Happy New Year 2017!
Carnevale Venezia, Lavender, and Art at Gioia
|FNAME|, do you have small spaces in your home that can use a beautiful piece of Italian art? Gioia will run a special on wall art with a savings of 15% on Sunday, January 15th during Festa Gioia, The focus will be on beautiful art pieces to keep Italy alive in your home.
Venetian Masks reminiscent of Carnevale Venezia. Painter and illustrator, Francesca Benevento, known as Zia Franny in the art world, will join us (Masks by Francesca Benevento to the right), and Carol Ann Nulk (click here to read her bio), also a fine art painter with an Italian background, will be here to visit with you and offer her prints of fields of lavender, lavanda, sunflowers, and Italian scenes. Meet Nancy Ann Crowley whose favorite landscapes are Italian, with sunflowers, lemons, and the Italian café.
(To the left: Lavender Fields by Carol Ann Nulk)
We celebrate the coming of a New Year and want to commence 2017 with joy, warmth, and calm that sunflowers and lavender bring to us! Begin 2017 with the calming effects of lavender, lavanda, the cheer and warmth of the sunflower, the quiet friendship in the Italian café and the spirit of celebration with masks of the Carnevale Venezia which begins in February.
La Befana is a January 6th celebration in Italy that tells the story of the old witch and her broom who travels around the world looking for the baby Jesus. For the good children she brings sweets and coins, and for those who have not been good she brings coal. Here is a cute video story by Tomie dePaola, one of my favorites to read to my children at Christmas. You can celebrate this festival with Little Italy San Jose (see the calendar).
New Years in Italy
In Rome there is much excitement about the new year. Decorations include grand lighting and greenery to welcome 2017. New clothes are worn and gifts of sweets, fruits, honey, money, gold and silver coins, lamps to bring light and good fortune to homes and loved ones. Italians may take up a tradition of wearing red undergarments for good fortune to celebrate the Festa di San Silvestro, New Year’s Eve with a glass of Prosecco or Spumante while watching fireworks. (Learn more about these traditions by clicking here)
(Photo: Italian Life by Nancy Ann Crowley)
Shortly after the Festa di San Silvestro brings in the New Year, the streets will be filled with the Italians welcoming La Befana on January 6th, and soon after that, the beginning of Carnevale Venezia. Lent begins on March 1st, and the Italian Venetian Carnevale activities run Feb. 11th to Feb. 28. Learn more by clicking here:
Balance is important in life and preventing stress is important for healthy living. Lavender is the essential herb and oil most often used in a spa, and the scent is relaxing. Lavender is lavanda in Italian. Read more about the oil by clicking here, Next time you visit Tuscany, look into workshops (click here and click here) that involve the use of lavender.
Felice Capodanno. Happy New Year everyone!
Gioia is always open by appointment, Contact Kathy 408-640-6628.
La Befana in Little Italy San Jose
Date: January 8 (Sunday)
Time: 2 – 6 pm
Place: Bel Bacio Italian Café
For more Info, click the following link: https://www.facebook.com/events/713358565480540/
Festa Gioia and Guest Artists
Date: Jan. 15 (Sunday)
Time: Noon to 6 p.m.
Location: Gioia, 16395 Roseleaf Court, L.G.
Enjoy 15% off wall art.
Meet the Artists, Carol Ann Nulk, Francesca Benevento, and Nancy Ann Crowley at Gioia
“shop beautiful art for small spaces”
RSVP: Kathy 408-640-6628 for lunch and shopping
ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
They host many Italian Cultural Events each month:
For more information click this link:
http://www.iahfsj.org/#!events/cfvg
January 19: Regional Lunch /The Alpine Province of Valle D'Aosta
$14 member / $17 non-members
12:00 PM
RSVP at eventrsvp@iahfsj.org or call 408-293-7122
January 28: /Tricarico Club Polenta Dinner
$23.00 members / $26.00 non-members
6:30 PM
RSVP at eventrsvp@iahfsj.org or call 408-293-7122
January 26: /Cena Fuori
Zenotto's Market, 1421 Foxworthy Ave, San Jose
Pay at door only.
RSVP call 408-293-7122
LITTLE ITALY FOUNDATION SAN JOSE
The growing Little Italy San Jose Area in downtown San Jose near the Arena and Guadalupe Park
THEY INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE EFFORTS. Check out the projects and follow the news by clicking this link.
http://www.littleitalysj.com/projects.html
GIOIA ITALIAN ART AND PRODUCTS always opened by appointment in Los Gatos. Call Kathy 408.640.6628 or Contact kathywinkelman@gioiacompany.com
And always at your disposal online at
www.gioiacompany.com.
CAMPANIA
Thinking of staying in the Vietri sul Mare region? Here is a B & B owned by one of our friends in Italy, check it out.
CASA IDA Historic House Rental & B&B Italy
Campania, near Vietri sul Mari,
Cava Dei Tirreni, Campania, Italy
508-982-5622
Or on
Facebook
SORRENTO
ITALY FOR CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEARS
Sorrento Emotions and Dreams
Italian Specialist and Local Residents
Luxury, tailor made vacations
Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Isle of Capri and all of Italy
Enjoy holidays, short breaks, weddings, honeymoon, dining, cooking, shopping, scuba diving, water activities, coastal excursions with personal crew.
Contact Signore Tonino Pepe, pepetonino@hotmail.it, and tell him Gioia Co. sent you.
PUGLIA
Puglia, Italy with Valentina
May 2017. (She takes groups at this time each year.)
Travel through the Puglia region
A step into real Puglia with Valentina, author, designer, artist and native
valentinadesigns@comcast.net
UMBRIA/TUSCANY-- Right on the border
Vacation at
Le Selve, an Agriturismo! Contact
info@gioiacompany.com or 408.640.6628 for a special introduction to the owner. Sleeps six or 12. Two stories. Separate units. Beautiful view. Organic olive grove. Walking trails. Full kitchen. Swimming pool.
See you soon...
GIOIA ITALIAN ART AND PRODUCTS
