Te Deum on New Year's Eve

The Glory of the Holy Spirit with trumpet

A plenary indulgence is granted if the Te Deum is recited publicly on New Year’s Eve and a partial indulgence is granted to those who recite the hymn in thanksgiving.

We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Thee, the Father everlasting, all the earth doth worship.
To Thee all angels; to Thee the heavens and all the powers:
To Thee the cherubim and seraphim continually cry:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth.
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
Thee, the glorious choir of the apostles,
Thee, the admirable company of prophets,
Thee, the white-robed army of martyrs, praise.
Thee, the holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge:
The Father of infinite majesty;
Thy adorable, true, and only Son;
Also, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou, O Christ, art the King of Glory,
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou didst take upon Thee to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin’s womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our judge.
We therefore pray Thee to help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting.
Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance.
Govern them, and raise them up forever.
Every day we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy name forever; yea, forever and ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, to keep us from sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
R. And worthy to be praised, and glorious forever.

V. Let us bless the Father and the Son, with the Holy Ghost.
R. Let us praise and magnify Him forever.

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
R. And worthy to be praised, glorified and exalted forever.

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
R. And forget not all His benefits.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

New Years Eve and the Feast of San Silvestro I

My lucky skivvies

December 31st is the Feast of San Silvestro il Primo (St. Sylvester the First), Pope (314-335) and Confessor. Widely venerated across Southern Italy, he is the principal patron of Sacco (SA), Cesinali (AV), Feroleto Antico (CZ), Cermignano (TE), and Castroreale (ME), among others. 

According to tradition, he baptized and miraculously cured Emperor Constantine the Great of leprosy. A version of the story can be found in the renowned Sicilian folklorist Giuseppe Pitrè’s The Collected Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales, a collection of Sicilian oral traditions. Even more amazingly, he is said to have subdued a pestilent dragon with the aid of the Blessed Mother.

By happenstance, the day coincides with New Year's Eve and has become somewhat entwined with the jubilant year-end celebration, so most of the popular traditions affiliated with La Festa di San Silvestro have more to do with the secular New Year than with the Saint's day. 

Typical New Year's Eve celebrations in Southern Italy begin with dinner parties. And what better way to ring in the New Year than with a hearty meal with family and friends? Customarily lentils and pork sausages are served for dinner. It's said the food represents wealth and will bring good fortune to those who partake in the meal. In some households, figs are also exchanged so the coming year will be sweet as well. Afterward, people gather around bonfires or get together in the streets and squares to socialize and make merry. At midnight they watch huge fireworks displays. (The one in Naples is sheer pandemonium—watch YouTube video)

Of course, not all the rituals and folklore are related to food. In Naples, for example, some people still throw their old and broken household items out of their windows at midnight, taking the popular saying "Out with the old and in with the new" quite literally. This cleansing ritual symbolizes an optimistic fresh start.

The superstitious also believe smashing plates and glasses on the ground will frighten and chase away evil spirits. At the very least, its a cathartic release.

Wearing red underwear is another popular custom. The explanations for this curious practice are varied. For example, I've heard it said that red is a lucky color and it will bring prosperity to the wearer. Supposedly, it also symbolizes virility or fertility and is worn by those looking to have children or find romance. 

Whatever the true meaning is, I won't be taking any chances and will be wearing mine when I ring in the New Year. Evviva San Silvestro! Ora pro nobis. Buon Anno! Happy New Year!

Prayer to St. Sylvester 

O Loving Father and Saint Sylvester be a tower of strength to Your children, grant us increase, protect us from all harm and present, with your powerful intercession, our prayers to the Almighty. Pray for us, O Holy Father Saint Sylvester that we may be made worthy of promises of Christ. Be present to Your servants, O Lord, and through the intercession of our Holy Father Saint Sylvester, bestow upon us the unceasing help of Your grace so that, by following his example, we may be defended by Thy protection. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Feast of Santa Colomba di Sens

Santa Colomba di Sens, ora pro nobis

December 31st is the Feast of Santa Colomba di Sens, Virgin and Martyr. According to tradition, her relic was translated from France to the Cattedrale di San Sabino in Bari, Apulia, in the eighteenth century by a group of Vincentians fleeing religious persecution. In Bari, Santa Colomba is invoked against fire, drought and other natural disasters. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Santa Colomba di Sens. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Patrick O’Boyle, was taken inside the crypt of the Bari Cathedral. Evviva Santa Colomba di Sens!

A Prayer to Santa Colomba di Sens

O Glorious Santa Colomba, you served God in humility and confidence on earth, now you enjoy His beatific vision in Heaven. Help me to strengthen my faith and protect me in conflict. Obtain for me the grace to live a holy life, so that one day I may join you in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen

Top Ten Posts 2024

(Top, L-R) Remembering Marie Antoinette; Shrine to Beata Maria Cristina di Savoia; and remembering Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. (Center) Sanfedisti celebrating the Tavola di San Giuseppe. (Bottom, L-R) Gifted a painting of Carlo di Borbone; Tavola di San Giuseppe; and celebrating the feast of San Nicola

01 A New Year’s Day Reflection on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
02 Apoliteia
03 The Return of the King
04 Celebrating Our Fifteenth Anniversary
05 The Optimistic Pessimist
06 Wednesday’s Child
07 Random Thoughts as the Wolf Moon Approaches
08 Some Thoughts on Cabrini
09 Against Self-Expression
10 Review: Briganti

Honorable Mention:

11 My Book Dilemma and Other First World Problems
12 Review — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
13 Repatriating to the Patria and Resisting the Amerloque Warlocks
14 The Pugliese Poetry of Francesco Antonio D’Amelio
15 Babylon's Burning
16 Unearthing Familial Ephemera and Other Sentimental Treasures
17 Sanfedisti
18 The Fall of the Rebel Angels
19 From NEUE to Old
20 Brief Responses to Recent “Outrages”
21 My Latest Flame
22 Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad
23 One-Year Anniversary Since My Heart Attack
24 The Death of Carnevale and Orion the Hunter
25 Impromptu Visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
26 Movie Review: Vaincre ou Mourir
27 Thoughts on 'Vaincre ou Mourir'
28 Go Cats Go!
29 Days of the Blackbird and the Coming of Persephone
30 In the Ruins of Christendom, We Shall Live

Click here to see last year’s results

Feast of San Ruggero di Canne

San Ruggero Vescovo, ora pro nobis

December 30 is the Feast of San Ruggero di Canne (1060/70-1128/29), Bishop of Canne and principal protector of Barletta, Puglia. In addition to the Bishop’s habit, miter and crosier, the Saint’s distinctive attribute is the eagle. It is said a great bird once shaded the holy man with its wings during a pilgrimage to the Sanctuario di San Michele Arcangelo on Mount Gargano.

In Barletta San Ruggero is also honored on April 27, which commemorates the translation of the holy relics from Canne to Barletta in 1276, and on the second Sunday of July, the Patronal Feast of Barletta, along with the Madonna dello Sterpeto.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to San Ruggero in Italian. Evviva San Ruggero di Canne!

Preghiera a San Ruggero di Canne

O custode e pastore del gregge di Dio e instancabile annunciatore della salvezza, San Ruggero, scelto tra i fratelli a guidare la Chiesa di Canne: insegnaci ad essere come Te, discepoli della Parola, testimoni autentici e credibili del Vangelo.

Amico di Cristo, che per disposizione divina ha i privilegiato a luogo della tua pace. e del tuo riposo Barletta, Città di Maria, sostienici sempre con la tua intercessione fino a quando, accolti tra le braccia misericordiose del Padre, canteremo in eterno la sua misericordia. S. Ruggero, prega per noi!

Photo of the Week: Athena Promachos, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

Athena Promachos, unearthed from the Villa of the Papyri, Herculaneum

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Viva 'o Rre! Remembering Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies

(Above and below) This year, we erected shrines to King Francesco II
of the Two Sicilies at both ends of the dinner table

At this year’s annual remembrance of Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies, we attended the Latin Tridentine Mass for the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista and prayed for His Majesty's beatification and the canonization of his mother, Queen Blessed Maria Cristina di Savoia. After Mass, we broke our Friday fast with a delicious home-cooked meatless meal and a few bottles of Duosiciliano wine we had blessed at the Mass. Viva 'o Rre!

For our pasta course, we were treated to
some homemade Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

For more information about the Beatification and Canonization process for Francesco II visit the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

Prayer for the Glorification of King Francis II of the Two Sicilies
[For private use only]

Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant HM Francis II, King of the Two Sicilies, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies
[For private use only]

O God, who has placed a great light in Your saints and a provident support for Your people along the path, listen with goodness to our prayer, and glorify Your servant Maria Cristina di Savoia, in whose life as a wife and queen You have offered us a shining model of wise and courageous charity, and grant us, through her intercession, the grace [mention here the graces you are asking for] which from You, with trust, we invoke. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Focaccia Pugliese

Mozzarella

Polpette di ricotta, crocchè di patate, and arancini

Insalata di burrata e pomodori

Melanzane grigliate sott'olio

Peperoni arrostiti

Spiedini di gamberi alla griglia

A Look at the 2024 Suffrage Mass for SG Francesco II at the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittoria in Napoli

Photos courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio, 1° Reggimento
Re, Cav. Mirko Speranza, and Angela Cuccillato

The Suffrage Mass for SG Francesco II of Borbone, 130 years after his death, was celebrated on December 27 in the Church of S. Maria della Vittoria, in Naples, on the initiative of the Fondazione il Giglio and the Movimento Neoborbonico, with the participation of the Sacro Militare Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio and the volunteers of the 1° Reggimento Re, in historical uniform of the army of the Two Sicily.

The “King’s Hymn” composed by Giovanni Paisiello was performed at the beginning and the end of the religious celebration by maestro Lanfranco Menga.

The last King of the Two Sicilies was commemorated by the professor. Gennaro De Crescenzo, president of the Movimento Neoborbonico.

Mons. Enrico Ferrara, who celebrated the rite, remembered during the homily the Christian virtues of Francesco II, who in 2020 was proclaimed Servant of God by the Church.

Marina Carrese, president of the Fondazione il Giglio, has invited all those who love the process of beatification of Francesco II to join the Rosary, which is recited on the 27th of every month, at 8 pm on the Telegram Channel “Rosario per Francesco II di Borbone.”

The Marquess Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo, delegate for the Campanian delegation of the Sacro Militare Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio, has announced the initiatives of 2025, a year in which the anniversaries of the 100th anniversary of the death of Queen Maria Sofia, and the 200th anniversary of King Ferdinando I.

Feast of San Tommaso Becket

San Tommaso Becket, ora pro nobis

December 29th is the Feast of San Tommaso Becket (St. Thomas Becket), Bishop and Martyr. Patron saint of secular clergy, he is the protector of Mottola, a town in the Province of Taranto, Puglia. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer for St. Thomas Becket. The accompanying photo of the gold Reliquary Pendant of Bishop Reginald of Bath for Queen Margaret of Sicily (Eng. ca. 1174-83) was taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. According to the inscriptions on the obverse of the pendant, the reliquary once contained pieces of the blood-soaked vestment of San Tommaso. Evviva San Tommaso!

Prayer for St. Thomas Becket

O God, for the sake of whose Church the glorious Bishop Thomas fell by the sword of ungodly men: grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his aid, may obtain the good fruit of his petition. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Feast of Santa Caterina Volpicelli

Santa Caterina Volpicelli, ora pro nobis

December 28th is the Feast of Santa Caterina Volpicelli, founder of the Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart. Born into an upper middle-class family in Naples on January 21, 1839, Caterina gave up the bourgeois lifestyle for the grace of a religious vocation. In 1873—with the approval of the Cardinal Archbishop of Naples, the Servant of God Sisto Riario Sforza—she founded the Institute of Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart, a confraternity dedicated to contemplation and many charitable works. Among these were the establishment of orphanages, libraries and chapels. During a cholera outbreak in 1884, Caterina and the handmaidens distinguished themselves in ministering to the needs of the victims. They were granted a "decree of praise" from Pope Leo XIII on June 13, 1890. 

Caterina Volpicelli died at the age of 55 on December 28, 1894. She was declared venerable by Pope Pius XII on March 25, 1945 and proclaimed blessed by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 2001. Recognizing a miracle attributed to her intercession, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Caterina on April 26, 2009. In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to Saint Caterina Volpicelli. Evviva Santa Caterina Volpicelli!

Prayer to Saint Caterina Volpicelli

Saint Catherine, mother of young people and children, sister of the poor, friend of families, confidant of those who, eager to meet Christ, rely on your prayer and your advice, show yourself to us today, mother, sister, friend and confidant; help guide us on the paths of holiness. Teach us to love the Eucharist and the Church. Grant us wisdom of heart and mind. Feed in us deep faith, perfect charity and living hope. Make us love Jesus and the Virgin Mary, as you loved them. Amen.

Further reading: Caterina Volpicelli (1839-1894)

Feast of the Holy Innocents

Holy Innocents, orate pro nobis

December 28th is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the infant boys of Bethlehem massacred by King Herod in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. In remembrance, I'm posting a Prayer for the Holy Innocents. The accompanying photo of the Massacre of the Innocents (c.1640) by Pacecco de Rosa (Naples b. 1607—Naples d. 1756) was taken at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Prayer for the Holy Innocents

We remember this day, O God, the slaughter of the holy Innocents of Bethlehem by the order of King Herod. Receive, we beseech thee, into the arms of thy mercy all innocent victims; and by thy great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish thy rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

A Prayer for the Victims of the 1908 Earthquake in Sicily and Calabria

Triangular charity labels issued in 1908 to help raise money for the survivors

In memory of the victims of the earthquake and accompanying tsunami that devastated Messina, Sicily and Reggio Calabria, on December 28, 1908, we offer a prayer to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. An estimated 100,000 lives, including 90% of the inhabitants of Messina, were lost in the tragedy. May Sant’Emidio, Santa Rosalia, San Francesco di Paola, San Giorgio and the Madonna della Lettera watch over you.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Novena to the Three Kings

Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar

Pray the Novena to the Three Kings for nine consecutive days, December 28th to January 5th, in preparation for the  feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.

Day 1
O Holy Magi, you were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Son of justice; obtain for me an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding, one day, the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy. Glory be to the Father...

Day 2
O Holy Magi, who at the first appearance of the wondrous star, left your native country to go and seek the new-born King of the Jews; obtain for me the grace of, “Responding promptly, to every Divine inspiration.” Glory be to the Father...

Day 3
O Holy Magi, who disregarded the severity of the season and the inconveniences of the journey, so that you might find the new-born Messiah; obtain for me the grace, not to allow myself to be discouraged by any difficulty which may meet me on the road to my salvation. Glory be to the Father...

Day 4
O Holy Magi, who, when deserted by the star in the City of Jerusalem, sought humbly from the rulers of the Church, the place where you might discover the object of your journey; obtain for me the grace to have recourse, in faith and humility, in all my doubts and perplexities to the counsel of my superiors, who hold the place of God on earth. Glory be to the Father...

Day 5
O Holy Magi, who were gladdened by the reappearance of the star which led you to Bethlehem; obtain for me from God, the grace that remaining always faithful to Him in afflictions, I may be consoled in time by His grace, and in eternity by His glory. Glory be to the Father...

Day 6
O Holy Magi, who, entered full of faith into the stable of Bethlehem, prostrated yourselves on the earth, to adore the new-born King of the Jews, though He was surrounded only by signs of poverty and weakness; obtain from the Lord for me a lively faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the true spirit of poverty, and a Christ-like charity for the poor and suffering. Glory be to the Father...

Day 7
O Holy Magi, who offered to Jesus Christ gold, frankincense and myrrh, thereby recognizing Him to be King, God, and Man; obtain from the Lord for me the grace never to present myself before Him with empty hands; but that I may continually offer to Him the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, and the myrrh of penance. Glory be to the Father...

Day 8
O Holy Magi, who, when warned by an angel not to return to Herod, travelled to your home country by another route; obtain for me from the Lord, the grace that, after having found Him in true repentance, I may avoid all danger of ever losing Him again. Glory be to the Father...

Day 9
O Holy Magi, who were first among the Gentiles called to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who persevered in the faith till your deaths; obtain from the Lord for me the grace of living always in conformity to my baptismal vows, ever leading a life of faith and, like you, one day seeing God in His heavenly Kingdom. Glory be to the Father...

Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista

San Giovanni Evangelista, ora pro nobis

December 27th is the Feast of San Giovanni the Apostle and Evangelist, patron saint of writers and theologians. Widely venerated across Southern Italy, he is the principal patron of San Giovanni la Punta (CT), Mariglianella (NA), Teverola (CE), Ailano (CE), Motta San Giovanni (RC), Castellalto (TE), and Paterno (PZ), among others. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to St. John the Evangelist. The accompanying photo was taken at the Basilica Santa Trofimena in Minori. Evviva San Giovanni Evangelista!

A Prayer to St. John the Evangelist

O Glorious St. John, you were so loved by Jesus that you merited to rest your head upon his breast, and to be left in his place as son to Mary. Obtain for us an ardent love for Jesus and Mary. Let me be united with them now on earth and forever after in heaven. Amen

Prayer for the Beatification of SG King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies

Servant of God, King Francesco II, ora pro nobis

O One and Triune God, Who casts Your glance on us from Your throne of mercy, and called Francis II of Bourbon to follow You, choosing him on earth to be king, modeling his life on the very Kingship of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, pouring into his heart sentiments of love and patience, humility and meekness, peace and pardon, and clothing him with the virtues of faith, hope and charity, hear our petition, and help us to walk in his footsteps and to live his virtues.

Glorify him, we pray You, on earth as we believe him to be already glorified in Heaven, and grant that, through his prayers, we may receive the graces we need. Amen.

La Vigilia and Other Christmas Traditions

Woke up to this beautiful surprise on Christmas Eve

Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis

Like many Duosiciliano Americans, my family still keeps the tradition of La Vigilia di Natale, the Southern Italian ritual of eating seafood and eschewing meat on Christmas Eve. We don’t do the so-called Festa dei sette pesci, or “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” but we do eat a variety of aquatic delicacies.

Despite regular and varied claims to authenticity, I believe the “Seven Fish” custom is a relatively recent fabrication. According to my family’s matriarchs, there was never a set number of fish dishes served, we simply ate what we could afford and what was fresh and available.

Today, we normally have shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, and scungilli (whelk), which all can be prepared in a variety of ways. Capitone fritto alla napoletana (fried eel) used to be the main course, but nowadays, since the death of my grandparents, the dish has been replaced with ricci di mare (sea urchin), aragosta (lobster), seppia (cuttlefish), or baccalà (salt cod). For the past few years, we’ve been enjoying baccalà in umido (stewed codfish) and mini lobster tails.

Insalata di mare

Gamberi fritti

Fritto misto di mare

Baccalà in umido with tomato, onion and olives

Spaghetti alle vongole 

Mini lobster tails

Following the fish bonanza, we had three different types of meatless panzerotti, a delicious deep-fried crescent-shaped dough filled with onions and capers; sweet ricotta; and the classic mozzarella and tomato.

Panzerotti

Next came fruit, roasted chestnuts, cafè, and an assortment of delicious sweets, including homemade pizza di ricotta and cartellate.

Cherry pie

Cartellate with fig syrup

Cream puffs

Afterward, we played tombola with the kids and attended Solemn High Midnight Mass at the Shrine and Parish Church of the Holy Innocents in New York City. We also stayed for the Low Mass at Dawn commemorating the Feast of Sant'Anastasia di Sirmio.

(L) Before Mass, the choir performed traditional carols and hymns. Plunged
in darkness, the church was lit by candlelight during the procession.
(R) Portrait of Emperor Karl and Empress Zita in the Church Hall

The High Altar at Holy Innocents Church

The Nativity at Holy Innocents Church

On Christmas morning, we attended the Traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, New York. After Mass, parishioners venerated the statue of the Christ Child.

Wednesday morning we attended the Traditional Latin Christmas
Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, New York

The Nativity at Our Lady of Peace Church

Back home, we exchanged presents and enjoyed a modest breakfast. Braving the cold, we visited family and friends around the neighborhood until dinnertime.

A friend gave me a custom-made baseball cap adorned
with the coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of the Two Siciles

Santa and friends gave me an eclectic array of books this year: (L-R) Hunger by Knut Hamsun; Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X by Deborah Davis; War by Louis-Ferdinand Célene; George Sanders: Memoirs of a Professional Cad by George Sanders; La Smorfia della Fortuna edizioni Lito-Rama; Septentrion by Jean Raspail; Mysticism, Magic, and Monasteries by Sebastian Morello; Kaputt by Curzio Malaparte; and Elites Against Democracy: Leadership Ideals in Bourgeois Political Thought in Germany by Walter Struve

No less extravagant than the Eve, Christmas dinner was a culinary tour de force with plenty of hot and cold antipasti, insalata, lasagna, and Christmas ham. Fruit, dessert, and cafè completed the meal.

Christmas dinner is served

Charcuterie Board

Prosciutto e melone, focaccia Pugliese, crocchè
di patate, polpette di ricotta, and arancini

Lasagna

Christmas ham

Sweet potato and pomegranate salad with goat cheese

Pecan Pie

Blueberry crumble pie

Not quite finished yet, on December 26th, the second day of Christmas, we celebrate St. Stephen's Day (my saintly Confirmation namesake) with leftovers and homemade torrone, a sticky candy made from honey and nuts that dates back to Roman times. I like mine with a glass of Strega or Amaro.

Homemade torrone

As always, the ladies outdid themselves and treated us to another memorable Christmas. Buon Natale a tutti!

~ Giovanni di Napoli, December 26th, Feast of Santo Stefano primo Martire (Amended for 2024)