Il Mattino Ha l'Oro in Bocca

Aurora borealis in Alaska

The Italian saying 'Il Mattino ha l'oro in Bocca' (literally translated: morning has gold in its mouth) is normally translated with expressions that have nothing to do with our original saying.

The most common translation is: 'early to be, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise' followed by: 'the early bird gets the worm' and translations such as: 'if you snooze you lose' which is actually closer to another famous Italian saying: 'chi dorme non piglia pesci' (literal translation: fisher asleep, no catches the fish). This saying in particular is pretty close as regards the subject of opportunities. 

Let's go back to IL MATTINO HA L'ORO IN BOCCA and let's take the time to discover how the world of etymology can help us. First of all, we inherited this Italian saying from the Romans who used to say: 'Aurora aurum in ore habet'.  Therefore we are narrowing down the word 'gold' to a specific morning time: aurora, which translates 'daybreak'.  We know that daybreak takes place right after dawn and before sunrise. It is accompanied by purple beams. It's so beautiful. But what has gold to do with daybreak in particular? 

The concept is that not only morning hours are a precious opportunity to take advantage of being full of energy after a healthy night's sleep.  There is more to it: the Italian word 'aurora' is based on the word 'gold'. That's why morning has gold (Aurora) in its mouth (entrance). 

Aurora in Venice, Italy 

As a consequence, this Italian saying makes complete sense now. Morning enters the day with a gold, shining moment, - daybreak - when light first appears. 

Etymologically the word "Aurora" in Latin, Sanskrit, and Ancient Greek comes from: "shine", "glow", "light", "brightness", "gold".  These words also give birth to: "Euro", "Gold", "Austria", "Heliacal". The word "Aurora" is therefore powerful, positive, lively, providing strength and hope.

Last but not least Roman mythology describes Aurora as a goddess. In Greek mythology, Aurora was called Eos. She is the goddess of dawn and renews herself every morning flying across the sky. That's how she announces the sun's arrival with Apollon in his chariot of fire. Aurora comes in glory and is surrounded by golden beams. She brings light to the day! 

Guido Reni, Aurora, 1613-14  (click on image to enlarge): Aurora is the goddess on the upper right
showing the way to the god of the sun in his chariot. 

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RIVE GAUCHE

Ancient Umbrian towns are located east of the river Tiber running along the middle 

of the Umbria region.

Back in 2009, I had the pleasure of meeting a respected Italian history professor who got interested in what I was doing for Cama. He had arts & cooking talents, he was in love with life. He soon became a source of valuable information for me. 

This professor knew everything about our ancient civilizations in Italy. We ended up spending much time together wandering around Umbria. 

That's how I had the opportunity of finding out more about my Italian origins. And that's when I really understood that I am Umbrian by birth and speak Etruscan by heritage. 

I got really interested in knowing more about the Umbrians. 

I feel partial towards ancient Umbrians because I have always been attracted by the people who live east of the river Tiber.  I love their dialects and that's something making the difference to me. Unfortunately, I speak a dialect that comes from the Etruscan heritage despite my growing up east of the Tiber. We cut words and it goes under the name of 'syncopal dialect'.  

View on famous St. Angel castle and bridge over the river Tiber in Rome 

On the contrary, Italians who live in ancient Umbrian towns have a much sweeter and warmer accent. That's what makes me feel close to them:  sweetness & warmth! 

Literature narrates that the Umbrians were the oldest population in Italy. They were originally from the 2nd millennium B.C. and they were famous for being non-belligerent. Umbrians arrived in middle Italy from central-east Europe (the territory that goes from Poland to the Balkans). Their land expanded from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic sea and down from the Po valley to the upper part of the Lazio region. 

Cypress trees are a symbol of the Etruscan supremacy

Around 1200 B.C. the Etruscans arrived in our land and conquered little by little three hundred Umbrian sites. They settled down west of the Tiber. Etruscans were originally from Lydia in Asia Minor (Turkey). They migrated to the Italian peninsula as a result of a famine. Further invasions to central Italy followed in Roman times. 

Nowadays the surviving Umbrian towns can be found east of the river Tiber, a historical Umbrian territory. Towns such as: Gubbio, Gualdo Tadino, Assisi, Spello, Foligno, Todi, Trevi, Spoleto and Norcia all have Umbrian origins.  

Last but not least I am learning now how to determine a river's right and left bank. You have to face downstream. The river Tiber rises on Monte Fumaiolo in the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano, so we look towards southern Italy. And the surprise is that ancient Umbrian towns east of the Tiber are located on the RIVE GAUCHE!  

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Good reasons for keeping traditions alive

January 17th is pet's feast day. St. Antonio Abate is pets' saint protector

Today is St. Antonio Abate feast day in Italy, the saint protector of animals. I will always remember this day because I take my dog Paquita to the animals' reunion in Deruta for the animals' blessing. 

We do a parade with our priest on a truck holding the saint's plaster statue and leading cars from downtown Deruta to the lower part of town, known as borough. There's a large parking lot there, on main street's north side turning useful for community events. 

Paquita looks so beautiful on this day! She is one of the many pets in town and she makes her way pretty well among other animals. She is twelve years old but still young in her spirit. She likes greeting other animals, playing with them and sharing her energy with everybody. The only thing I could teach her - and I do not know how I made it - is that she doesn't answer back to other dogs barking at her. This happens when these dogs are doing their job of watching their territory or when we cross into other dogs along the river Tiber's walking trails.  We go there for our daily walk and we meet other people with dogs. Paquita is a lady!

A classical image of St. Antonio Abate,
St. protector of animals.

I wish to add that January 17th was originally a pagan feast day preparing for springtime. This is the reason why in many places in Italy people burn bonfires that in Italian are called: 'falò'. There is another piece of information I wish to add to the pagan side of this feast day. It is related to single women and to my personal experience as an Italian young lady. 

I have to make an introduction to what I am about to narrate: you may be aware of how Italians can be straight forward. Much different from Americans who have a reputation for being polite. Indeed right after the Second World War two Italians arguing would use the expression: "What do you think that I'm American?". This was a warning about the fact that the person in front of you would not be using all his/her bonton good manners. Thank goodness instances are not usually aggressive in Italy. Just take it easy and not take words too seriously. 

This said, when I was younger and not meeting my soul mate, for the people in my town I was an old made. They did not hesitate to remark my single status. A few decades later the term in Italy turned to the English word: 'single'. However not much had changed in my fellows' attitude. Why am I writing this introduction? Because in Italy in times past if you were an old maid you would have your saint protector: Sant'Antonio abate! 

Saturn is the furthest planet away that is still visible to
the naked eye. Galileo first saw the distinctive rings through
his telescope in the early 1600s.

So if you were single in Italy in the old days your feast day would be on January 17th. I am wondering why. As a matter of fact all this stress could have been avoided if someone told my soul mate about a Deruta tradition. This would have made us enjoy at least twenty-five years of beautiful life together at least. Life is not the same without your soulmate. All this time I have been feeling like half of a planet. I could not rotate at best. That was the feeling. 

Tradition narrates that Deruta was the perfect place to find your spouse. Probably because of the joke that comes from ceramic making. You can order custom made pieces in Deruta just the way you want it. So people would address you to Deruta when in trouble finding your perfect better half. It was kind of a joke. If you can't find you perfect better half, just have it custom made in Deruta. If my soul mate had been aware of this tradion he would have come towards the river Tiber instead of taking the opposite direction. 

That's exactly why we didn't meet any earlier. Why in the world aren't we keeping our traditions alive? 

Roberta & Daniele  have reunited against all expectations.

What happened is that a few years ago destiny brought me over to where he lived and I could meet him at last! While waiting I had told my nieces that he had to be somewhere out there and that there must have been some technical issue that prevented him to come to me. In that case I said to them he had to go all the way around the world again and repeat his journey looking for each other. My nieces loved this story so much that when I introduced my fiancé to them they were thrilled and made thumbs up to uncle Daniele. They knew exactly what we were talking about. 

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La Bella Figura

In Italy we care much about details and we believe they help us make

a good impression. In this image examples of classical Italian style:

Designer Emilio Pucci: details and art together equal classy. 

Have you even invited your friends with expressions such as: "let me make a good impression" or "help me make a good impression"? Have you ever heard of such a social habit in Italy? Basically it's what we say to other Italians when we are about to do something important in our life or just show up at a party. It goes under the name of 'bella figura'. 

It literally means 'the beautiful figure' because it is mostly described as a way of dressing at best. It has to do with your look and is based on caring for details. When La bella figura is more engaging it has to do with a performance in your life, something that will change your life. Your acting at best. Sometimes in Italy it is also used as a light-harted joke. 

Italians, let's make a good impression together!
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'La Bella Figura' is very dear to me as I think it is actually when I really feel Italian and I find a reason for my fellows to be close to me. No Italians would refuse your invitation to help you make a good impression. It's when Italians' mirror neurons go at their highest speed! 

This is what made me wish to have a group of followers in Italy who were willing to make a good impression with me upon my journey with the Friends of Cama.  The reason is that I wish to take Italy with me in my travels abroad! 

Additionally 'La Bella Figura' is some sort of approval by other Italians. Within a light-hearted subject such as making a good impression there is much authenticity that tells you much about us. Also it is a way of feeling more secure as you want to put your best foot forward. 

Italian grandeur and elegance in the creations of Roberto
Capucci. Florence has dedicated a museum to him. 

I originally wanted to describe 'La Bella Figura' with a foreigner's voice, so that you get the point of view of someone who is not Italian. However by reading reviews about 'La Bella Figura'' I have ended up learning more about what we do naturally in Italy and enjoyed describing it. I hope I gave you an idea of what 'La Bella Figura' is all about. 

It's amazing how much I like the Italian philosophy of 'La Bella Figura' as in Italy we tend to be pessimistic when we gather together with other Italians. Some lightness makes me feel so much more at ease! Truly the shallower the 'Bella Figura' is is the more I like it!  After all in Italy we give our best out of unawareness and 'La Bella Figura' is a classic. 

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NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

As luck would have it, the Friends of Cama story is true 

It is not easy for me to describe my experience as it is like living a dream come true. There is much warmth in it. I have no idea if it comes through the screen in all its authenticity. 

I am happy with the success achieved so far. So this is definitely my victory speech!

1. This is a twenty-year-long story 

As we know from classical literature—  where personal life experiences are elevated to models— twenty years is the perfect journey's length. That's what turns you into your life's heroes. In the history of books, the most famous journey is the Odyssey. Indeed it was used in Ancient Greece as a children's educational book. It is a beautiful book! 

Odysseus' journey took place in the Mediterranean
sea. It took him twenty years to get back home. 

My personal story of rebirth started back in 1993 with my first visit to the United States: so twenty years are part of my life's book. I have proceeded by trial and error, without any knowledge of what I was about to find, quite an adventure. 
My most amazing work experience besides selling ceramics in the United States was working in a nursing home in Italy. I discovered that taking care of patients the way I do was very much like selling ceramics the way I do. In that case, I could hug and give love to other people on a deeper level. I gave them much warmth and made them feel at ease. We loved each other so much. 
However, the last five years were the most important ones. Back in January 2009, my family put me in charge of solving business matters. I kept repeating to them that I was only a shop assistant & a hostess. This was beyond my abilities. It was an impossible task even for experts. Nevertheless I accepted. 

My personal life and my plans for Cama
are interwoven just like in DNA.
It is the most amazing experience in my life.
I wish to think this is a bracelet.
Science makes everything look so cold. 

2. My personal life and my plans for Cama are interwoven just like in DNA. 

What's most interesting is that it is almost impossible to mix business and emotions. It's like mixing ice and fire. To me, business is the coldest of all words. It has much to do with death if we think of expressions such as your death is my life. It's a rule in business. It's awful. Time to make a change!

Nevertheless, I kept going on and putting my heart and soul into my endeavor. My personal life started mixing with my constant thoughts to find ways out for my family's workshop. 

Everything changed with my moving away from Deruta beginning January 2011. I worked so hard behind the scenes. At a certain point, I let everything go. That's when life started setting priorities for me: the next year I met my soul mate, so I discovered true love. I had had that wish since I was a little girl. I had almost forgotten about it. 

In the meantime, I had started helping other people. I had so much extra energy! 

What's very important to me is that last year I realized what friendship means. As a dream made true my brother came back into the crew. He is a true friend to start with. In forty years of experience at Cama's, I had created a world apart there, where I mixed friendship and love, care and service in my selling ceramics. I had learned to be professional at the same time. Out of there, I felt like a fish out of water. 

Life sets new year's resolutions for me: the first priority was my soul mate.
The second priority is eating healthy. I am a sweet tooth and staying away
from sugar is a dream come true. It all started with a wish the year before.

3. My dreams start with a wish 

I discovered that every dream come true is a life's priority. My wish to meet my soul mate was a long-held wish of when I was a little girl and a young woman. I had to get over my limits to meet my perfect match. What a beautiful love story! 
My soul mate and I are the universes where I can experience the most beautiful feelings such as true love, friendship, mutual help, trust, humbleness. All positive emotions are there every day! 

Another wish of mine was to feel healthy. I had expressed it a long time ago. Additionally back in 2012, I organized gym classes, where I live, in order to force myself to exercise with other people. No way. The miracle happened six days ago on New Year's eve. As life decided that these personal priorities came before business matters, I understood that anything is possible. I was becoming stronger and stronger. Eating healthy will add much strength to my body. That's exactly what I needed right now. 
My next wish is a secret. Actually, I have more than one wish. I have learned to disclose dreams after they have come true. Let's follow the Friends of Cama story together! 

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Roar Stands for Robin

In the United States the first name Robin is often a variaton for Roberta.  That's how I got fond of robin birds. American robins are the birds who lays blue eggs.  I love robin egg blue!  

Soon on this blog a collection of ten insight stories regarding people, emotions, facts, things, imaginary animals starting with "R" like in "ROBIN". These stories include notes of my life journey with curiosities regarding Italian Renaissance traditions. I wish you to enjoy my path of rebirth bringing new life to Cama. Stay tuned! 

This is what I mean by roar. So sweet! 

American Robin 

American Robin's eggs 

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