It’s not true… but I believe it. And they make great gifts!

Sergio Gradogna — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 11:09:39 +0000

Friday, May 17. A deadly cocktail for fans cabal and superstitious. But do not worry. In Naples, where everything turns into the liturgy, has the antidote right to confront and defeat the bad luck: the classic “curniciello“, a symbol of the tradition of “portabene” made in Partenope. The charm, with its unmistakeable shape and deep red colour tipped in gold at its base, must be rigorously hand-made because only the human touch can confer beneficial powers on this genuine symbol of Neapolitan craftsmanship. It is a lucky charm that keeps the ‘evil eye’ at bay but will only work when given as a gift. The notoriously and ostentatiously superstitious Neapolitans can count on any number of unique lucky charms, which they typically keep hidden but ready to ‘rub’ when their assistance is required to ward off trouble. These artisanal masterpieces have also made the fortune of generations of jewellers and craftsmen, whose famous horn is a talisman that dates back to the ancient Greeks who used it as a symbol of fertility and power to ward off evil influences. Tradition requires that, in order to be efficacious, the horn must be rigid, hollow, curved, pointed and preferably made of coral (although there are many made of silver), as popular belief attributes coral with the power to defeat evil influences and protect pregnant women.[charme-gallery] Collected from theMediterranean, the coral is then crafted by local artisans into a variety of glossy, red horns, pendants and branches. Another popular lucky charm in Neapolitan tradition is the hunchback, a figure which is often incorporated into the upper part of the horn. On the slopes of Vesuvius, the hunchback even has his own number in the Neapolitan cabala (57) and it is the shape of his back that is seen as an amulet that can counter a jinx. The horseshoe, perhaps the oldest and most famous lucky charm, is found not only in its original iron form, but also in silver and terracotta. This charm apparently dates from Roman times, when it was considered auspicious to find a shoe thrown by an officer’s horse. 2000 years later, a horseshoe of whatever size is considered the best way of encouraging Lady Luck’s favour. An equally powerful talisman is a pair of scissors hanging on the wall although it is also a frequent theme of Neapolitan silver artisans who create pendant charms to wear around the neck or wrist. Other Neapolitan charms include the Sciò Sciò figurine from the Nativity Scene, and the cornucopia, the ancient symbol of abundance which is frequently depicted in silver ornaments on tables and desks as well as in jewellery.[charme-gallery] The “munaciello“, the famous Neapolitan imp who can bring good and bad luck, is also a common theme of Neapolitan jewellers, who include ‘the little monk’ on pendants and medallions ready to touch when the wheel of fortune turns. Recent years have seen the arrival of talismans from other cultures, such as the bull’s phallus, a silver charm against evil influences that partly resembles the Neapolitan horn, as well as owls, four-leaf clovers, turtles and ladybirds. Small elephants, made of glass, ceramics, silver and, formerly, ivory are also crafted into table ornaments with their trunks raised, and placed so as to face windows and keep evil at out of the home or office. A ceramic model of a toilet with the seat raised is a somewhat unusual talisman based on the belief that faeces bring good luck. These amulets and charms comfort superstitious Neapolitans who, even if they know it isn’t true, still believe it.

L'articolo It’s not true… but I believe it. And they make great gifts! proviene da Charme.

Great tour in the heart of Naples to the discovery of good wine

Charme — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:04:19 +0000

A journey to be experienced and “taste”. Region by region. To discover the beauty of the boot wine. With a focus on delicacies from the Campania and the goodness of his inimitable nectar. It starts next Friday, October 10, and Friday and October 11, at 21, with an excursus in the heart of the historic center of Naples. The appointment is in the local Enoteca Scagliola in via San Pietro a Majella with the first of ten “trips in the wine” organized by the siren Partenope@ (others will follow in Puglia, Sardinia, Piemonte, Trentino, Sicily and the rest of the world). Whenever the travelers can enjoy a white and a red: signature wines, produced without sulfites. Strictly organic.

At the stage of Naples, travelers, escorted by three sommelier experience (Pasquale Bright, Nicola scagliola and Sandra Restrepo), will taste two precious wines from Campania, the Pallagrello and Catalanesca, with the possibility of replicas (or tasting), depending on the requests.

Accompanied by appetizers and the glorious history of Naples, the first episode of Partenope@ in fact aims to raise awareness of the niche products of Terra Felix, the most hidden from the general public, with special lessons. The less well-known fact, but no less good. And the choice could only fall on Pallagrello and Catalanesca. Both are ready to offer the best of themselves in the elegant cellar of Neapolis greek roman.

The first seems to derive its name from the round berries (“pallarello”) of vines grown on the slopes of the hills Caiatine in Upper Casertano, set in the Roman is “Pilleolata.” While Catalanesca has its roots in the Spanish region of Catalonia. The same King Alfonso I the Magnanimous. And where, according to legend, for the love of a girl, the first “slip up” or bud vine grapes of this precious and flavorful, was transported and then transplanted on Mount Somma.

Partenope, travel in the wine of the Siren
Friday, October 10, at 21
Enoteca scagliola, via San Pietro a Majella, Naples
Reservations, info and prices: 338.1099379

L'articolo Great tour in the heart of Naples to the discovery of good wine proviene da Charme.

artigianato partenopeo Archivi - Charme

It’s not true… but I believe it. And they make great gifts!

Great tour in the heart of Naples to the discovery of good wine