Category Archives: English

Unesco and the art of the pizzaiuolo (pizza maker)

Posted on February 8, 2018 by babbityjean

News came from far away—from the South Korean island of Jeju—late on December 6, 2017.  Unesco placed the art of Neapolitan pizzaioli (or pizzaiuoli) on the honored List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  Crowds gathered along Via dei Tribunali, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arte, Campania, Cucina italiana, English, Foto, Italia, Napoli | 1 Comment

The Adventures of the Italian Letter “H”

Posted on February 1, 2018 by babbityjean

(Adapted and translated from an article in Corriere della Sera.) In French, there is “heure” and in English there is “hour” and “heir.”  In these cases, the “h” is silent.  There are many words in English, like “help” and “horse,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Campania, English, Foto, Italia, La Gente, La Lingua, Storia | 1 Comment

A Brief History of Italian Surnames

Posted on January 25, 2018 by babbityjean

Today there are more than 300,000 traditional surnames in Italy not counting new ones introduced through immigration.  A precise calculation is impossible because over time some become extinct and others are formed—often from transcription errors in the registry offices.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Abitudini, Campania, English, Italia, La Gente, Piemonte, Puglia, Sicilia, Storia, Veneto | 1 Comment