Zampone is stuffed pig’s trotter. The foot and shin are boned and stuffed with ground pork snout and other ingredients.

Zampone is traditionally eaten in Modena on New Year’s Eve. Carol Field tells us in her book Celebrating Italy that the lentils represent money and the sausage stuffing the container that will hold it. Pork is one of the pillars of Emilian cuisine and all kinds of pork products are made there.

In Zibello, culatello, a cured pork rump, is made, while Bologna offers its famous mortadella, and Langhirano makes a cured ham. The other pillars of the cuisine are pasta, especially tortellini, and rich bodied, full-flavored sauces.

The origin of zampone is often told as in the following apocrypha: During Pope Julius II’s siege of Mirandola in the winter of 1511, the town’s people were on the point of starvation and began to use every last piece of a slaughtered pig and invented zampone. Others are not so sure and suggest its invention in the eighteenth century, or nineteenth century, by a charcutier from Modena.

Luckily, zampone is made around Christmas in the U.S. and sold in Italian markets which is where you should look first. If that fails one company that makes an excellent zampone is sold at http://www.luigismailorder.com/ They freeze very well and can be made later.

Green lentils can be found in Indian markets. Brown lentils will do fine. Commercially packaged lentils today rarely need soaking. Less than an hour of cooking should do it. Some Emilians make a salsa verde, with walnuts, garlic, and lots of parsley, to accompany zampone.

Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
Preparation Time: 5 hours in all

One     3 1/2-pound zampone

2     cups dried green or brown lentils, picked over and rinsed

2     quarts water

2     medium-size onions, peeled, 1 left whole and 1 finely chopped

3     celery stalks, 2 cut in half and 1 finely chopped

Salt to taste

3     tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2     ounces prosciutto fat, chopped

1. Prick the zampone all over with a couple of corncob holders or toothpicks, and wrap tightly in a double thickness of cheesecloth. Tie off with kitchen twine. Place the zampone in a large pot or casserole on its side and cover by 4 inches of cold water. Bring the water to a boil slowly, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then simmer another 4 hours (or about 1 hour per pound of zampone, which run anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds). Add boiling water as needed to keep the zampone covered.

2. Meanwhile, place the lentils in a casserole with the 2 quarts water, the whole onion, celery stalk halves, and salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and when it begins to bubble, cook for 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the age of the lentils. Taste occasionally, and turn the heat off and drain the lentils when they are between al dente and tender and set aside. Discard the onion and celery.

3. In a medium-size saucepan, heat the olive oil with the prosciutto fat over medium heat and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring. Add the chopped onion and chopped celery and cook until golden, about 8 minutes, stirring.

4. Add the lentils to the sautéed onion and prosciutto fat along with 1 1/2 cups water from the cooking zampone. Simmer the lentils until the water is absorbed. If you have accidently overcooked the lentils so they are already soft, do not pour in the water, simply stir the lentils until well combined.

5. Arrange the lentils on a platter. Remove, drain, and untie the zampone. Cut it into slices as thick as a finger and arrange on top of the lentils, slightly overlapping them.

Article taken from Clifford A Wright.

The Befana is an Italian tradition concerning Epiphany. That’s the description I found for you on wikipedia.

“La Befana is a character in Italian folklore who delivers presents to children throughout Italy, in a similar way to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. The character may have originated in Rome, then spread as a tradition to the rest of Italy.

A popular belief is that her name derives from the festival of Epiphany, but there is evidence to suggest that Befana is descended from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strina.[...]
In popular folklore Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the 6th of January to fill their socks with candy and presents if they are good or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. The child’s family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana.

She is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children’s houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both.[...]
Traditionally, all Italian children may expect to find a lump of “coal” in their stockings (actually rock candy made black with caramel coloring), as every child has been at least occasionally bad during the year![...]“

I found a good description of what the winter in Rome means.

“Snow is almost unknown in Rome, and even on the coldest days in winter, the sun usually makes a generous appearance. Locals wrap up in sleeping-bag coats, muffled up to their noses, but there really aren’t many days that feel very cold to someone from a cooler climate. Heating in Rome (usually centralised) is generally switched on in mid-November. Temperatures vary throughout the winter; sometimes a cold wind can send a chill through the streets, at other times it’s mild enough to eat outside, even in February. Many restaurants and bars have heaters above outdoors tables, and continue to serve customers. You’ll need a coat, gloves and scarf, but don’t forget your sunglasses.

Visitors to Rome over Christmas will doubtless head for the Vatican. Highlights of the season are the Papal Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and the Pope reading his Christmas message in the piazza in front of St. Peter’s at noon on Christmas Day. In St. Peter’s Square there is also a famous life-size nativity scene.
The Christmas period in Rome really begins on the 8th December, the festival of the Immaculate Conception, when the Pope pays a visit to the Spanish Steps, and flowers are placed over a statue of Mary. He then moves on to give mass at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The last big religious date is the 6th January, Epiphany. For Romans this is the feast of the Befana, an old lady from a folkloric version of the Christmas story, who brings gifts to children and sweeps floors. You will see the Befana represented in many forms at the Christmas Market in Piazza Navona, and also during the Epiphany parade of colourful characters and floats leading up to the Vatican.

As well as the grand display outside St Peter’s, and a smaller effort in Piazza Navona, other nativity scenes (presepi) can be seen in most of Rome’s churches. These are important destinations for Italian visitors, and it’s worth inspecting one or two. Some have fascinating details, and even feature day-into-night lighting effects. If you are really keen, there is a large exhibition of presepi in the Sala del Bramante by Piazza del Popolo (admission charge). In our apartment block, the dour porter used to set up a large nativity scene; all the figurines lovingly displayed - apart from the baby Jesus, who usually doesn’t make his appearance in the crib until Christmas. One year the courtyard was even ornamented with a large Christmas tree which played a jaunty ‘Jingle Bells’ every time someone walked past.

At the Christmas Market in Piazza Navona you can buy the components for your own nativity scene, as well as sweets, wooden toys and all sorts of Christmas-related ornaments and goodies. Shoppers can marvel at the elaborate additions to nativity scenes, from working waterfalls to moving bakery scenes (in which the bakers look suspiciously like pizza chefs).

Those interested in Christmas shopping will find the main shopping streets sparkling with festive lights and packed with shoppers. Groups of busking musicians, often dressed as Santas, play cheerful seasonal tunes. Many shops lay down red carpeting on the pavements (which quickly gets filthy), and the last few years have seen an invasion of large inflatable Santa Clauses. As well as the Christmas lights, a giant Christmas tree appears in the centre of town, in Piazza Venezia or by the Colosseum. (Rome is somewhat safer than Naples: a similar giant tree was stolen from the centre of Naples one recent Christmas).

Rome is full of good places to buy presents: hundreds of little food shops are packed with goodies to take home. Other good Roman gifts include gloves and accessories (try the shops around the Spanish Steps) and kitsch souvenirs (anywhere near the Vatican). Two of our favourite present-shopping destinations are the Bottega del Cioccolato on Via Leonina and stylish stationers Fabriano on Via del Babuino, which stocks various Italy-themed items. Most non-food shops will wrap gifts for you free of charge, in shiny packaging.

The winter is a good time for those interested in cultural events, or the Italian way of life. During the summer, Rome empties as locals head on holiday, bars, clubs and theatres close down. Theatre seasons usually run, like the football, from autumn to spring. There aren’t as many festivals as there are in the summer, but you are more likely to catch regular performances of shows during your visit. On the shopping days before Christmas, and around the Italian bank holiday of 8th December, the streets can rather busy, but usually the tourist sights are not too busy in the winter. Thanks to the sunshine and the mild climate, it can be a pleasant winter treat to sit outdoors with a steaming cup of rich hot chocolate or vin brulé (mulled wine).”

If you want to read the article check on Italy heaven website.

Where to go on holiday on new year’s eve?

If you want to celebrate with friends, going somewhere special over Christmas, you have to find a place suitable for groups.
I think that the funniest thing, when you travel with friends, is to spend time together and accommodate in a spacious place. If  you have half a mind to take my advice, I think you should accommodate in a villa or in a rural house.

These kinds of structures have a lot of bedrooms and a large common room suitable for dinners with your many friends. Moreover, they are situated in wonderful places, surrounded by nature. The rural houses are among the most popular in the Italian regions of Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria.

I found an interesting article by Martha Bakerjian, About.com, about Italian traditions and events on New Year’s Eve… hope you’ll appreciate it!

“Italians love festivals and the ending of the old year and beginning of the new year, il capodanno, is a great time to celebrate in Italy.

New Year’s Eve in Italy - La Festa di San Silvestro

La Festa di San Silvestro is celebrated December 31 on New Year’s Eve. As with most Italian festivals, food plays a major role. Families and friends get together for a huge feast.

The star of the dinner is lentils, symbolizing money and good fortune for the coming year.
Traditionally, the dinner in many parts of Italy also includes a cotechino, a large spiced sausage, or a zampone, stuffed pig’s trotter.
The pork symbolizes the richness of life in the coming year.

Fireworks and Dancing

Huge midnight fireworks displays celebrate the coming of the new year. Most towns have public displays in a central square but private parties will also include firecrackers or sparklers, too, and will continue for a long time.
Naples is known for having one of the best and biggest New Year’s fireworks displays in Italy.
Some smaller towns build a bonfire in the central square where villagers will congregate into the early morning. If you’re near the coast, lake, or river you will hear boats and ships blowing their horns.

Dancing is also popular and many towns have public music and dancing before the fireworks. Rome, Milan, Bologna, Palermo and Naples put on huge popular outdoor shows with pop and rock bands. These events can sometimes be seen on television, too.

More New Year’s Eve Traditions in Italy

Guests of private or public parties are sometimes entertained with a game called “Tombola”, similar to Bingo.

The New Year is also celebrated with spumante or prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. New Years parties, whether public or private, will often last until sunrise in order to watch the first sunrise of the newborn year.

An old custom that is still followed in some places, especially in the south, is throwing your old things out the window to symbolize your readiness to accept the New Year. So, keep an eye out for falling objects if you’re walking around near midnight!

Oh, one more thing, don’t forget to wear your red underwear to ring in the new year! They say it’ll bring you luck in the coming year.”

…now you know enough about Italian New Year’s Eve!

If you will be in Tuscany on the December 31st, you certainly would like to know how to spend the most shining night of the year!

I found a website (firenze da bere) that has made a list of the parties in Florence…

You just have to choose where to have fun!

Happy New Year!

If you want to know some Italian tradition, you can read an article I found.

Often, the description of a foreigner is even more interesting that Italians’one.

Enjoy Emily Langer’s article for Washington Post about the chestnut-roasting.

Here an article I found by Nick Pisa on scotsman.

“HOMELESS and vulnerable people at hostels and care homes for the elderly in Milan are in line for a luxury Christmas lunch after officials donated £350,000 worth of seized caviar to them.
The 40kg haul of top-grade Beluga caviar was discovered during spot checks on strictly controlled foodstuffs.

Authorities decided there was too much of the delicacy to dispatch to restaurants quickly so it was given to the canteen of a hostel to be served up on Christmas Day.

Juri Mantegazza, a spokesman for the Italian Forestry Corps in Milan and who seized the caviar, said: “Tests carried out on the caviar showed it was edible, but as it does not keep very long and there was not enough time to arrange for it to be distributed elsewhere, we donated to a local charity. We have, however, kept a small amount as part of the investigation.

“I understand that the charity will distribute the caviar to various hostels in the Milan area and they will serve it as part of the Christmas Day lunch for the homeless.

“It’s a little Christmas present for those who wouldn’t normally eat caviar.”

Father Virginio Colmegan, of the Casa della Carita (House of Charity) said: “Every gift we are given is warmly accepted even if the majority of our guests don’t even know what these little black balls are. What is important to remember is that even the poor have rights and dignity, more than the desire for luxury items.”

Father Roberto Davanzo, of the Carita’s charity in Milan, said: “We are against all forms of waste and if this was the only alternative then it is warmly accepted. Even homeless and tramps have the right to try at least once the food of the rich.”

Beluga caviar is found in the Beluga sturgeon in the Caspian Sea, but it is considered an endangered species and there have been several trade bans in an attempt to save the fish.

Beluga is usually eaten with a spoon made of mother of pearl, bone, or other non-metallic material, as metal utensils tend to impart a metallic taste to the delicate and expensive roe.

Gourmets are also accustomed to savouring other forms of caviar in a variety of ways, including hollowed and cooked new potatoes, on a blini, or garnished with sour cream, crème fraîche, minced onion or minced hard boiled egg whites. Beluga is usually served on toast.

It is not known if the hostels or care homes have the correct utensil for serving or how they will present the caviar.”

Merry Christmas!

If you don’t know how to celebrate the New Year, you could attend the most romantic event in the most romantic city… in San Marco square, in Venice, at midnight there will be the kiss in unison: hundreds of couples (and not just couples, I think!) will say “Happy New Year!” kissing each other.

This event, called “Love 2009”, is at its second edition and has also won the “Best Event Award” in 2008.
To the mob scene of the concurrent kisses will be added the fireworks and a romantic soundtrack.
See you in Venice for an unforgettable New year’s eve…

Freddie Pragnell, on Jamaica Gleaner, writes that “Animals are perhaps a literal example of ideal gifts which do not stop giving.”
Adopting a pet can be a good idea for a Christmas gift, both to you and to someone else.

Before picking up a dog, or any other animal, you have to be sure that the owner will be able to take care about it.

If the tenderness and the big eyes of a puppy are not enough to persuade you, Freddie Pragnell gives us another important reason to adopt a dog:
The adoption of a dog would certainly be fashionable. Canine infatuation has been in vogue recently with both President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden on the hunt for the perfect pup.”

Can you still resist?!

For further info, read the article.