A reflection I recently wrote about my 2002 "Le Torce" experience for a Sonnino-based project

In 2002, my wife and I made the first of many trips to Sonnino to visit my family, eat brilliant Sonninese food and learn more about my roots and my heritage. It was during this first visit that I was told over and over by family and friends that I must return at some point to do Le Torce, that it was a rite of passage for anyone who is Sonninese. To my American ears, Le Torce sounded like an other-worldly experience…bonfires, giant torches, firing guns and hiking all night through the mountains singing songs. In 2008, with the arrival of my first child 4 months away, I recognized that my life was about to get a lot busier. I made the decision that this was the year that I would do Le Torce. I purchased at ticket to Rome, bought some good hiking shoes and studied my Italian dictionary (I couldn’t find a Sonninese dictionary!). Though my great grandparents left Sonnino for American nearly 100 years ago, the second I arrived in Sonnino I felt like I was home. Coming for Le Torce was another way for me to connect with my roots and the heritage of my ancestors. I have always felt so welcomed and well cared for when I and my family have visited Sonnino. My experience with Le Torce was no different. The week prior to Le Torce I received encouragement from everyone I met, wishing me a great experience and an easy hike. All of my family and friends in Sonnino kept me well feed and well rested. The day of Le Torce I gathered in the church with others overwhelmed by the experience. It was amazing to see all of the people of Sonnino come out to celebrate. The energy was incredible. People were laughing, singing, firing guns and hugging each other. As we left the church I took a deep breath and thought about the generations of Sonninese before me who had had experienced the same feelings of excitement and anticipation. As we hiked through the mountains I had the opportunity to truly appreciate the beautiful countryside and enjoy the company of my fellow Le Torce participants. People taught me songs, shared their food and drink and encouraged me keep going. Walking through the mountains and countryside, I felt a deep sense of connectedness to my family, my culture and to the land. It was a sort of walking meditation. When we reached to bonfire to light our torches I was able to witness one of the most beautiful parts of Le Torce. There is nothing like the site of hundreds of Sonninese snaking down the mountain, singing songs with torches lighting the night sky. I ended the night exhausted but overjoyed with my Le Torce experience. Places are important but it is people who matter most. My amazing Le Torce experience was possible because of all of the support that I received from my family and friends in Sonnino. I can’t say enough about the kindness and generosity of my fellow Sonninese. It is my hope that every Sonninese, no matter what part of the world they live in, has the opportunity to do Le Torce at least once in their lives.

My cousin's blog

My cousin Maurizia (from Sonnino) has a blog that highlights local events and issues. It's in Italian but you can translate using Google. Check it out: www.maurizianews.blogspot.com

Rastime: Te Pozzeno Fa Na Ricognizione Angima A Na lastra De Marmo (sp?)

This weeks rastime means, as written by my cousin translates to: "I hope a doctor makes you an autopsy!"

Sonnino in the news

Sonnino has been getting some international press for a court case regarding the wearing of burqas. Here's the link:

Villagers st Sonnino

This is a very old picture of villagers from Sonnino that I found on this webiste:
http://www.romeartlover.it/Pinelli1.html

Here is the text that follows the picture:

Picturesque Brigands

In 1587 a medal coined by Pope Sixtus V announced that "Law and Order" was re-established in the Papal State: it portrayed a pilgrim peacefully resting at the foot of a tree and the inscription Perfecta securitas.

This pope and his immediate successors implemented policies to stop assaults and robberies along the roads leading to Rome. The popes pursued their objective by a series of actions: a) a small army chased the brigands in their sanctuaries in the woods; b) rewards were paid to those who provided information on the hiding places of chief brigands; c) brigands who had committed only minor crimes were offered enrolment in the Catholic armies which fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-48).

Order Sonninese olive oil

This is a Sonninese olive oil producer called "Madeccia. I haven't tried their olive oil before but they are the first Sonninese producer that I've found that has an english language site. It looks like you can contact them to order olive oil. If anybody has tried them please let me know. The link to their website is below.



http://www.madeccia.com/home.php

Old postcard of Sonnino

Olio Nuovo:The freshest olive oil around

I have had the distinct pleasure of being in Sonnino right after the the first olives have been pressed for their oil (olio nuovo). This oil taste amazing and only last for few months. I recently found a place in California that gets high grades for its olio nuovo and sells it at a reasonable price.

The company is called the "California Olive Ranch". You need to pre-order the olio nuovo in the early fall...mine is being shipped right now! The link to "California Olive Ranch" is below as well as some more information about olio nuovo.

http://chefs.californiaoliveranch.com/

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– For starters, Olio Nuovo is the freshest possible extra virgin olive oil you can find. It’s practically like drinking milk from a cow. When you put a spoonful of Olio Nuovo in your mouth, you experience a peppery, fruity, pleasantly bitter burst of fresh olive oil taste.

– Chefs like to use our Olio Nuovo with freshly harvested vegetables such as tomatoes to accentuate the taste of the vegetable. It’s also a great way to celebrate the fall harvest. When he’s at home in his own kitchen, Georges at the Cove chef Trey Foshee simply likes to toss Olio Nuovo with pasta.

– Olio Nuovo heralds the new olive oil season. But it’s fleeting. Its limited shelf life means the oil must be used within a few months. California Olive Ranch employees bottle Olio Nuovo only once a year, in the first half of November. It’s an olive oil you can’t get every day. We make it to order – and we’ve just begun taking orders.

– Olio Nuovo also is the healthiest extra virgin olive oil. It delivers a higher level of polyphenols – the chemical substances found in plants that may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Sonninese Holiday Sweets: Cannelicchi

Someone recently left a comment looking for Sonninese holiday sweets/cookies. I talked with my cousin in Sonnino and she said that "Cannelicchi" are a traditional dessert. The ingredients are in Italian with an admittedly poor English translation below them (I used a free translation service. Enjoy!


Ingredienti:

4 uova
circa 1/2 kg. farina
un barattolo di miele
olio
fogli di limone o piccoli cestini di carta


Preparazione:

Impastare le uova con la farina, fino ad ottenere una pasta abbastanza consistente, ma non tropo dura.
Lavorare la pasta e tagliare a bastoncini della grandezza di un mignolo. Ritagliare come piccoli gnocchi.
Friggerli nell'olio ben caldo e scolarli.
Versare il miele in una padella, scioglierlo al fuoco e, unire i cannolicchi. Amalgamare bene il tutto fino a quando non si sente il profumo del miele.
Togliere dal fuoco e disporre i cannelicchi in piccole porzioni sulle foglie di limone, precedentemente lavate e asciugate oppure dentro cestini di carta o ancora tutti insieme dentro un piatto (v. foto).
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Ingredients:

4 eggs about 1/2 kg. flour a lemon of sheets oil honey of can or small baskets of card

Preparation:

To mix the eggs with the flour, until to obtain an enough pasta consisting, but not hard metaphor. To work the pasta and to cut small sticks of the size of a pinkie. To clip like small gnocchi. To fry them in the quite warm oil and to drain them. To pour the honey in a pan, to dissolve it to the fire and, to unite the cannolicchi. To amalgamate well everything until does not hear itself the perfume of the honey. To remove from the fire and to arrange the cannelicchi in small portions on the leaves of lemon, previously washed and dried or inside baskets of card or still all together within a dish (v. photograph).

Sonninese olive oil gets rated one of the best!

Check out the article...I'm looking for a way


http://en.greenplanet.net/news-in-brief/news-in-brief/1174-flos-olei-the-world-best-olive-oils.html

Restoration of San Michelle Arcangelo

This a book my family sent along about the restoration of San Michelle Arcangelo. They did a beautiful job on the church and you should check it out if you visit. I'l be posting pictures of the inside of the church soon.

Rastime: Te Pozzeno Da No Lampo!

As I have writen before, "rastime" are old Sonnninese sayings that, while sounding rude, are said with love.

This weeks rastime is : Te pozzeno da no lampo

This translates to "I hope you get struck by lightening"

Zio Nicola and family

Here is another picture of my great-uncle Nicola who passed away this week. In the picture from right to left is my cousins Matteo, Mauritzia, Matteo's wife Kai, my great-aunt Adele and Uncle Nicola. This picture was taken this past Christmas. He will be dearly missed.

Pescrai - post crass

The Sonninese dialect is a living, breathing language with adaptations and inventions. My relatives in Sonnino have been a great resource in helping me understand the unique characteristics of Sonninese.

"Postcrai" is an example of a word that has ben adapted by Sonninese speakers. It means in 3 days in Sonnninese but in Latin really means in 2 days . Click below to listen.

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A sad passing

Two days ago my great-uncle Nicola D'Angelis passed away. When my wife and I first visited Sonnino, Nicola was one of the first relatives we met. He threw his arms in the air and gave us huge hugs and then immediately told us that we had to come over for lunch! He told us stories of working in the butcher shop with my great-grandmother when he was a child.

Every time we visited Sonnino we were greeted by that same excitement. Spending time with Uncle Nicola was something we always looked forward too and will miss profoundly.

Le Torce 2008...

This was our view coming down the mountain toward Sonnino Scalo.

Nganiaturo per la pittia: Pasta board

The Sonninese word for the board that you use to roll out the pasta is "nganiaturo per la pittia". My spelling is probably off. I have my great-grandmothers pasta board that I use when I make my own pasta. Click below to hear my cousin Maury.

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Sonninese wine in Tennessee?

Yes indeed. The Ippolito family, who are origionally from Sonnino, own a B&B and winery in Tennessee. They make a wine called "Sonnino Sunset". CHeck out their website below. They have information about ordering their wine.

http://www.coreyippolitovineyardbandb.com/our_wines.htm

Book of Sonnino postcards

This is a great book of Sonnino postcards that my cousins sent me a few months ago. There are some wonderful classic pictures of Sonnino. If people are interested I can try to find out where the book can be purchased. They sent along a few other books that I'll best posting about.