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 

GOOGLE SEARCH ON ITALIAN CHRISTMAS 

Chef’s Italian Christmas

Recipes from Academia Barilla

Christmas recipes from AcademiaBarilla

Seven Fishes Recipes from Epicurious

ITALALIAN TARALLI VIDEO

ITALIAN FOCCACCIA VIDEO

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SLIDE SHOW



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              

GOOGLE SEARCH ON GERMAN CHRISTMAS            



Eiergrog               Egg grog      


Gluhwein             Mulled wine


Gluhmost             Hot apple cider  


Rumgrog             Rum grog