Bonus Finds: Italy is Waiting for You...
🔐 Don't miss these amazing properties in Italy this week under €110,000!
Ciao a tutti! Happy New Year! Buon Anno!
From wearing red to eating lentils to throwing out the old things (literally), I thought it would be fun to share some Italian traditions with you today.
The tradition of wearing red on New Years dates as far back as 31 B.C. Let that sink in! During the time of Emperor Octavian Augustus, on the occasion of the Roman New Year, both men and women used to wear red, as a symbol of prosperity. Today the tradition is to wear red underwear and well, some interpret this tradition in their own way! Haha…if you’ve had an unlucky year, throw them away to be safe!
Of course, there are also culinary traditions! It IS Italy. On New Year’s Eve, cotechino (pork sausage) and zampone (pig's trotters) are two essentials, along with lentils as part of the second course. It’s the winning, good luck combo meal! Curious why these legumes bring good luck? This custom was started by the Romans who, on New Year's Eve, used to give leather bag that contained them inside, with the wish that they would turn into coins in the months to come. Most Italian families eat them on the first day of the new year.
Throwing away old things, or at least some of them, even if only symbolically, is another Italian New Year's tradition. This is a superstition and symbolizes leaving the past behind. Long ago, this superstition was enforced by throwing old things out of the window, literally.
Another tradition I started doing last year and did again this year is eating grapes before midnight. And it must be TWELVE, one for each month of the year in hopes of having wealth all year long.
Were you aware of any of these? I have loved learning about Italian culture and was excited to hear from my neighbors and Italian friends today. It’s bittersweet to be home with family yet longing to be back at my home in Italy. But knowing that they still include me makes me feel very lucky. And I’ll be back soon…
Now on to the bonus finds this week! These homes are all under €110,000! I wanted to give you a range of homes in various price points so that you can see what you get for your money. And these are some great options at a lower entry point.
I thought I would share this later than normal, with the holiday, so that you can enjoy browsing through them on your day off! I hope you enjoy and cheers to 2025!
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Townhouse with Three Terraces
📍Castelvecchio Subequo, L'Aquila (province), Abruzzo, Italy
💰 €80,000
Okay, these views!! The beautiful view of the scenic mountain valley of Valle