Grateful or Grinch? Blame Milan.
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Click here to listen or watch this instead! In 2023 I toured Italy as The Grinch, and I loved how kids pronounced “Ciao, Greeench!” Turns out 8-year-olds are elite vowel coaches (the “i” sounds like “ee”). Since Italy doesn’t do Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping explodes early. Usually shopping makes me Grinchy. ("hate, hate, double hate"-Jim Carrey, anyone?) But when we were near Milan, I broke our “cant buy stuff, no space in clown-car” rule… because come on, when in the fashion capital on black friday, you do as the Milanesi do: you shop. Even though Thanksgiving isn’t a thing in Italy, Black Friday is - Italians say Black Friday in English. If you learn saldo (sale), you’re officially a savvy holiday shopper. If you want some quick, fun Italian - grab my "Don't Be that Tourist" Italian cheat sheet here.
How to say "Sale" in Italian! Amanda |
Amanda Ghosh
Happy New Year Reader! Hit reply and type "2026"! Did you know January 6th is a Holiday in Italy? Today, Epiphany marks the day the Three Wise Men brought gifts to baby Jesus. Italians celebrate with parades, community gatherings, and festive vibes around the nativity scene. A perfect day to greet locals with: Buona Epifania! Check out these nativity scenes of the Three Wise Men bringing their gifts on Epiphany in Modena, Italy from my work there a couple years ago. Happy New Year “Buon anno”...
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Ciao! Remember the Notre Dame fire of 2019? I had seen it just weeks before the cathedral spire burned down. In a full-circle coincidence, I was back in Paris on the exact day it reopened - December 7, 2024. One year ago today. In hindsight? Poetic. In the moment? Pure panic. Because the ceremonial reopening also meant blocked streets, closed bridges, and detours that make you want to curse like a local. (“Pardon my French, but how do you say F*** in French?”) Cue total tourist chaos. We were...