Very nice pictures of your carnival.In Italy the most famous carnivals are in Venice, Sciacca, and Acireale, passing through Ivrea, Viareggio and Fano.

First I would like to tell you that I like very much your recipes and will try them soon. Lent (Quaresima) for the Italians marks the forty days of fast and abstinence before Easter. Lent is marked with the Feast of St. Joseph (Festa di San Giuseppe) on March 19th and Palm Sunday (Domencia della Palme), in which palms and olive branches are blessed by the parish priest and given out to the congregants. Many churches still follow the tradition of having the priest knock three time from the outside of the closed church doors to symbolize Jesus' entry in Jerusalem.

In Italy, we are also celebrate Giovendi Grasso which following Martendi Grasso and which it mark the beginning of carnival.Fat Thursday here was at February 7. We were 15 to celebrate at my home and I cooked my ...famous gnocco fritto with mortadella and Tuscan salami to start and then 3 different kinds of pasta, beef fillet with penne tricolore, and lots of pancakes with different fillings and panna cota finally Italian cheeses. In Venice but also in other Italian cities the day starting with games like Forze D'Ercole which it is a game for good balance because people must to form a pyramid. After the games there is a big Italian fat dinner and then many fireworks.

My favorite recipe with bucatini is bucatini all'amatriciana. This is with pancetta strips, olive oil, red pepper and grated pecorino romano cheese. But I must to tell you that your greek recipe of bucatini sound so delicious. And because in Italy we love pasta, I am going to try your pastitsio - is so easy to say in Italian! :-) Pastitsio will be on my table for Sunday lunch and I hope that my family will love it. I will tell you how it was and send pics. Only one question: is it possible to put mint and cinamon?? I love them both so much!

I the North of Italy where I am living is very cold now and we also had a lot of snow. So Valentines Day will come to keep us warm with its message of love that we express to our beloved. The Italians are celebrate with big enthousiam this day. We make surprises and express our love to our partner. Also we exchange gifts like in Christmas. It is a beautifull day that everyone, from teenagers to old people will enjoy. In the past, Saint valentines was celebrate in a different way. The young people were going to public park or garden. They were listen to music or read love poems and then they were going for a walk. This is how my grandparents were celebrate this day. This custom no longer existing now.

After church on Sunday, all the family are gather together and I like to cook their favorite dish with my homemade pasta which it is gnocchi verdi alla crema di tartufo - gnocchi with fresh cream and trufle or farfalle with scampi. Like you, I like to cook when I have free time. Your spaghetti looks delicious!

Well, I have spended a great Christmas in London before 6 years and really loved this awesome city. Thanks for sharing all the wonderfull pics. Buon anno!

Very beautifull decorations!!!

Wow!! I didn't knew it can snow in Cyprus! Here in North Italy it snowing very often but this December we didn't have much snow. Your photo from the beach is sooooo romantic! Merry Christmas and a happy new year

Your mother is an artist! What a wonderfull Christ mas tree dessert!!! I like real Christmas trees and I like artifificial ones. What is matter most for me as an artist is how you decorate your tree. Your tree this year is so lovely and elegant. Art is creation with both the natural materials and artificials ones. Buon Natale!

Yes I agree with you, Anastasia. Happiness is in the small pleasures of life. I am happy to paint, to have a beautiful family and great friends. I am happy to have the blessings of God every day and I feel very happy to teach art to my great kids at the school. Money is also important, they don't make happiness, but we do need them to enjoy a decent life. Great post! I love it!!!