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[CiceroXY]

Merry Christmas to all from Italy!

Yeah I know, I know.. I’m late for the Christmas wishes and I’m sorry. How have your Christmas holidays been going and what have you been up to, guys?

My grandmother had a slight ischemic attack 2 weeks before Christmas but fortunately has recovered well and has spent Christmas at home with us. We put up the Christmas tree and set up nativity scene figures.
I built the nativity scene background when I was 17 years old, so as I have less work to do now that I’m 23.

In my region there is an old tradition: The week before Christmas, the bagpipe musicians visit the houses every morning playing a carol called “You come down from the stars” with their faces towards the nativity scene,

 

[CiceroXY]

Next to the nativity scene you can admire a majestic Christmas tree

I hope I have made you smile

We do not have much room for a large Christmas tree in our living room and my mother thinks that it’s easier to get rid of it once finished the holidays.

However we bought a Poinsettia plant



We ate a lot as always. The Christmas menu traditionally is always the same every year and each region has its own traditions. We ate spaghetti with clams, then fried salt cod with broccoli salad, then fruits and many sweets: zeppole ( sort of doughnut ), struffoli and torrone ( nougat ). I've played often bingo with my family and my friends. Bingo is a traditional Christmas game here.

But what about you? What did you eat? What did you have done? I bet that your Christmas trees are beautiful! I want to see many many photos guys, c’mon!

 

[rebrascora]

@CiceroXY

Hi

Good to hear from you again. Pleased to hear your gran recovered enough to spend the festive season with you. What a blessing! Your nativity is beautiful and all the more impressive for being home made....it looks incredibly professional! I'm sure it will seem odd to most of us on this thread to hear that you have something other than roast turkey as a traditional Christmas meal.... for some stupid reason I would have assumed that all Christian countries would have turkey dinner....an insane assumption I know....but it is such an ingrained part of our festive season that it's hard to imagine Christmas without it! I like the sound of your sweets and desserts....yum... but not sure about the salted cod

!....No offence, I'm just not very keen on fish.

Unfortunately I came down with a tummy bug Christmas Eve, so I have eaten very little since then and had no alcohol, nor wish for it. I could do with losing a few stone (15-20kg) in weight so I'm hoping it will help me kick start my New Year diet. It's been nice not to crave or binge on naughty things (I'm a terrible chocoholic) or feel horribly overstuffed with food as one often does at this time of year, but not so nice to feel ill. I'm just getting my appetite back a bit now but after I eat, I rather wish I hadn't

. Managed to spend the day with my family though and that is all that counts.

I'm guessing you don't get presents until the "coming of the kings" in January? We exchange gifts on Christmas day here. I'm guessing you probably don't have the tradition of Santa Claus? For us, (well.... children) Santa Claus brings presents and leaves them under the tree on Christmas Eve night. It is interesting to learn about other peoples' customs.

Have you been affected by the European outbreak of bird flu in Italy? As you will no doubt have read on here, we have a compulsory "lock down" on our birds and it is proving very challenging, especially for those of us who normally free range. My leghorns are taking it hardest and they are fighting because they are so frustrated. I keep trying to move them from one pen to another to in the hope of finding somewhere they will settle, but they are either bullying or getting bullied. I've just heard that the lock down has been extended to the 19th Jan as well after initially just being until the 6th. Ruined my day being told that yesterday!

Anyway, I must head out now and try to get pens mucked out and find some treats to distract them from fighting each other!

Best wishes to all for the New Year

Barbara

 

[CiceroXY]

Thanks, only the figures were purchased. The landscape is made in polystyrene and gypsum. At the time I converted the basement in a laboratory where I could safely handle glue, gypsum and paint

When I was a child, I used to hate fried salted cod with broccoli salad.

It ruined always my Christmas dinner

But now I love it! After all it’s tradition and it’s a healthy food. During Christmas holidays we generally eat too much junk food.

I’m sorry for your setback! However I also am a chocoholic (I learned a new term!

). After these holidays, I’ll start a little diet but here it’s common to eat a lot during festive seasons.

We have the tradition of Santa Claus and children open their presents on Christmas morning and we exchange gifts on Christmas day. But children here receive presents 2 times because in Italy we have the Befana (an old witch that for children is the wife of Santa Claus) that the night of January 5 fly on her broom bringing stockings filled of sweets to good children and of coal (of sugar) to bad children. This tradition exists only in Italy.

Yes, I have recently read about bird flu in Europe. Our Ministry of Health said that we haven’t been affected (at the moment) and that controls have been strenghtened. Leghorns have a wild temperament so it’s normal that they hate that situation. They need large spaces and want to feel free. In fact I don’t have a lot of space for my chickens so I preferred Australorp that is a quiet breed or Hybrids like Harco and Isa. However how is the situation in England?

My real name is Ciro (my name also exists in English, "Cyrus")

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@CiceroXY

What wonderful pictures you have posted there and your nativity scene is fantastic! I'm afraid nothing that fancy here just a fibre optic tree and a garland on the mantle piece. Had way too much to eat here, the traditional turkey with trimmings and all washed down with plenty of beverages Infact I think ate more during Christmas Day than I had for two weeks previous! My diet is out of the window for now but come Monday I'm going to be strict again, I really don't want to undo all my hard work! Have loved reading about your traditions there and I love a game of bingo!

Have a great new year and all the best for 2017

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Hi Barbara,

I hope you are feeling better after your upset stomach I must have come out in sympathy for you on Boxing Day but I'm afraid that was all my own doing! As rough as a bears bottom I was! I got out on Harry on Tuesday which was very enjoyable, my friend came with me on his field buddy so all was quiet and relaxed which I certainly needed. Had some pretty frosty mornings here of late so it's been a bit crisp but beutiful to look at. At least with no wind you can hear your self think. Hoping to get out on Harry in the morning again as long as the drive is not too icy Have you managed any riding? I can totally understand if you have not, I'm sure with bird flu scare it's created much more work for you. Mine are trying to guilt me into letting them out by parading up and down the run like little soldiers when they see me!

Did your Santa gift giving at the hunt go ok? Did you get to the hunt Boxing Day? A few from the yard are going on New Years Day, I may have to go just for a laugh as no one is going on their own horses and have opted for more quiet ones! Just like I have done in the past, no way would I have dreamt of taking Harry hunting! One friend is going on the quietest pony from the yard who used to be an RDA pony so she should be safe unless it does actually manage to start his fire!

I am trying to keep busy right now so that I can't dwell on things but I think I feel numb really? Not sure how to describe it or if it's really sunk in yet
It's weird as it was expected and I felt as prepared as I could be but now everything feels odd. We have a meeting with the vicar tomorrow so maybe that will snap me back into reality, who knows. Maybe I'm a bomb waiting to go off? I just don't know and it's bothering me.

I hope your having a good day today and are back on top form Barbara

Kim xx

 

[CiceroXY]

I wish a happy new year to everyone

 

[PaulaMc]

All the very best to everyone for 2017 xx

 

[GGBEAR]

Any one wanna see a funny pic for adults only let me know ill pm u

 

[PaulaMc]

Any one wanna see a funny pic for adults only let me know ill pm u

Please ha ha