In the Italian-American neighborhood where my grandmother grew up (Gentile clan, Chicago. Hi guys!), the folks would wish each other Auguri (best wishes) di Santo Sgeveno.
Come again? Santo who?
Think about it… You get the day off at work and the kids are off from school, you stay at home and cook food all day, then sit down together with family and friends for hours on end and eat until you’re about to keel over. It’s obviously a festa of some sort, which naturally implies a Saint’s day, right?
“Uhh, right.. but I didn’t quite catch that saint’s name…”
“Everybody keeps wishing us and each other “Happy Saint Sgivin”. Must be some santo americano that we didn’t have in Italia,” some of the old-timers must have thought.
Translate that into Italian and it’s Santo Sgeveno of course.
Long story short, enjoy your meal and your time with family and friends tomorrow, and allow us to extend our warmest…
Auguri di Santo Sgeveno to you all!
-- Contributed by GB (see bio), Editor, Italian Notebook.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
A fab note and I love the linguistic confusion! A handsome turkey as well. Happy Thanksgiving, GB!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Oh my goodness…I have never laughed so hard over a note! And a very Happy Santa Sgeven to you and all our American friends here!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
GB,
You certainly have a way with words, both in English and Italian or a combination of both!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and thank you for my daily dose of all things “Italian”!
Margie
November 25th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I so much enjoy this site each and every day. As my Italian American famiglia gather tomorrow, I will also be wishing a Happy Santa Sgeven!
November 25th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
What a hoot. My progenitors sure had a way with words; i.e. Colander became” Water go home, spaghetti stay here” .The out house became the “backhouse”. Easy the understand..it was at the outside at the back of the house.
Happy Santa Sgeven to you all and thanks for this illuminating site on my other country.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
GRAZIE MILLE! Tanti Auguri.
I always enjoy your articles.
Keep sending them.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Mi piace molto. Grazie.
November 26th, 2009 at 3:15 am
How many of us had immigrant mothers and grandmothers who always cooked “il turco” (a Turk) instead of tacchino (turkey) every Thanksgiving? Ha!
November 26th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Happy Santa Sgeven anche a te GB, and all at Italian Notebook!