The PA Melting Pot: 2016

Friday, December 2, 2016

THE PA MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN - PART 2 - Italy

THE PA MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN

LINKS AT VERY BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

THE MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN

Immigrants to western PA brought their Christmas customs with them and as they

assimilated they have added additional customs.

ITALY

A very popular way of celebrating Christmas (Natale) is the Nativity crib scene. Many Italian families have a Nativity crib in their homes. On Christmas Eve normally no meat is eaten but often seafood meal is before people go to Midnight Mass. After Mass if it's cold, they might have a slice of Christmas Cake called 'Panettone' (fruity sponge cake) and a cup of hot chocolate! Very popular now is The Feast of the Seven Fishes ('Esta dei Sette Pesci' in Italian). Common types of fish eaten in the feast include Baccala (salted cod), Clams, Calamari, Sardines and Eel.

ITALY

Italian Christmas customs and traditions

http://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/traditions-2/christmas-traditions-in-italy

GOOGLE SEARCH ON ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

https://www.google.com/search?q=italian+christmas+customs&oq=italian+ch&aqs=chrome1.

69i59l2j0l2j69i57j0.3773j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

Chef’s Italian Christmas

http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/italian-christmas

Recipes from Academia Barilla

http://www.academiabarilla.com/italian-recipes/christmas-table/default.aspx

Christmas recipes from AcademiaBarilla

http://www.academiabarilla.com/italian-recipes/christmas-table/default.aspx

Seven Fishes Recipes from Epicurious

http://www.epicurious.com/search/italian%20christmas

ITALALIAN TARALLI VIDEO

http://www.academiabarilla.com/italian-recipes/bread-focaccia-pizza/taralli-1.aspx

ITALIAN FOCCACCIA VIDEO

http://www.academiabarilla.com/italian-recipes/bread-focaccia-pizza/focaccia-recco.aspx

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SLIDE SHOW

http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/italian-christmas/1

Thursday, December 1, 2016

THE PA MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN - PART 1 - GERMANY

LINKS AT VERY BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

THE MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN

THE PA MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN

LINKS AT VERY BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

THE MELTING POT: A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLUMN

Immigrants to western PA brought their Christmas customs with them and as they assimilated they have added additional customs.

GERMANY

Germany is well known for its Christmas (Weihnachten) markets where foods and decorations are sold. Famous and popular German decorations are glass ornaments, Advent calendars, wreaths and Christmas trees. The Christmas tree was brought into the house on Christmas Eve, and during that evening the family would read the Bible and sing Christmas songs. Traditional meals include Ganz (goose), Karpfen (carp) and cheese fondue. On Christmas Eve the meal could include Wurstchen (sausages) with potato salad, casseroles, and soups. Beverages could be Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas Punch), Eiergrog (egg grog), Gluhwein (mulled wine), Gluhmost (hot apple cider), Rumgrog (hot rum) and Weibnachstsbier (beer)

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GERMANY

German Christmas customs and traditions

http://www.christmasday25.com/christmas-traditions/german-christmas-traditions.html

GOOGLE SEARCH ON GERMAN CHRISTMAS

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=christmas%20customs%20in%20germany