Calabrisella Mia

I sure wish I was in Carpanzano this weekend!

Why?

Well, aside from the leaves changing colours signifying autumn is in full swing, it is also time to harvest the castagne (or chestnuts). Carpanzano is surrounded by wooded forests making it an optimal place for growing castagne and harvesting them. It has become a deeply rooted and important tradition for the Carpanzanesi. The castagne are abundant in Carpanzano, so much so, that they celebrate with the “Sagra della Castagna“. A sagra is a festival that tends to focus on some form of food.

This year “La Sagra della Castagna di Carpanzano” takes place on October 25, 2008, and will feature music, dancing, and of course plenty of homemade dolci (sweets) made with castagne.

Cultural Exhibit

The town has also converted one of its old bars into a gallery that brings together various antique items characterizing the way of life for the Carpanzanesi many years ago. Some of these items include equipment that was used to harvest castagne, as well as a loom that once belonged to my great grandmother. You can also take a walk around many photographs and paintings of Carpanzano spanning many years.

I was fortunate enough to receive a guided tour of this little gallery when I visited Carpanzano this summer. I learned not only about the town’s history, but my family’s history as well.

So, since I can’t be there tomorrow, I will be thinking of Carpanzano. I’ll be wishing I could get my hands on some freshly roasted chestnuts. I’ll have to wait for the “not as good as Italy’s” chestnuts to show up at my grocery store. I guess there is always next year… 😉

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