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T's Italy Newsletter
August 2021
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Confetti, Cookies & Cocktails
Italian Weddings & Celebrations
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"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
— Philippians 4:8
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Summertime is a popular season for weddings and other family celebrations. If you’re heading to a celebration with an Italian connection you’ll find, if you haven’t experienced them already, many of the Italian wedding traditions have carried over to the Italian American culture, and are we’re sure glad they did.
No Italian wedding here, or in Bella Italia, is complete after all, without the three C’s so to speak: confetti, cookies, and cocktails. The confetti are more commonly known here stateside as Jordan Almonds. You’ll find them at nuptial celebrations being offered as a cute favor for guests usually wrapped in a lovely little package. You’ll also see them sprinkled on top of the delicious trays of Italian dolce or cookies, trays that grace both the dinner tables and the desert tables.
The confetti originate from a beautiful village of Sulmona in the Abruzzo region of Italy, not far from the Adriatic and about two hours east of Rome. Confetti really began to spread throughout Italy during the late 18th and 19th centuries. The first original Italian confetti factory opened in the Abruzzo region of Italy, which has been the famous confetti capital for three centuries. In 1783, it officially was declared the "capital of confetti."
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Surprise! These lovely "flowers" are actually candy creations made of the famous confetti of Sulmona. |
I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful town of Sulmona several years ago, and was delighted to see the variety of creations all made with confetti. As a matter of fact, when my husband and I first arrived in Sulmona, we walked right past most of the amazing confetti stores because we thought they were flower shops. That’s how real the creations, as you can see from the photos, are. It’s not just the quaint little mesh bags filled with the delicacies. The flowers and other artistic creations are endless and in addition to weddings are often found as favors at baby showers, birthday parties, and religious occasions such as baptisms and First Holy Communion gatherings. Typically, white confetti is used in favors for weddings, baptisms, and First Holy Communions. Silver confetti is sometimes used for twenty-fifth wedding anniversaries, and some even use sky-blue or pink for baby showers and christenings. Red can be used for graduations, and green for wedding engagement celebrations.
Italian cookies are truly one of my favorite desserts! And no traditional Italian wedding would be celebrated without them. Some popular Italian cookies include pizzelles, Italian butterball cookies, biscotti, and Italian wedding cookies – an anise-infused drop cookie with a simple, sugar glaze. The lemon version of this Italian wedding cookie is known as taddales, also one of my favorites. I just attended a beautiful Italian wedding recently which served Jordan almonds and my husband and I received a wonderful welcome bag including confetti placed so beautifully in the pedal of a satin flower imported from Italy, and a pouch of homemade Italian taddale cookies with other goodies upon arrival to the wedding weekend...it was so yummy!
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Those confetti and cookies wouldn’t be complete without refreshing drinks to wash them down. Let’s start with the classic Prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. Expect to toast the bride and groom with this delightful bubbly and to have plenty of it served with the main course as well. Perhaps before you hit the dance floor to try your hand or more specifically your feet at a Tarantella, you’ll try the famous Aperol Spritz, or a Bellini. If something a little lighter is to your liking, you might find a simple wine spritzer, with a splash of Pinot Grigio and sparkling water, will do the trick. |
Congratulations to the recent Bride and Groom of the wedding I attended, Courtney and Eduardo, who popped a beautiful bottle of Italian Prosecco as soon as they left the church to celebrate! Even at the reception they had an Italian “Champagne Wall” where 200 glasses of Prosecco were being served for the guest to grab it anytime!
At the ceremony, it was extra special that my hubby Deacon Dominic was able to serve on the altar for this sacred event. We were so moved that this devout Catholic couple requested for this to be a “unplugged” ceremony - asking all the guests to put the phones away during the ceremony so we could focus on the sacred moment and the true meaning and beauty of the sacrament of marriage.
Plus, no Italian wedding would be complete without the singing of the Ave Maria. Typically, the bride and groom pays a visit to honor the Blessed Mother with flowers, and this wedding I recently attended was no exception.
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It also was so refreshing to see this beautiful young couple, that actually met at a Catholic student center at college, be so devout in their faith - not only in Our Blessed Mother, but also the importance of the Eucharist. I was so moved, and so was my husband Deacon Dominick Pastore, at the wedding rehearsal when Courtney said to the wedding coordinator that one of the most important pictures of the day she wants is to get them receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. This is so rare nowadays and I hope this provides hope and inspiration for you to know that there are still young couples out there that want to keep the faith and carry on their Italian Catholic heritage.
So even if you don’t have a wedding to attend in the month of August, since this month is national Prosecco month in Italy, why not grab a glass of deliciousness, toast newlyweds everywhere, and enjoy your own sweet treats with Jordan Almonds and a few cookies from your local Italian bakery thrown in for good measure. Confetti, cookies, and cocktails are a good combination anytime, anywhere. Salute’ and Cin Cin!
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"Private Boat Cruise Along the Amalfi Coast"
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The Aperol Spritz is the number nine bestselling cocktail in world and there’s a reason why it has consistently been on the list – because it is simply delightful, especially during the day. Made of gentian root (a flowering herb), rhubarb, and cinchona (taken from a tree in South America,) the orange flavored Italian apéritif Aperol has been around for generations, and is the main flavoring of the famous Spritz. Here is the the Official Aperol Spritz Recipe...Continue Reading. |
The Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major |
The Basilica of St. Mary Major, is one of the four papal major basilicas, and the largest, and perhaps oldest church dedicated to the Blessed Mother in the western world. It is also known as “Our Lady of the Snows” because as legend has it, the Blessed Mother herself, in a vision, appeared to a Roman couple in 352 AD and asked to have a church built in her honor on the Esquiline Hill, in Rome. To confirm this, the outline of the church appeared drawn in snow – in the middle of August!
While this legend can’t be confirmed, we know that the church was originally constructed by Pope Liberius and was called the Liberian Basilica. It has been rebuilt and expanded several times, especially after the Council of Ephesus in 431, when Mary was officially given the title “Mother of God.”
The Basilica is full of stunning historical, artistic, and architectural features, such as...Continue Reading.
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"We returned from Italy and I must express my deepest gratitude, it was an amazing grace-filled vacation/pilgrimage to Italy. We were so blessed in many facets as we journeyed through Assisi, San Giovanni and Rome with your guidance. By your suggestions, we had informative, friendly tours, excellent accommodations, and simply delicious meals. All of this courtesy of Teresa Tomeo’s consultation. May God richly bless you as you continue to give of yourself to His Church and His people. Thank you. If we are given the blessing to return to Italy one day, which we pray is in Our Lord’s Divine Plan, we will consult you again."
— Stuart & Kyla A., Montana
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Saints & Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage March 18-28, 2022. This is truly an amazing pilgrimage that starts in the mountains of the north of Italy, goes through the heartland, along the Adriatic Coast, and on to Rome. Visit Milan, Florence, Assisi, Siena, and more! See Padre Pio's Shrine and shrines of miracles, enjoy wine tastings, cooking classes, and special guides. Don't miss the optional Rome extension from March 28 - April 1 where you'll visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, the catacombs and ancient Christian Rome! |
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Oberammergau Passion Play, Germany, Switzerland and Italy! June 14-26, 2022. Don't miss this Once-In-a-Lifetime opportunity to experience the Oberammergau Passion Play, Germany, Switzerland and Italy! With a drive through the Alps to beautiful Milan, Italy, and onto 3 nights in Rome, to see amazing sacred sights. |
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Ladies of Another View - Teresa chats Patti Maguire Armstrong and her co-hosts on BEK News in North Dakota about T's Italy and other topics.
EWTN News Nightly - Teresa chats with host Tracy Sabol about a return to travel in Italy after lockdowns, from the beautiful city of Rome.
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Photos: Teresa Tomeo, Wikimedia Commons, Shutterstock: SJ Travel Photo & Video, Ungvari Attila, Stefano_Valeri
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