The Bukharian emir liked Samarkand bread and ordered to bake it in his court. He was told that bread would be tasty only if it was baked in Samarkand, but the khan ordered to bring bakers from Samarkand to Bukhara. The order was carried out and the best baker was brought to the palace, but… Read More Samarkand bread
How Khiva got its name Many years ago, between the Central Asian deserts of the Kyzyl-Kum and Kaza-kum, on the spot where Khiva now stands, there was a very small settlement, which had no name. Very kind and friendly people lived there, and because of their fresh clean water, hundreds of caravans carrying silk, cloth,… Read More Khiva’s water
According to a legend, the Lord, after creating the Earth, began to divide it among the various peoples. Uzbek was very kind, so when he stood in line for the land he let all those behind him pass by. When his turn arrived, it was too late and no land was left. Therefore the… Read More A legend
September of My Years One day you turn around and it’s summer Next day you turn around and it’s fall And all the winters and the springs of a lifetime Whatever happened to them all? As a man who has always had the wandering ways I keep looking back to yesterdays ‘Til a long-forgotten love… Read More “September of My Years”
In Italy, today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr. In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, this holiday is commonly known as Boxing Day, which takes its name from the practice of giving small gifts , Christmas “boxes”, to household servants , or to the poor,… Read More 26 December: Saint Stephen’s Day
Queen Elizabeth’s first birthday Today is Queen Elizabeth II’s 91st birthday – her first one of the year. Yes, the monarch celebrates her birthday twice: although she was born on April 21 1926, her “official” birthday, marked by the “Trooping the Colour” ceremony, takes place in the summer. This tradition was started by George II… Read More Queen Elizabeth’s first birthday
Today, in Italy, we celebrate “Lunedi dell ‘Angelo” ( Monday of the Angel) or Pasquetta, which can literally be translated into little Easter (Pasqua). It is part of the Easter holiday celebrations and it is a time to take short breaks to the countryside with friends and family, and have picnics. Easter Monday… Read More Easter Monday
February 3: Saint Blaise’s Feast Saint Blaise was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia (modern Turkey) who died in 316 AD. Little is known about this Saint prior to his mention in a court physician’s medical journal at the end of the 5th century, where his aid is invoked in treating objects… Read More February 3: St. Blaise’s Feast
Here is another tale on how THE DAYS OF THE BLACKBIRD in Northern Italy came to be: Gemma lived with her father in a house with a courtyard full of birds of all colours. Unfortunately, at the end of one summer, the man fell seriously ill. He had to stay in bed and the only thing… Read More Days of the Blackbird
– THE DAYS OF THE BLACKBIRD- (I GIORNI DELLA MERLA) There are a few Italian legends that say the last three days of January (29, 30, 31) are the coldest days of winter, thanks to the actions of a female bird. A long time ago in Milan there was a very… Read More The Days of the Blackbird
