own backyard. Even the drizzle didn't dampen the festivities!