Lentils May Help – Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Lentils May Help – Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Our Christmas was quiet: No hustle, bustle, opening gifts, throwing wrapping paper, overeating. No, Diane and I had a quiet, peaceful Christmas dinner with my brother Peter, and Sara.

We made it special by chatting and chuckling about past Christmases and of how lucky we are that our families are well. We thought of, and prayed for, those who have suffered greatly this year; a year almost ridiculous in the reality of what so many have endured and lost.  We explored what we have learned from our doubts, fears, and frustrations. But we also spoke of the future and envisioned signs of hope.

I thought a bit of the past and the courage of my immigrant grandparents who overcame such hardships when they left Italy to immigrate to America. They had hope.

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On New Year’s Eve, they wished for a good year ahead, and they ate lentils. Yes, lentils.

Lentils were not my favorite dish, even though they contained beneficial nutrients like fiber, protein, minerals and vitamins, are low in calories and have virtually no fat. Who knew at ten? Not until years later did I begin to savor those dishes that I dodged in my youth, like lentils, and polenta.

Lentils are served on New Year’s Eve because with their coin-like shape, they are supposed to represent luck and prosperity . . .  little coins. They are often served with cotechino, a spicy pork sausage which signified the fat, or bounty, of the land. The pork also conjured the future because pigs root forward, whereas other animals, such as chickens or cows, often move backward or stand still. America was now their land, one they appreciated, so my guess is they continued this tradition for their good fortune and hoped for abundances, superstition notwithstanding. 

I am reminded of the marvelous scene from the 1988 Italian film, "Cinema Paradiso,” one of the greatest movies ever made.

The scene depicts Sicily at midnight on New Year’s Eve, fireworks above, as pots and pans are thrown out of windows by the revelers. The act symbolizes casting away the old in favor of the new, letting go of past troubles for a more hopeful time.  Out-with-the-old, make-room-for-the-new. We didn’t toss stuff, but I remember grandma using a hammer to smash a cloth-covered plate.

As you move to this New Year, make sure you keep your eyes and your hopes looking forward.  This year can be a fresh beginning. We must learn from the experiences of the pandemic and stride to the future, with optimism.

Look forward. Welcome a return to normal. Remember what we have experienced. New Year Eve is a day mixed with buckets of feelings. Embrace them.

After all we’ve been through, wouldn’t it be nice, even during a distanced holiday season, to be able to talk about, maybe even write about, this experience?

Maybe resolve to call a friend every day. Offer a little hope, loyalty, and care for each other.

Toss the old. And don’t forget your lentils. 

 

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli is the author of three popular memoirs, “Growing up Italian; Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories”, “What Ever Happened to Sunday Dinner” and “My Story Continues: From Neighborhood to Junior High.”  Learn more here.