Saturnalia

In the 1st century CE, the Roman poet Martial wrote an invitation to a Saturnalia banquet: "You will dine nicely at my house, Julius Cerealis. If you have no better engagement, come! Come at the eighth hour; we will bathe together--you know how near to me Stephanus' baths are.As a first course you will be...

In the beginning was the egg …

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In the cosmogonies, the creation stories, of many cultures, the answer is surprisingly clear: the cosmic egg (also: world egg) is the origin of all things. Or is it not? For who created the cosmic egg? The myth of a primordial world egg was known in many...

Egg magic and magic eggs

Chicken eggs laid on Good Friday were once considered particularly powerful. According to popular belief, they could either predict the harvest of the coming year or, eaten raw or cooked, protect against disease. A Philosopher's Egg And this is a Philosopher's Egg. A what? According to E. Cobham Brewer (Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 1894),...

Onion calendar 2021

The onion calendar is an old and almost forgotten form of a New Year’s oracle from Central Europe, aiming at predicting the coming year’s weather, which was important for farmers.At New Year’s Eve, they cut an onion in half, laying out 12 “cups” of onion layers, according to the months of the year, and sprinkle...

From Eden to Jerusalem: 40 Recipes from the Time of the Bible

In this richly illustrated cookbook, I present 40 recipes from the places and time of the Bible, offering insight into the prehistoric and early historical mediterranean diet.  https://leggi.amazon.it/kp/embed?asin=B08LHML76D&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_udOLFb0XP9KAD Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and honey are the biblical "Seven Types" that form the basis of the cuisine not only of the Holy Land but...

GARUM – Recipes from the Past

Just out: GARUM - the historical cookbook with recipes from the past (Mesopotamia, Ancient Rome, medieval Europe and the Middle East, Renaissance). With many photos by Manoocher Deghati. Available here. Also in German and (NEW!) in French!

Winter solstice festivals through the ages

The celebration of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, is probably as old as human settlements and agriculture, if not older. Although the real winter cold is yet to come, the days are getting longer again. The crop has been brought in, there is not much outside work to be done, the...

Ancient Winter Solstice Feasts

We've observed the summer and winter solstices for as long as humans have been around. In fact, one of the most popular western celebrations today, Christmas, is reminiscent of the winter solstice celebrations. Known as the darkest time of the year, when days are short and little work is to be done outdoors, there's plenty...

New novel: “The Emir’s Trace”

My novel "The Emir's Trace" about the history and traditions of Puglia is now available in English: When young historian Lia Winter’s uncle dies, she travels to Southern Italy to spend several weeks with her aunt who is a masciàre, a traditional herbalist. Lia quickly finds herself increasingly fascinated by her aunt’s archaic way of life...