The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist

Picture: TED ALJIBE/AFP

St. John the Baptist is honored with festivals, parades, and high mass on his birth anniversary celebrated by the Catholic Church.  The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist takes a tradition for annual ceremony in The Philippines with a notion that commemorating the way their patron saint disguised himself when he baptized Jesus will lead to blessings for a bountiful farming harvest. The Taong Putik people dress in mud and dried banana leaves to replicate, elsewhere pig roasts (dressed in costumes for parade) are an iconic part of the day.  Feasts are marked with the traditional dousing of water, more akin to actual water fights and fun, to reminisce the baptism by John the Baptist performed in the Jordan River.

Picture: JAY DIRECTO/AFP

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Charleston, SC

Pope Francis spoke words at mass in the chapel of his residence, Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse, this morning praising John the Baptist as an important man that many “people sought him out and followed him,” and encouraged the way John the Baptist stepped aside to Jesus once he lead others to him. This was emphasized throughout his homily for the Feast of John the Baptist’s birth, “A Christian does not announce himself; he announces another, prepares the way for another: the Lord,” said Pope Francis this morning, June 24, 2014.  

St. John the Baptist is one of two saints, Blessed Mary being the other, the birth is observed by the Church versus the normal feast being marked by the day of the saint’s death, when they made entrance to heaven.

Bartolome Esteban Murillo, St. John the Baptist as a Child c. 1665

A Tribute to Memorial Day

On Monday, the 26th of May 2014 celebrations were held across the nation in recognition for the freedom of America protected daily by those that serve in the military with honor to the men and women who lost their lives serving the country’s armed forces.  Now that the parades, bbqs, and festivals have come and gone let us pay tribute each day to commemorate the men and women and the families of those that have died in war or military action in service of The USA.  The magnitude of appreciation the people of our country have for the armed forces of America was depicted with traditional acts, American flags decorated gravestones for lost soldiers in national cemeteries.

Memorial Day Weekend denotes the kickoff to summer often marked with beach trips, boat or sport outings and picnics to welcome the outdoor season. Festivals are filled with food associated with summer from grilled corn on the cob to fruits at their peak ripeness, truly the time of year that a foodie reigns.  Frozen desserts get a heightened awareness as the temperatures rise, the sunshine becomes standard and people crave a treat to cool down.

Custom gelato cake by Pino Gelato 

The significance of Memorial Day is never to be out shined by the parties and seasonal fun ahead, the utmost order is to honor the heroes of America.  The summer does present the busiest season for gelato, welcomed is the time of year to Scoop Some Happiness to the many customers to be served over the next few months.  Pino Gelato offers a military discount; to the men and women who are serving or have served our country, thank you.

How did you celebrate Memorial Day 2014?

Regata Storica

Regal, captivating, and classic was this past Sunday Regata Storica.  While plenty of events and parties for the holiday weekend occurred here stateside certainly none with the level of grandeur at the Historical Regatta in Venice, Italy.  Fortunate travelers were those with canal views seeing the sophisticated event, held annually the first Sunday of September (1st September for 2013).

From Jacapo de Barbari View of Venice, 

the first visual image of a regatta circa 1500 credit: regatastoricavenezia.it

The most drawing festival of the Venetian year, the regatta series dates back to 1315 when Giovanni Soranzo created the races through the cities now famous canals to allow contenders to vie for the most able of the oarsmen.  The commencement is marked by a parade celebrating the welcome of Caterina Cornaro, The Queen of Cyprus who relinquished her throne in favor of Venice.  Fleets of 16^th century-style boats with period dress gondoliers float the Doge, the Doge’s wife and all the highest ranking Venetian officials through the Grand Canal, unforgettable color and significations of the influential past hold share in the glorious parade.  

The actual races are divided into four by age and type of craft.  The best known and most exhilarating of these is the “Campioni su Gondolini” race, small sporting gondolas that soar down to the “machina”, a stunning floating stage located in front of Ca’ Foscari palace that doubles as the finish line. 

2013 Regata Storica photo by, Mirco Toffolo, Venezia Marketing & Eventi

Click the link for his full 2013 album

Travel to Italy in late-August- September may be the finest time of year to venture to Venice.  Undoubtedly, the refined Regata Storica envelopes thousands of tourists and engages all locals with a truly mesmerizing and meaningful maritime experience.  

Have you ever been to (or partaken in) a regatta? Where?

Sweet Celebration this 4th of July!

Sweeten up the celebration this Independence Day!  The Fourth of July has approached rapidly this year, it is time to slow down and honor our nation with family and friends in a traditional backyard gathering.  Widespread heat waves throughout The USA call on us to cool down guests with frozen treats this Thursday.  Gelato flag cake, yes please.

 Pino Gelato Flag Cake!

Keeping guests cool in a simple atmosphere is a combination perfect for serving up frosty drinks, ice-cold dessert, and a tremendous avenue to showcase the holiday’s symbolic colors red, white, and blue.  Offer guests homemade lemonade and iced tea with a scoop of lemon sorbetto and fresh mint leaves.  To promote the color scheme offer fresh or frozen blue berries and raspberries to up the ante in the frozen drinks.  Another amazing festive option is to incorporate this great fizzy, fruit float drink using a more decadent route by topping with vanilla gelato (the straws are awesome).  Simple, refreshing, and fun, exactly what the 4^th of July exudes.

Photo: Jennifer Davick, Prop Styling: Amy Burke, Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Start the day with a local parade or festival to truly immerse into the honoring of our country.  There is something very American about celebrating with neighbors and members of the community, to be a part of it.  Once gathered in the backyard, keep the menu simple with grilled entrees and classic side dishes.  For dessert a gelato flag cake provides the perfect holiday showcase while satisfying the sweet tooth in all.  Serving quarts of gelato and sorbetto is another fuss-free route to take to beat the heat in a tasty way.  Gelato on stand-by for topping pies (a la mode) is also a huge favorite, as well as an American staple. Cool desserts covered!

Host or partake in a sweet party to celebrate Independence Day, just follow these tips to be sure to keep cool.  Happy Fourth of July!

Awesome compilation of fireworks!