This year’s Ruralia will be 25-26 of May at the Pratolino park. Pratolino is reachable by bus number 25. The Festival is a magical festival dedicated to farming and agricultural, complete with animals, demonstrations, products, market, etc. Great for all … Continue reading
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May, 10am-7:00pm Obihall will have a huge sports festival organized by HappyLand. During the two day festival, children and teens can learn about all of the various sports, such as volleyball, track, cycling, rugby, basketball, … Continue reading
This is a great recipe for those of you with kids that don’t like veggies! 4 potatoes 500 gr spinach 1 egg 1 clove of garlic parmesan bread crumbs nutmeg (in powder—but optional) salt olive oil First of all, boil … Continue reading
Spring Craft Project: Plant Head Materials 1 small pot 1cup of soil 1 stocking/ panty hose 1 package of cat grass seeds miscellaneous buttons/ ribbons, etc Instructions Place a quarter of the soil inside of the panty hose. Then place … Continue reading
As you all know the first half of the month is Carnevale This is a festival leading up to lent. Children dress up in costumes and there are parties all over Italy. Here are some Carnevale events going on in … Continue reading
Firenze Moms 4 Moms Easter Party and Egg Hunt When:16 March at 10 am Where: If the weather is nice: Area Pettini—If raining- via Giuseppe Campani at the church. Other: The cost is €5 per child and can be paid … Continue reading
Many of you moms may be interested in citizenship here in Italy…or have maybe thought of it. The benefits are not having to travel everywhere with your passport while your out and about in Europe and the whole voting thing…if you think it’s worth it. A common misconception…which I had too…is that you have to give up your U.S. citizenship…this is wrong and hasn’t been the case since 1989. You can have dual. I thought I would share with all of you my experience, even though this is just one story and the process may have changed already.
Step 1: I married an Italian—
Step 2: I had to obtain a permesso di soggiorno, which I had previously as a student, but had to get a new one when I married. This was quite complicated as they had just changed to the application at the post office! They lost my papers and I spend at least 3 days camped out at the new Questura trying to get my permesso. Finally my husband lost it and he got my permesso that day.
Step 3: Registering at the comune. I had to go to my local Quartiere and register as a legal alien living in Florence. I also got my carta d’identita at this point in time, which wasn’t really valid for anything other than proving that I was living in Florence.
Step 4: Registering for residence. I had to wait 6 months after my registration and then I applied to be a resident of Florence.
Step 5: Wait 2 years. After I had been a resident in Italy for 2 years, well a little bit before, I started collecting all of my necessary documents from the USA. I even had a fingerprint card made up so the FBI could do a background check. Most of the documents were time sensitive, so I had to be punctual. I also started collecting documents from Italy that I needed.
Step 6: Make an appointment with the Prefettura: I made an appointment with the prefettura, on the phone—but I had to go to the actual office to get the phone number. He was pretty efficient. I was super pregnant and he took pity on me so the interview was fairly short. I don’t think he wanted to see me go into labor in his office anyway 
He stamped my paperwork and gave me an electronic tracking sheet that I could track online…it always said processing.
Step 7: Wait another 2-2.5 years: Just after Matteo turned 2 they called me and said my appointment would be in August at the prefettura …
Step 8: Make sure all of your documents are valid. While waiting I forgot to renew my Permesso. So I had to go through that nightmare yet again!
Step 9:Go to your appointment at the Prefettura. You will have to bring your approved paperwork to the comune.
Step 10: Go to the commune and give them your paperwork. This was one of the more difficult things as they were quite unfriendly. I had to have my husband rush me some paperwork there just so I could turn in my paperwork that day.
Step 11: Wait again for your letter from the comune. I waited a little over a month for the letter calling me into the commune for my swearing in.
Step 12: Go the appointment. They will ask you again for repeated paperwork which you will have to bring in…including your carta d’identità…which was useful only in this instance! They will put on a sash with the tricolors…and read you some things to which you will have to swear…and then you sign. 
Step 13: Wait a couple of days and then go and get your new carta d’identità: So, after a couple of days I went and got my new Italian identity card that said I was an Italian citizen…which now I can actually use for something!
Step 14: Turn in your old permesso di soggiorno at the Questura.
I AM NOW A CITIZEN!!!
I was walking by the Medici Riccardi earlier this week and saw that they were having an amazing exhibition on the Sioux tribe. It is only going on until next Tuesday, but entrance is free. It would be a great opportunity for our kids to learn about other cultures. They have really nice exhibits and items on display.
Hi Moms
This is a sign up sheet for the Halloween Party
We are going to need a lot of help to make this the best party ever for our kids.
We need:
Carpooling—Cars for the trunk or treating and to help people get out to the party
Decoration committee
Clean up Committee
Photographer
Snack Committee
Games Committee
Haunted House Committee—this could be a teenage activity!
The entrance cost is to cover decorations, prices, and treat bags—we even hope to have some pumpkins to carve. All extra proceeds will go to charity.
Games and Activities:
Bobbing for apples
‘Trunk or Treat’
Costume Contest
Pumpkin Carving Contest—for older kids
Other game suggestions are welcome
If you want to sign up you just send an email to Jill jillromanelli@firenzemoms4moms.net
Florence is home to a load of festivals and holidays, some more exciting than others. One of the more exciting and more unique festivals is the Rificolona or lantern festival. Here is a little outline of the festival!
Origin: Now nothing more than a children’s holiday, the festival originates from the countryside around Florence. Once a year the country folk, in particular farmers, would make pilgrimages during the beginning of September to the church of Santissma Annunziata for the estimated birthday of the Virgin Mary. Hordes would come from the countryside the night before…as daytime was prime farming time…you can’t waste sunlight…and they would do so with colorful lanterns. The procession would come from lands faraway…like the Casentino! Well, when you don’t have a car…that is far! During the night they would sleep underneath the porches in Piazza Santissma Annunziata, much like the homeless people today… After their religious site seeing was over, they would set up market stalls in the Piazza and along the via dei Servi. This was another reason they would come the day before…as they wanted to get a prime spot to set up their booths. They would sell cheeses, mushrooms, fabrics, and other traditional products from the countryside. At dusk all would gather round and sing hymns to the virgin Mary!
The Holiday today: Every 7th of September after 8:00pm the procession with start along via dei Servi to the Annunziata. Children will have colorful lanterns, many times home made in various shapes and sizes. Some will have candles inside…other a battery operated light. To my annoyance, most children will also have tubes where they spit out wads of clay which will bust, and often catch the other lanterns on fire. There is also a market out in front of the church. Many childrens’ organizations will have workshops so children may construct their own lantern.
Events this year for the holiday:
3 September: Ludoteca La Tana del Orso will have a lantern building workshop in the morning.
2 September 4pm-7pm Ipercoop Sesto Fiorentino will have a lantern building workshop
3-4-5 September 4pm 7pm Scuola Elementare Diaz in Via Madonna delle Grazie 172
4-5-6 September 4pm-7pm Circolo via Nuove Viale Gianotti 13 and then their is a party the 7 September starting at 7:00 pm with food stands, and a band starting after 9:00 pm.
6 September in Le Cure area at dusk- –via Boccaccio are
