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so, i was invited to a "Friends & Family" party at an Italian restaurant before it officially opened over the weekend. there i am, drinking a delicious Chianti, eating really good pizza and having a wonderful conversation with some jazz chick next to me. and all of a sudden, there was a catholic priest BLESSING the restaurant's oven with holy water and prayers. the oven, i later found out, also had a name and a picture of the owner's grandmother was imprinted into the tile above the oven's mouth. a friend of mine told me this was not unheard of in traditional times of southern Italy. and is probably another pagan thing introduced into the orthodox religions. wouldn't it be awesome to revive this practice with our own ovens! i mean, if there's one thing traditional Italy (and especially that experience i had) has taught us, it's that the center of the house lies within the hearth.
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Re: oven blessings
Mon, June 15, 2009 - 10:15 AMI would have to guess that as opposed to a pagan ceremony being integrated into the Catholocism of Southern Italy, that rather, it developed along with Catholocism in that area. The Romans were heavy into their goddess of the hearth - whose name temporarily escapes me - I'm sure someone will supply it. :) - but I also know that the worship of the Goddess of Hearth and Home was very ceremony based - ritualistic . . .so I bet that has been a part of home celebrations along with the conversions to Catholicism. . . also, I know that in especially rural areas in Italy and the Northern Meditteranean, there is much folklore, ceremnoies and rituals that are practiced as part of their religions that are definitely not part of the "modern" Catholic Dogma, but have always been co-mingled with the Italian Culture. Just a couple of thoughts.
Also, I think it rocks. If it moves, Bless it, if it stays still, Pray over it, if it thinks, Celebrate with it. Find the spirit in all things.
~smile~
Meredith -
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Re: oven blessings
Mon, June 15, 2009 - 12:36 PMright on!! thanx Meredith for that historical and cultural info! there was a lot of that that i didn't know or totally forgot. ;) -
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Re: oven blessings
Tue, June 16, 2009 - 7:19 AMHestia is generally connected the hearth and home in the Greek traditions, the Romans called her Vesta.
Brighid (Bridget) is the Irish goddess of the hearth and the Norse would associate the hearth as Frigga's realm.
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Re: oven blessings
Tue, June 16, 2009 - 11:32 AMHESTIA~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. That was STILL bugging me this morning.
~smiles~
Queenly -
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Re: oven blessings
Wed, June 17, 2009 - 2:16 PMHESTIA (Ἑστία), in Greek mythology, the fire-goddess, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, the goddess of hearth and home.
Hestia likes to live in your kitchen or on your hearth if you gather there. She should be the last one to leave and the first one to enter when you set up household. She also shares the sacred flame with Dionysus so don't be shy with the food & wine offerings. Of her three sisters she is known as "the oldest and the youngest". Hestia is a maiden Goddess and one of the original Olympiads.
Here is a really great page on Hestia www.fjkluth.com/hestia.html
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Re: oven blessings
Sun, June 21, 2009 - 10:15 AMmeredith, i love the quote at the end of one of your posts.. "if it moves, bless it..." etc. i'd love to share it with others if thats ok, and would like to give credit where it is due. is this your quote? it's brilliant!
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Re: oven blessings
Wed, August 5, 2009 - 7:52 PM"May the gods bless this oven and cook my meals well..."
