Festa per les donne

It was the International Day for Women last Sunday, and as I was taking someone to the airport, I got a call to invite me to the celebration at Agape that evening. I was told to bring my appetite!

It was once again a great celebration, this time with only one staff member. As people gathered around the table, before the food was to be served, there was toast after toast (all in Sicilian) from the man at the left who took on the job of toastmaster. As in tradition, all the toasts rhymed. I only wish I could have understood them all. I did feel honored after several toasts to the women, he first toasted Gianni Fisco, who teaches ceramics on a volunteer basis, and then toasted me, even though I just sort of hang around some times.

Food was ordered from outside, so at least the women did not have to cook. They did, of course, have to make the plates and take them to the men before they could sit and enjoy their meals.

The clients were there, enjoying each other's company on a day when they did not often get to see each other. The families were together talking about life in general, the men in one area and the women in another area. The meal was wonderful, starting of course with home made olives and wine and bread, and then there was a lasagna with meat sauce, huge plates of chicken and potatoes, melon, oranges, and mandarino, followed by far too many dolces. There was a little bit of music and dancing for those who could still move, and then the men each presented their wives with flowers. I was ordered to take pictures of each couple, often to the shouts of Baco, Baco, asking the couples to kiss for the pictures, which they did with some embarrassment.


















Another wonderful evening with my Sicilian sized family in Sciacca.