Gesù Bambino
"Babbo Natale—or Santa Claus—first landed in Italy in the 1950s, courtesy of Coca-Cola, but it took years for his cheerful 'Ho-ho-ho!' to really catch on. When I was little, we didn't know Babbo Natal
Blog
Stories, tips, and insights about Italian language and culture.
Panettone or Pandoro? Both! Andiamo!
Since 1894, Panettone has had its bouncy, buttery, delicately sweet rival: il Pandoro! Invented by the legendary Veronese pasticcere (pastry chef) Domenico Melegatti. Pandoro shot to fame in the blink
"Hai preso il Panettone?"
"Did you get the Panettone?". Typical question in an Italian family at this time of the year… Certo, il Panettone is our traditional Italian Christmas dessert or cake! The legend says that it was firs
Unlock Excellence in Italian for your Child's Leaving Cert
Looking for a modern language that can deliver a solid H1 for your child—without the hassle? Start Italian classes early—it's the smart move!
Language learning reduces impact of brain ageing by 54% in new Europe wide study
Great news for all of us who are studying a language! A new and compelling study of 86,000 confirms that language learning reduces the effects of brain ageing by over 50%
2 novembre, Il Giorno dei Morti (the Day of the Dead)
2 novembre, il Giorno dei Morti (the day of the dead).
Le ossa dei morti (the bones of the dead)
What are we doing in Milan for Halloween? Il Pane dei Morti!! This crumbly classic hails from northern Italy's Lombardia region (Lombardy), with Milan as its undisputed heart—where foggy canals and gr
Italian Leaving Cert
Finalmente sono arrivati i risultati del Living Cert! After almost two months of waiting, the results of the 2025 Leaving Cert exams are here! With a heart full of joy and excitement, I am thrilled to
A tradition of Sagra
But what exactly is a sagra? A sagra is much more than just a festival—it's a vibrant, delicious, and deeply-rooted celebration in a village of a product, or a crop or a specific theme. Imagine a hist
Beautiful Botricello
Imagine 800 kilometers of stunning coastline, where the sea is so intensely blue it feels like a dream. But that's just the beginning. This isn't a region where you can get bored—it's a place where th
Ferragosto, But Why So Many Processions?
When we talk about Ferragosto, we can't ignore the Assumption of Mary. But why has it become such an important celebration, filled with processions and rituals? The story begins in antiquity, with the