L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 2023 www.italoamericano.org 22 L'Italo-Americano I n I t a l y , t h e w o r d vendemmia (vehn- dehm-mee-ah) is an experience more than it is a word! R o o t e d i n t h e L a t i n word vīndēmia, it refers to the grape harvest, a quintes- sential event that marks the Italian fall season. The word itself is a blend of vinum, meaning wine, and demere, meaning to remove. This ety- m o l o g y e n c a p s u l a t e s t h e essence of the activity: the removal of grapes to produce the cherished Italian wines! I n t i m e s p a s t , v e n d e m - mia was not just about the harvest, it was a communal event, a time of celebration and conviviality: families, friends, and neighbors would come together to work in the vineyards, each person play- ing a role in the intricate bal- l e t o f g r a p e p i c k i n g . M y grandparents used to remi- nisce fondly that al tempo d e l l a v e n d e m m i a , c i s i divertiva! ("During harvest, w e u s e d t o h a v e l o a d s o f fun!"). Indeed, once the sun dipped below the horizon, the vineyards would transform into festive grounds, with loads of food and, of course, wine to keep everyone happy. T o d a y t h e t e r m h a s evolved to reflect changes in both agricultural practices and societal norms, with the communal aspect of yore hav- 1 (feminine plural of) the 3 yes 5 cakes 6 (you/tu) use 7 me 8 to love 11 goddess 13 down; downstairs 14 airplane 17 a, an 18 (a plural form of) the 19 helmet 21 the (feminine) 22 (plural of) to the, at the Using the provided meanings as clues, search for the appropriate Italian word in the grid 1 the; him 2 herb; grass 3 seed 4 to be 5 among; between 9 pigs 10 king 12 from there/here; of/about it 14 hip 15 pink; rose 16 gold 20 us; to us; there i n g a l m o s t d i s a p p e a r e d , replaced by mechanized har- vesters and commercial oper- ations. The vendemmia, though, remains a symbol of Italian culture, a nod to a time when life was deeply connected to the land and the changing seasons. In modern usage, vendem- mia still refers to the grape harvest, but it has also come to signify the vintage of the wine produced in a particular year. It's a term you'll find on wine labels, in culinary dis- cussions, and in the names of festivals that celebrate this a g e - o l d t r a d i t i o n : f o r i n s t a n c e , y o u m a y h e a r a s o m m e l i e r s a y t h a t l a vendemmia del 2010 è eccel- lente ("The 2010 vintage is excellent"), even though in this context you may be more likely to hear the word anna- ta being used, as il 2010 è un'ottima annata. A d o r o i l p e r i o d o d e l l a vendemmia, con tutti i suoi colori! I love harvest time, with all its colors! Nel mio paese si organizza un festival culinario durante il periodo della vendemmia In my village, we organize a culinary fair during the har- vest. La vendemmia è un sim- bolo della nostra cultura con- tadina. LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Vendemmia: a word to say the fall has arrived! © Katrinshine | Dreamstime.com 1 to run 2 to hold 3 girl 4 one 5 to talk 6 school 7 son 8 head 9 river 10 two 11 face 12 mother 13 shirt 14 to drink 15 Tuesday 16 three 17 heart A C R O S S D O W N ITALIAN WORD SEARCH The solution to these word games will be available on the next edition. Games courtesy of Lexis Rex

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