Tombola! A Little Neapolitan Luck.
Southern Italians love to play the lottery, especially in
Naples. The hope to strike it rich, fueled by a little Neapolitan superstition,
has given birth to a traditional Christmas game, Tombola Smorfia. Italians
believe the objects in your dreams at night correspond with lucky numbers. For
example, you have a dream that you were sitting by a lake watching boats sail by. First thing in the morning ,
you would go to the local
"tabacchi", (news stand), and tell the vendor your dream. He would then take out a tiny book, a
dream dictionary of sorts, that lists objects and their lucky corresponding numbers. On a scrap of paper he would scribble down
your numbers and urge you to play them in the lottery that day.
A touch of this mystical gambling can still be seen in
another version of tombola played in homes and in bars in Italy around the holidays. In the same manner as bingo, cards are
given to each player which show numbers accompanied by funny drawings such as a voluptuous woman or a
man picking his nose! Someone acts as the caller, and shakes a wicker,
cornucopia type vessel which holds wooden numbers. As numbers are called, players use beans, chick peas, or dried pasta
is used to mark their cards.
When played in bars, players must purchase their
cards of fortune, but prizes are edible, not monetary. Cover three numbers and a plate of salami and
cheese may show up in front of you. Four
numbers, a pizza or plate of spaghetti and clams. The big winner who covers all of the numbers first sometimes walks
away with a whole prosciutto!
If you find yourself in Naples one day, be sure to dig
through the piles at the vendor’s stalls selling everything from nonna’s
housecoats to escarole. You may get
lucky and find a vintage Tombola game for sale! Paper Tombola games can be purchased
along Via San Gregorio Armenio in the year round Christmas market or online here: http://www.dalnegro.com/eng/tombola-48-cartelle-smorfia.html
Visit Naples with us!
Check out our tour of Naples & The Amalfi Coast
Cannoli Workshops at Brigantessa
Grab a friend and stay warm in the kitchen at Brigantessa at this hands on class, and learn to prepare authentic Sicilian Cannoli. Enjoy some wine and roll up your sleeves as we make the cannoli dough the old fashioned way, right on the table top!
We will be making the cannoli shells along with a variety of fillings: Nutella Ricotta, Traditional Chocolate Chip, and Orange Blossom Ricotta filling too!WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
Savory bites & wine to enjoy while cooking
Recipes to keep
Cannoli to take home
Swag bag of Italian Treats
$75.00 per person. 2 person minimum to hold workshop.
Sundays 1/08/2017 through 5/21/2017
MUST BE BOOKED AT LEAST 1 WEEK IN ADVANCE OF CLASS DATE.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE:
For more information on our tours or events
visit www.anticoitaliantravel.com or call Angela at (443) 440-0473
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