A different tour of Rome. Civis Romanus sum

A legend said that when the situation in the M.O. gets dangerous, suddenly a man appear: he is an old man, with a long white beard and thicks hair. He has a lot of names: someone call him Joseph, others John, others Assuero. The legend tells he is immortal and that he lives since the Passion of Jesus. But, who is this man and why is immortal? The story tells that when Jesus was walking in the Calvary He was so exhaust that He had a rest near a workshop; a lot of people insulted Him meanwhile soldiers were hitting Him. The owner of the workshop was a disciple of Jesus, but he didn't want to be recognized, so when he heard that clamor, came out and told to Jesus: "Come on, go away from here! Don't settle here! Hurry up!". Once He heard him, Christ replaced: "Well, I will settle soon, but you won't do it until my return". Suddenly, just after Jesus was crucified, this man was taken by an uncontrollable power that imposed him to start walking. So, since that day he is still walking around the world. But this is a blog about Rome. We are in the 1944. Nazies have occupied Rome. In all the city German soldiers were looking for Jewish men and others Romans. Someone told that a troop arrested 17 men. Since the moment they were banged up they knew they'll probably die the same day. When they were already resigned to this idea appeared a man with the unmistakable traits of an old Jewish. He came near a guard and told him that he was the one they were looking for and that he will tell anything they want, but before of doing it they had to release everyone. When they did it, the men was interrogated and since he didn't knew really anything just said to be guilty. The verdict was death warrant. Soldiers prepare their weapons to kill him, but at the moment of shooting the old man got down on his knees, united his hands and then he raised them up to the sky and disappeared. If you want to know more, post me. Dblk

Today is the feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany is a christian feast intended to celebrate the shining forth or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus. The observance had its origins in the eastern Christian churches, and included the birth of Jesus; the visit of the three Magi, or Wise Men (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) who arrived in Bethlehm. But in Rome there is also a second feast. This is the feast of the Befana (whose name derives from Epiphany). The origin of this tradition derives from ancient pagan costume. But, who is the Befana? The Befana is an old woman who gives gifts, just like the 3 Magi did with Jesus. She wears a big black full skirt, an apron, a shawl, a kerchief or a hat in bad condition on her head, a pair of slobs shoes. During the night between the 5 and the 6 of January, riding a broom with a sack full of toys, chocolate and candies, she goes into the house of every child and fills stockings with her gifts. Children prepare for her a mandarin or an orange and a glass of wine; in the morning of the 6, they will find a consumed meal and the hand-mark of the Befana. But they could also have a bad surprise: infact if they are bad children, they will find carbon instead of prsents. If you went in Rome during these days, I recommend you to visit Piazza Navona: infact, this square, for this feast, is filled with hundreds of newsagents. A last thing: the Befana, for the tradition, lives in Via Padella, 2 in Rome. For more informations, post me. Dblk

Happy new year! For the new year in Rome (and in Italy) we use to hurl from the window old things. This tradition wants to erase the bad things of the last year to start a new good one. We just chuck little things (for example the tap of a bottle), but if you go in the southern Italy you can see also straw chairs and little closets. Dblk