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

Happiness and Literacy

"We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once," Friedrich Nietzsche.  The celebrated German philosopher has provided words to live by in multiple renowned quotes, the above can be applied true of literacy as well.  In recognition for September as International Literacy Month the author’s quote has a true sentiment when altered to profess the joy of reading, “… on which we have not read or been read to at least once”, I believe Nietzsche would agree. 

The future of reading and literacy should be bound to celebration promoting literacy through favorite authors, books, and community events to aid in improvement.  A fantastic program to become a volunteer tutor for students and adults with low literacy skills, this month serves as an excellent reminder to share reading with family, friends, and the community.  The National Book Festival is held on the National Mall in Washington DC by the Library of Congress, with a previous theme “Celebrating the joys of reading aloud” that resonates with our passion for literacy.  Either idea can be recreated in even the smallest of towns, promote literacy and revel in the imagination stirring in the young mind of a child, or in the advancement in workplace of the low-literate adult having progress.

As a company that gives back interaction with our local, national, and world communities’ start with being literate.  Gelato is here to come and enjoy in an authentic Italian experience, a place to convene in happiness as a family.   In this month of International Literacy, let us try to make the same experience of reading, aloud in happiness to children, to educate ourselves further, or to teach others, share the focus of spreading literacy in a compassionate way.

In September appropriately marks festivals in Italy celebrating the birthday of Juliet from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  Re-read that for starters! What is your favorite classic book or play? 

For more information the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization supplies facts and actions regarding global literacy. UNESCO is at the forefront of global literacy efforts and is dedicated to keeping literacy high on national, regional and international agendas.

The "Best" Plan for Gelato in Italy

Asking somebody, “What is the best gelato in Italy?” is a bit of an oxymoron.  Believe it or not, there seems to be a list of particular favorites that perhaps set the bar for the rest to sit just shy of. History, food bloggers, and avid travelers have reviewed and noted the best of gelato in Italy typically categorized by region.  An ideal trip, travel through Italy by way of gelato.  Here is a plan sure to supersede the very best recommendations and is certain to score an interpretation of top gelato in Italy. 

Taste for yourself, is there a best? Plan a trip to Italy!

Gelateria (photo credit: goitaly.about.com)

First, to skim and filter the top recommendations of locals and noted world chefs, food gurus, and a favorite among rookie bloggers, a highly regarded gelateria is San Crispino Gelato, in Rome.  History and fame have built the foundation for San Crispino to continue to win the favor of stellar review for their gelato.  Next, stop by Antica Gelateria Alberto Pica in Rome, Alberto Pica is the president of the Association of Italian Gelato Artisans, an artisan himself and the owner of this renowned gelateria.  Pica is established in the gelato world suitable enough to judge the Gelato World Tour (more to come in a moment). Lastly, venture to Bologna’s Carpigiani Gelato Museum and/or University.  This is the top International place for teaching the craft of gelato making, and has been since the very beginning of gelato. Taste the product and innovation being taught to the gelato world.

Beyond these three must-try locations, please succumb to the exhilaration of popping into any seemingly off-the-radar gelateria, sometimes finding “the best” means exposing a true undiscovered gem, the gelato connoisseurs must do this themselves.  

               (photo credit via Facebook)

The actual best laid plan? Hunt down the 16 participants that were selected in competition for Italy’s representation in The Gelato World Tour.  The Gelato World Tour, literally a tour throughout the continents of the world, scheduled through to a finale in September 2014 when the top winner from each participating country will compete for top billing as the “World’s Best Gelato Flavour”, unbelievable! The list of Italian gelato artisans, and the flavor each used in competition, is documented in a press release explaining the criteria of selection among the country oozing with gelato forerunners. 

Go to Italy, and go here:

*Following is the list of 16 artisans and their flavors:
Vito Carmine Calogero, Gelateria Bella Blu (Polignano, BA)– Flavor: Four Seasons Almond Maria Annunziata Carbè, Pasticceria Gelateria 2000 (Ellera Umbra, PG)– Flavor: Signature Gelato Marco Ciampini, Ciampini (Rome)– Flavor: Truffle Enzo Crivella, Kriò gelatocaffè (Salerno) – Flavor: Bread and Jam Giuseppe Cuti, Al gelatone (Palermo) – Flavor: Zammù Raffaele Del Verme, Di Matteo (Torchiara, SA) – Flavor: Figs in Chocolate Giuseppe Lancierini, Gelateria Fiore (Suzzara, MN) – Flavor: Pistachio Francesco Mastroianni, Il Cantagalli (Lamezia Terme, CZ)– Flavor: Grumpy Heart Antonio Mezzalira, Golosi di natura (Gazzo Padovano, PD)– Flavor: Patavino Emanuele Montana, Retrò (Rome)– Flavor: Orange Delight Santo Musumeci, Gelateria Santo Musumeci (Randazzo, CT)– Flavor: Green Gold of Sicily Mauro Serani, Gelateria Bruno.com (Antrodoco, RI) – Flavor: Apple Cake Luigi Tirabassi, Gelato e Cioccolato (Subiaco,RM)– Flavor: Grand Marnier Cream and Orange Marmalade Francesco Dioletta, Gelateria Duomo (L’Aquila)– Flavor: Aquila Flavors Antonio Ravese, Paradise (Gioia Tauro, RC) – Flavor: Paradise
Fardin Khosravi, S. M. Maggiore (Rome)– Flavor: Dark Chocolate

The Gelato World Tour Kick-Off!

Anybody is bound to find the best gelato in Italy with the above list functioning as a tour guide, provided such a determination truly does exist. Dream vacation, check. 

What would be the creative flavor (complete with a cheeky name) you would enter in The Gelato World Tour, if you were a gelato artisan?  

*List from The GelatoWorld Tour, for more information visit www.gelatoworldtour.com