Monday, August 10, 2009

BUONA NOTTE DI SAN LORENZO

Tonight is the Feast of San Lorenzo [Saint Laurence] and at midnight you must look for shooting stars, which represent his "fiery tears". If you see one, make a wish or say a prayer, asking San Lorenzo to help you.

In Sicily young people take this tradition quite seriously and they go down to the sea to await the shooting stars. They used to light bonfires on the beaches but this is now prohibited because of the debris and danger.

If you can't get out to the countryside or seaside at midnight, you can enjoy this music instead. I'm sure San Lorenzo will still listen to your prayers.

Cristiano de Andrè - La Notte di San Lorenzo


Nicola Piovani - La Notte di San Lorenzo [film soundtrack]


And finally, here's the late, great Mr Como:

Perry Como - Catch a Falling Star



13 comments:

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Lots of posts going around about San Lorenzo...I wonder if it will happen in the UK...If I saw a shooting star I would certainly make a wish!

I hope that you are going to be looking out too!

jams o donnell said...

I will have to give these a lsiten. Hey Welshcakes, I hadn't notices the RAWA button on your sidebar. Meena is another personal hero of mine

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Anne. I am looking out. You can make a wish on the 11th or 12th if you see one, too. Hi, jams. I couldn't fit it on quite right. That's probably why you didn't see it before. Meena is another of mine, too.

Barbara said...

Good morning Welshcakes ;)

What a beautiful custom ! I have never heard of this in France. I was just enjoying the starry images on your first video.
I do miss beautiful night skies a lot, as I knew them in Hawaii.

Hoping that your wish comes true :)

Liz Hinds said...

Just catching up.

I was asleep by then I'm afraid - but it was raining when i went to bhed so wouldn't have been a good night for star gazing.

Love the postcards; what a fabulous collection.

And delicious food as always!

Whispering Walls said...

Hi WL - Phidelm has asked me to ask you to e-mail her my e-mail address so that she can give me access to her blog. Could you do that?

Devonshire Dumpling said...

There's something magical about shooting stars, isn't there? I loved seeing so many when I have been holidaying on one of the Greek islands as it's something we seldom see in the UK skies.

I hope that whatever wish you made comes true for you.

Lucia said...

I will never forget walking after midnight through villages on our pilgrimage to the Madonna and seeing so many falling stars on our way there! It was a beautiful night in Sicily (I walked 6 hours).

James Higham said...

Perry Como - he's not Italian, is he, except for the Como reference?

Sue said...

Well, the shooting star watchers should be in luck... it's the annual Perseid meteor shower at its best tonight and tomorrow. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8193769.stm

sally in norfolk said...

hopefully i will be fast asleep by midnight :-)

Unknown said...

I shall certainly watch for a shooting star tonight. I have more than one request for San Lorenzo!

Alex meows at Simi.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hello, Barbara. I've never heard of this custom anywhere else but I do think it's a lovely one. I'd love to visit Hawaii some day. Thanks for your thoughtfulness. Thanks, Liz. Difficult to stargaze in the rain! Ciao, WW. Detto fatto. Hi, DD. I've never seen one in the UK. Thanks for your kindness. Hi, Lucia. That must have been a beautiful walk. How old were you when you left Sicily? Hi, James. Italian-American. Pierino Como. His parents had emigrated from the Abruzzi. Hello, Sue. Welcome and thanks for the info. I'm a night owl, Sally. Terribly bad for you but there it is. Sweet dreams. Hello, Nick. I do hope you see one. Woofs to you and Alex from Simi xx

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