Sweet Sharing

I think I may have mentioned in a previous post the Italian tradition of "confetti". Not the paper stuff that is so hard to sweep up and that you find under the couch two years after that really super New Year's Eve party, but the small packets of sugared almonds given as gifts to the guests at weddings, christenings, first communions and other grand events. We were in Firenze for the day on Wednesday and in typical fashion I had an idea where the restaurant we were headed to was located but took a  wrong turn and went passed a store that's sole purpose was to dispense - at no doubt astronomical prices - sweets to delight your guests and make the sisters of the mother-of-the-bride cluck their tongues in jealous righteousness at the expense of it all.

I thought I'd share two pictures of those sweet delights and also share the sweet delights offered by two of my dear blog buddies while I was at it.

As with so many window displays here this one has a touch of class and elegance about it without quite being over-the-top.  This whole shop just oozed "expensive"

Rosina Daintymouth - that's the name of the witch in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretal - isn't the only one to make gingerbread houses to tempt unsuspecting innocents.  Over at She Who Seeks my blog buddy Debra chronicles the Gingerbread Houses that her Rare One, who is not - I might add - a witch, has constructed over the years to tempt her - nor I am implying that Debra is an "innocent". So before I get myself into further trouble just click on the link and take a look at some tasty temptations.  

The elaborate packaging - flowers, faux-pearls, ribbons - hide the simplest of sweets: sugared almonds.  It would almost be a shame to open the packages and I have a feel that more than one nonna has a collection from family events on display in her china cabinet.

My friend Yvette and I often seem to be on the same track with postings and memories. Last week I wrote about presepe here and she shared a comment about her own crèche. Now she has written a lovely post recounting her childhood memories of growing up in Marseilles after the war and the delightful traditions that she encountered then and continues today. It fills my heart with joy to see that the rituals of a Provencal Christmastide are alive, well and being passed on to her grandchildren. And I wish I had a piece of that gâteaux des Rois and a glass of the vin cuit.

14 gennaio - Santa Macrina l'Anziana