We've moved from Baltimore, Maryland USA to Venice, Italy in pursuit of living our dream!



Monday, December 8, 2014

Countdown to Christmas -Italian style! December 8



photo courtesy anglokids.wordpress.com

I've been having lots of fun searching for interesting Advent calendars to feature here, and am enjoying reading the many emails and comments I've been receiving from all you readers.  I have to admit  I really wanted to make the one I chose for today.

December 8th is one of the most important days of the month for Catholics around the world. It's the Feast day of the Immaculate Conception, and it's so important here in Italy it is a national holiday. That's right. Many shops and businesses here in Venice were closed today.  In addition to it being a holiday, it is also traditionally the day on which Italian families put up their Christmas trees, holiday decorations and  get their presepes (nativity scene) all set up.

So... are we all set to see what Day 8 (otto) has stashed behind the door?

Christmas decorations! Decorazioni di natale!  I went in search of a few new ornaments for our tree (which we did not  get up today, but soon!).  In Venice, obvious decorations are made of Murano glass. After a few hours walking, here are my favorites. I won't tell you which one came home with me, I'll let that be a surprise. Maybe you'll be able to spot it on my tree. Which one would you have chosen?

Yes, Babbo Natale in glass!


And Babbo Natale in a gondola. When in Venice.....


More on a gondola. But each one is slightly different, I loved them all.




This window display had a veritable army of teeny tiny Babbos.




A glass Christmas tree. 

Frosty!


Have you decided on your favorite? 

Buon Natale!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for sharing your Advent Calendar in Venice with us! I am enjoying it so much!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for these posts, they're lots of fun! I'd have chosen one of the Babbos in/on a gondola--very cute!

Anonymous said...

Ah, my taste is so expensive....I love the first Babo Natale...the 22 Euro one of course.
I think I have this figured out and if I do this as Anon. I might be able to comment.
It's me....Michelle

Unknown said...

Found the web site for the St Mark's advent calendar and more!

http://www.kreuterfotokalender.de/english/html/catalog.html

I have a Christmas tree with ornaments, but I really like the Babbos on the hanging gondola.

Merry Christmas.

karen said...

Christine- You and I think alike! My choice too! Thanks for sharing the holiday season right along with me!

karen said...

Elizabeth- thank you so much for sharing the link for the St. Mark's advent calendar! I love it!

And yes, those Babbos (I learned today that the plural of Babbo is Babbi, lol)
in a gondola are hard to resist, aren't they?

karen said...

Dear Anonymous Michelle- Oh you could never be Anonymous, but if that what gets your comments on here, I am oh so happy to see you!

You and I chose alike. I love that one!

karen said...

Thanks, Denise! I'm so happy to have you reading along with me every day!

Buon Natale!

Dianne said...

Hi Karen, Late with my comment but I have been away from your blog for a while. I would have chosen the second one with the gondola since it says "Venice" so much to me. Were these from the studio of your friend (Marco I think his name is). Today is Jan. 16 and I am still in the process of wrapping up my ornaments to put away (the tree is down though so that is something -- an artificial one since trees here in Florida do not last very long). Buon Anno 2015!