Hibiscus Blooms – Isola Madre

A unique opportunity to visit the Borromean Islands, and in particular the Isola Madre, is represented this year by the opening, in September, of the Avenue of the citrus fruit to admire the extraordinary collection of hibiscus of the Princes Borromeo.

Lakes Maggiore & Orta-A season of Music

by courtesy of Silvia Lorenzini for The Lake District Blog

Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, between the Provinces of Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, are connected by green hills and by… great music.
There is a rich calendar of music events and festivals, awaiting you during the Spring-Summer Season 2012.

Skiing in Piemonte

Although most of the Olympic Piemonte ski stations are suffering from lack of snow, the area around Lake Maggiore has been gifted with abundant snow up in the mountains.

Web Cam Macugnaga 16 January 2012

Stay at Castello Dal Pozzo and spend a day skiing in the area. You can shoose to ski a different area each day, rather like changing your golf course.

Macugnaga, Devero and San Domenico all have from 50 to 240cm of powder snow to offer and excellent promotions to get you onto the pistes.!

– Macugnaga: during this week a day’s skipass  € 19 on Monte Moro.

– Devero: saturday 4 february day’s skipass free for children under 14.

– San Domenico: Happy Monday skipass €14

Web Cam San Domenico 16 January 2012

San Domenico 50-280cm

San Domenico is the starting point in the winter for the ski slopes of the Alpe Ciamporino (1975 m).

The village of San Domenico is situated at an altitude of 1,420 meters. It offers 30 km of ski slopes and facilities for snowboarding and freestyle, open spaces and walking paths, alpine skiing and snowshoeing
The snow park ha been  totally renovated with new equipment for all enthusiasts of acrobatic spins and jumps.
The opening of the lifts is guaranteed from December to early May due to a high quality natural snow
For alpine skiing, 30 km of professional ski runs served by 6 lifts. The easy and wide slopes of the Alpe Ciamporino are ideal for beginners and the excellent skischool allows everyone to improve their technique.
Cross country, hiking and snowshoeing trails. In Trasquera there is a nice cross country trail of medium difficulty, 5 km ski run that runs through an enchanting forest of conifers.

Family ski pass 56€:

Web Cam Alpe Devero 16 January 2012

L’Alpe Devero 60 – 190cm

L’Alpe Devero is the ideal place for skiing in all its forms: from alpine skiing to cross-country, from children to adults, from beginners to experts, the area offers everyone the chance to have fun thanks slopes of easy and medium difficulties.

L’Alpe Devero is also the kingdom of snowboarders, freeriding and backcountry.
You can reach the summit of Monte Cazzola with three lifts: you can ski up to an altitude of 2212 meters in 4 beaten pistes for a  total length of 8 km and many off-piste routes, in the woods. For cross-country skiers, short and easy paths for a total of 7 km.
For snowboarders, Alpe Devero offers “Jambopark”, an area equipped for stunts, jumps and dedicated to freestyle.

Web Cam Macugnaga 16 January 2012

Macugnaga Moro 30-270cm

You can reach Monte Moro (2868 meters) by two cableways. The station offers blue runs, red runs and black runs and over 18km of ski pistes. Macugnaga also has two ski schools for those wanting to improve their technique.

For snowboarders, Monte Moro offers an equipped Pink Snow Park served by two lifts

For Nordic skiers, there is a beautiful trail with sections of varying difficulty.

In town it is possible to rent ski equipment in several sporting goods stores.

Ski pass €23-28 per day.

Unusual Hotels – Hotels of Ice

Hotel de Glace - Quebec Canada

Ice hotels provide a unique experience for its guests. They tend to be located in slightly or very remote regions surrounded by fantastic landscapes and wildlife. Not for the faint hearted but without doubt a very special experience. Available from January to end of March normally.

Winter Pictures

In the Alps, more than a metre of fresh snow in 5 days. Absolutely fantastic.

On the Lake back in Italy, no snow, no rain, autumn colours but cold at night.

Ushering in the Year of the Dragon

January 23 The Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.

Epiphany in Italy – January 6th

La Befana arrives on 6th January bringing sweets or sugar coal for naughty children

The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated January 6 with a national holiday in Italy, and the tradition of La Befana are a big part of Italian Christmas celebrations. Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus. The traditional Christmas holiday season in Italy lasts through Epiphany.

La Befana

Italy’s traditional celebration includes the tale of a witch known asLa Befana who arrives on her broomstick during the night of January 5 and fills the stockings with toys and sweets for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones.

According to the legend, the night before the Wise Men arrived at the manger they stopped at the shack of an old woman to ask directions. They invited her to come along but she replied that she was too busy. Then a shepherd asked her to join him but again she refused. Later that night, she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd bearing gifts that had belonged to her child who had died. She got lost and never found the manger.

Now La Befana flies around on her broomstick each year on the 11th night, bringing gifts to children in hopes that she might find the Baby Jesus. Children hang their stockings on the evening of January 5 awaiting the visit of La Befana.

We Three Kings of orient are

See My Befana for La Befana song and more about the legend.

The origins of La Befana may actually go back farther, to the Roman’s pagan festival ofSaturnalia, a one or two week festival starting just before the winter solstice. At the end of Saturnalia, Romans would go to the Temple of Juno on the Capitoline Hill to have their augers read by an old crone. Many pagan traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations when Christianity became main stream. La Befana was a good substitute for the old woman who read the augers. The saying augur originated with this practice, too, as it was common to wish someone good augers.

La Befana Festivals

The town of Urbania, in Le Marche region, holds a 4-day festival for La Befana from January 2-6. Children can meet La Befana in La Casa della Befana. This is one of the biggest celebrations for La Befana in Italy.

The Befane races, Regatta delle Bafane, are held in Venice on January 6. Men dressed as La Befana race in boats on the Grand Canal.

Epiphany Processions and Living Nativities

In Vatican City, following another Epiphany tradition, a procession of hundreds of people in medieval costumes walk along the wide avenue leading up to the Vatican, carrying symbolic gifts for the Pope. The Pope says a morning mass in St Peter’s Basilica to commemorate the visit of the Wise Men bearing gifts for Jesus.

Rivisondoli, in the Abruzzo region, has a reenactment of the arrival of the 3 kings on January 5 with hundreds of costumed participants.

Epiphany in Milan

Milan has an Epiphany Parade of the Three Kings from the Duomo to the church of Sant’Eustorgio on January 6.

Befana sul Lago

Many towns and villages in Italy have similiar processions, although not as elaborate, ending with a living nativity scene, presepe vivente, where costumed people act out the parts of the nativity. Living nativities, presepi viventi, are often presented December 24-26 and repeated for Epiphany.

Stay at the Castello and enjoy Christmas italian style. Its a chance to earn an extra Christmas Stocking – unless of course you find “coal” in yours (obviously made of sugar!).

Christmas in Italy

Christmas at Castello Dal Pozzo

Christmas season in Italy is traditionally celebrated December 24-January 6, or Christmas Eve through Epiphany. This follows the pagan season of celebrations that started with Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival, and ended with the Roman New Year, the Calends. However there are lots of Christmas things to see during December prior to Christmas, many starting on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception.

Italian Christmas Traditions

Although Babbo Natale(Father Christmas) and giving presents on Christmas are becoming more common, the main day for gift giving is Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men gave Baby Jesus their gifts. In Italy, presents are brought by La Befana, who arrives in the night to fill children’s stockings. More about Epiphany and La Befana

Christmas decorations and trees are becoming more popular in Italy. Lights and decorations are often seen starting around December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, or even the end of November. The main focus of decorations continues to be the presepe, Nativity scene or creche. Almost every church has a presepe and they are often found outdoors in a piazza or public area, too.

Traditionally, a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas eve with the family, followed by a living nativity scene and midnight mass. In parts of southern Italy a seven fishes dinner is traditionally served on Christmas Eve. Traditional bonfires are often held on Christmas Eve in the main square of town, especially in mountain areas. Dinner on Christmas day is usually meat based.

Christmas trees, lights, Nativity Cribs, and Christmas celebrations in Italy:

Although you’ll find Christmas celebrations all over Italy, these are some of the most unusual or most popular Christmas celebrations, events, and decorations.

Naples is one of the best cities to visit for Nativity cribs. Naples and southern Italy have other Christmas traditions, including the Christmas Eve dinner of the seven fish dishes, although it doesn’t really have to be seven fishes and not everyone serves it. Naples Nativity Pictures

Bagpipe and flute players, zampognari and pifferai, are a part of Christmas celebrations in Rome, Naples, and southern Italy. They often wear traditional colorful costumes with sheepskin vests, long white stockings, and dark cloaks. Many of them travel from the mountains of the Abruzzo region to play outside churches and in popular city squares.

Rome is another top city to visit during the Christmas season. There’s a large Christmas market, nativity displays, and several huge Christmas trees.

Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City hosts the popular midnight mass given by the Pope inside Saint Peter’s Basilica. Those in the square see it on big screen TV. At noon on Christmas day the Pope gives his Christmas message from the window of his apartment overlooking the square. A large tree and nativity scene are erected in the square before Christmas.

Torino is one of the best places for lights. Over 20 kilometers of streets and squares are illuminated by some of the best illumination artists in Europe from late November through early January.

Near the top of Monte Ingino, above Gubbio in central Italy’s Umbria region, shines a huge Christmas tree, 650 meters tall and made up of more than 700 lights. In 1991 the Guinness Book of Records named it “The World’s Tallest Christmas Tree.” The tree is topped by a star that can be seen for nearly 50 kilometers. Tree lights are turned on every year on 7 December, the evening before the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Città di Castello, in Umbria, celebrates Christmas Eve in on the Tiber River. Towards evening, a group of canoeists, each dressed as Father Christmas, with their canoes illuminated by lights, make their way along the river to the bridge at Porta San Florido where a crib is suspended over the water. When they get out of their canoes, they give small presents to the children gathered there.

Lago Trasimeno, also in Umbria, celebrates with Soul Christmas, Umbria Gospel Festival, December 8 – January 6.
Manarola in Cinque Terre has a unique ecological nativity powered by solar energy. In Abbadia di San Salvatore, near Montalcino, the Fiaccole di Natale or Festival of Christmas Torches (Christmas Eve) is celebrated. Carols and torchlight processions in memory of the shepherds from the first Christmas Eve. Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Alps celebrates with a skiers torchlight parade – At midnight on Christmas Eve hundreds of people ski down an Alpine peak carrying torches.

http://goitaly.about.com/od/christmasinitaly/a/christmas.htm

Castello and Arona at Christmas under the snow

Italian Lakes
The Lakes in the north of Italy, Maggiore, Como and Orta, have begun to follow the traditions of their more northern neighbours in the Veneto and Sud Tyrol and have inaugurated a busy calendar of Christmas markets, choirs singing Christmas songs, spectacular exhibitions of nativity scenes, illuminations in all the towns and villages, from the most simple to the more elaborate. The entire area also has late night shopping, Sunday openings almost everywhere and excellent shopping throughout all the outlets for that really fabulous Christmas gift. So why not come and join us for that special Christmas, free from stress and hassle. The food may be different, turkey may be replaced by goose and Christmas pudding by Panettone, but the atmosphere at the Castello Dal Pozzo will certainly be friendly and full of Christmas cheer.

Castello Dal Pozzo
Via Visconti
Oleggio Castello
Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy

+39032253713
contact@castellodalpozzo.com
http://www.castellodalpozzo.com

Bizarre Christmas Celebrations

What’s strange for you may be usual for others…and the holidays are certainly no exception.  Some of us may immediately think of our families, and wish we could trade those in for new.  That might not happen any time soon, but you might think of adopting one of these unique Christmas traditions we found around the globe.

1. Tió de Nadal – “The Shitting Log” – Catalonia, Spain

Children beating a Tió de Nadal to make it shit candy. Photo source Catalan Wikipedia. Viquipèdia in català.

There is a Christmas Day or Christmas Eve tradition in Spain that may seem quite strange for those unfamiliar with it.  Each family acquires a ‘tio de nadal’ early in the month.  It sits in the house, under a small blanket, getting ‘fed’ daily up until Christmas.  That is when someone puts the tió partly into the fireplace or the middle of the room and orders it to “shit” by singing traditional songs.  To make him “shit” everyone begins to beat the log with sticks (much fun for children of adults with some stress to release I’m sure.)

The tió log releases candies, nuts and sometimes traditional almond confections known as turrons.  When the log has no more candy to give, it ‘shits’ a herring, garlic clove, or something else less favorable.   Everything that comes out of thetió is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by the family.  Perhaps this is where the idea of a ‘Yule Long’ comes from.

2. “Lose a Shoe, Gain a Man” – Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic single women perform a very unusual ritual on Christmas Eve Day.  For the superstitious, this tradition allows them to find out if they will marry in the following year. With their backs to the house door, they throw one of their shoes over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the heel towards the door, she will definitely stay single for another year.  If the toe of the shoe points towards the door, it means she will move out of her parents’ house, and she should start making wedding preparations!  The only other rule is that it must be a high-heeled shoe, a “střevíc.”

3. “J-Day” – Christmas beer – Denmark

“J-day” (from the Danish word for Christmas beer: Juleøl) celebrates the eve on which the first season Christmas brew is released at your local pub.  On this day, usually late in November, you will find that practically every bar, café or pub in every town or city in Denmark will be buzzing with young people enjoying unique Christmas beers of the holiday season.  The best part of J-Day is that you’ll get to take a little sip of the Christmas spirit, and have a good excuse to party.  

4. “Krampus – The Evil Santa” – Austria/Germany

As a tool to encourage good behavior in children, Santa serves as the carrot, and Krampus the stick. Krampus is the evil demon anti-Santa, or maybe his evil twin. Krampus Night is celebrated on December 5th, the eve of St. Nicholas Day in Austria and other parts of Europe. People dress as Krampus and roam the streets looking for someone to beat with a stick.  A good night to stay home!

Krampus – Photo by pixel0908

5. Mari Lwyd – “The Biting Horse Skull” – Wales/UK

The Mari Lwyd meaning “Grey Mare” in English, is a Welsh midwinter tradition.  Traditionally it took place over a stretch of time starting before Christmas and going through January, it is now more often done around the New Year.   Friends or family accompany a brave soul who is chosen to dress up as a horse to the neighbors front door.  They often make their way into pubs and bars as well, looking for gifts of food and drink.  The ritual is said to bring good luck to those who reward the mare.

6. La Befana, – “The Christmas Witch” –  Italy

The Christmas Witch, known as la Befana, is very similar to the idea of Santa Claus.  One could say she is a good witch; la Befana brings gifts of candy and sweets to children on the night of January 5th, known as Epiphany Eve.  The Feast of Epiphany is a celebration of the realization that God has taken human form in Jesus Christ.  The town of Urbania holds a festival celebrating la Befana each year in early January.

7. Ukrainian Christmas Spider – Ukraine
Forget the tinsel: in Ukraine you’ll decorate your Christmas tree with spider webs.  In preparation for Christmas, the house is otherwise immaculately cleaned from top to bottom.  Ukrainian Christmas customs are based not only on Christian traditions, but to a great degree on those of the pre-Christian, pagan culture and religion.  The spider web tradition comes from a legend describing how a poor widow and her children had a Christmas tree but no decorations.  In the morning they discovered that a spider had woven a beautiful web around the tree.  When the sunlight came in the windows and hit the silvery web, it turned to silver and gold!

8. Kiviak – The Dead Christmas Bird 

Every culture in the world celebrates holidays by feasting together – and you might opt to stay at home for this one.  In Greenland during the winter time at special celebrations like weddings or on Christmas, a traditional dish known as kiviak is eaten.  Kiviak is prepared months ahead of time: a seal is hunted, then gutted and stuffed with small auk (native birds), up to 500 at a time.  The seal belly is sewn up, and the whole thing is left to ferment.  On the day of the celebration, the seal is opened, and the birds are then eaten.  The heads of the birds are taken off, and the insides devoured.  From what I have read, the guts are a bit toxic, creating an intoxicated effect.  This is a traditional way of preserving food, which must be done in a very specific manner.

Little Auks – Photo by Alastair Rae on Flickr

9. “The Christmas Pickle” – Germany/USA

The story goes that when German families decorate the Christmas tree, the last ornament to be hung is the Christmas pickle -usually a blown glass ornament that may have been passed down through generations.  It is tucked away in a hard-to-see spot (it is green, after all).  The first child who finds the pickle on Christmas morning gets a special gift and good luck all the next year.

Pickle – Photo by elvissa.

 10. Roller-skating to Mass – Caracas, Venezuela

If you are looking for an unusual Christmas getaway this year, you should think about traveling to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. On Christmas Eve morning the roads of the city are closed to cars, so people can roller skate to church. They don’t have snow here, so I guess it’s a nice alternative to riding a sled to church.  Instead of singing Christmas carols, people beat drums at midnight shouting “Jesus is born!” and use firecrackers to light-up the sky.

 Happy Holidays!  How do you celebrate?

Taken from http://www.Tripwolf.com 

http://www.tripwolf.com

Hello world!

Winter lingers on but Spring is around the corner – one hopes…

but..down by the stream in the woods, the first spring flowers begin to show their heads through the snow and the leaves.

In no time the woods will be carpeted with Blue Alpine Squills and white Wood Anemone.

Between bouts of rain and snow showers they continue to brave the cold outside world and show their marvellous colours and delicate shapes to the newly awakened spring sky.

Check out the  Spring Flower page for an ongoing slide show of spring flowers as they come out in the woods below the Lake in the Park of Castello Dal Pozzo