Months ago I already wrote the first few chapters of my book and created most of the characters. I held myself back from writing on though, as I wanted to have the input of my Italian friend first. Good thing I did so. Two weeks ago I had so much factual input all of a sudden, that I had some trouble going back to fiction. It was like the truth was catching up with fantasy, not leaving much room for the last one. Although the story of my friend could easily be written down as a biography, it was a clear choice from the beginning not to do so, as I want to have the artistic freedom to add or leave out things. The end result has to be a well balanced combination of her life story and my fantasy. So the challenge now is to combine fantasy with facts. To start with a clean slate, I threw away the first few chapters two days ago and started all over.
I decided to start the story at Easter, in the year 1963, with my protagonist being 7 years old. I have been in Italy during Easter few times and know that Easter is the most important holiday after Christmas, especially in the religious south of Italy. The weeks before Easter, many processions, with enormous statues carried around the towns and cities, take place in a sober atmosphere and sometimes also in costumes of ancient days. And then there is Easter, a big celebration! The egg, the symbol of new life, is well represented by huge and smaller, mostly beautifully decorated, chocolate eggs. You will find them wrapped in colorful cellophane in the windows of the pastry shops. It is a good Italian tradition to give your loved ones one of these beautiful eggs. The tacky bunny (a Protestant and actually pagan symbol...) is nowhere to be found, just eggs.
There is a saying in Italian: 'Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi'. Translation: 'Christmas is something to celebrate with your family, Easter with whomever you like'. Like in most European countries, Easter is celebrated in two days. Easter Sunday is called 'Pasqua', Easter Monday 'Pasquetta' ('little Easter'). As you probably know, Italians are fascinated by both traditions and food and any combination of the two. Now there is no way describing an Italian Easter leaving out the traditional Easter menu, which differs per region. This is where I started reading about the specific Easter traditions of the Campania region. And oh, how I enjoyed it (with watering mouth...). During Pasqua there is a big 4-course Easter lunch. Evidently there is lamb on the Pasqua menu, as the lamb plays a big role in the Catholicism (the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world). I love lamb (for other than religious reasons though), so I was happy to see it on the Easter menu as some of the best lamb I ever had was in Italy!
There are more delicious surprises in the menu, but at the end of the menu, there is La Pastiera Napoletana. Now beware, this is not just any cake, but a cake that comes with a romantic legend that everybody in the region knows. It is the cake that was made by the Gods from the Gulf of Naples, out of presents that the siren Parthenope once received from the people from Naples as a thank you for the beautiful singing she would treat them to each springtime. The people gave her the dearest things they had at that time: fresh ricotta from their sheep, water from the orange blossom, wheat boiled in milk, fresh eggs, flour & spices and candied fruit. If you have ever been to the Gulf of Naples and have experienced its fascination and the abundant offer of the land there, you can automatically imagine the singing of Parthenope... Good thing they were able to save the divine recipe. Don't you just love Southern Italy... Love, M.
