Christmas day is less than a month away but, two weeks ago in San Francisco, people could get a first ‘taste’ of the holiday spirit, thanks to the Mercato di Natale at Fort Mason Center.
The Christmas Market has been organised by the Museo Italo-Americano in collaboration with D.I.V.E. (Donne Italiane che Vivono all’Estero), a group of women expats living in the Bay Area. The idea which inspired Giulietta and Leonora comes from the popular Christmas European Markets: last year, for the first time, they asked Italian vendors from the Bay Area to gather under the same roof to create a special warm Christmas atmosphere and give people a chance to buy artisanal gifts and goodies, all made in Italy.
As Giulietta told us, this second edition attracted affectionate Italians who want to live their Natale like in the homeland, for instance without missing traditional foods on their holiday table.
At the same time, it has become an opportunity, for both Americans and the multicultural San Francisco community, to discover Italian artcrafts, specialties, wine, and more. The success of the event was surprisingly good: as vendors noticed at the end of the second day, after one hour from the opening, people were much more interested in making purchases, probably also because of the approaching of Thanksgiving’s week.
From pasta, olive oil, wine, to books, jewels, clothes and bags, small art crafts, and marble objects, the market was opportunities to buy what Christmas lovers need for the upcoming holidays. Finally, a small café was also set under the main pavilion: “La forchetta” catering offered indeed some space to taste the best Italian delicateness, either before or after taking a walk throughout stands.
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