CHIAVARI, Italy – There is a big Christmas street
party here in Chiavari this afternoon, with music, panettone and hot chocolate
for everyone. This will be my first encounter with Christmas Chiaverse style,
and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.
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| When the Sun Goes Down at Oh Bei, Oh Bei |
Last year at this time I was still living near Milan
and the big Christmas blow-out there is the opening of the Oh Bei, Oh Bei. The
Oh Bei, Oh Bei, which means ‘how beautiful, how beautiful’ in Milanese dialect,
is more like a festive bazaar than a Christmas street party and has been big
part of Milanese holiday traditions since 1288.
It’s more like a mega-market in the center of Milan,
set up around the Castello Sforzesco with hundreds of local artisans selling
everything from hand knitted scarves and sweaters to jewelry, toys and
gastronomic delights, including roasted chestnuts and hot cups of mulled wine.
It’s one of the biggest street fairs in Italy and an event no self-respecting
Milanese would ever dream of missing.
There’s more food (and lots of it, plus everything
else) at the Artiginato in Fiera, a massive fair held at Milan’s newest fair
ground, the Fiera di Rho. The Artiginato in Fiera is a multi-cultural event
with artisans coming from as far away as South America and China
to participate. It showcases the workmanship and traditions of hand crafted
goods that have been passed down from generation to generation, the
one-of-a-kind crafts you would only see at a local fair.
As there are times when pictures speak louder than
words, here are some photos of the both the Oh Bei, Oh Bei and the Artiginato
in Fiera. They will surely give you a solid dose of that happy Christmas
spirit.
First up are photos from Milan's Oh Bei, Oh Bei
(which actually means 'How Beautiful, How Beautiful in Milanese dialect). The
photos are all from the Corriere della Sera.
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| A Walk in the Park with Benefits |
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| So Much to Chose From |
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| Just Adorable |
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| Is That Santa Claus Up There? |
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| Here are his Elves | |
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| Round and Round the Castle We Go | | |
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AND NOW ON TO THE ARTIGINATO IN FIERA
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| With a Little Music |
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| And a Little Polenta with Mountain Music |
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| And Cookies |
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| And a BIG Pot of Something That Looks Amazing |
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| And Some Lip Smacking Good Salami From Piedmont |
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| And a Mountain of Sicilian Delights |
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| And the Boss Says Try One of These |
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| And One of These (I don't Know What They Are But They Look Good) Straight From the Oven |
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| Did Someone Order Some Bread? |
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| What About These Beauties Straight From the Oven |
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| And Last but Not Least the Christmas Cake |
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Merry Christmas
