Set like a sparkling jewel along the Mediterranean Sea bordering southern France, Monaco conjures up fascinating images of a movie star, a prince, and the gambling and social playground of Monte Carlo. But Monaco is also rich in history and tradition with sto- ries and practices that go back hundreds of years. Christmas Eve would be the time when family would gather at their parent's homes. Before sitting down to the evening meal, the youngest of the guests, or the oldest, soaked an olive branch in a glass of old wine. A great fire of pine and laurel branches burned in the fireplace, and with his little branch, the guest traced the Sign of the Cross while briefly commenting on the many virtues of the olive tree. The Christmas loaf of breadu pan de Natale on which four walnuts formed a cross surrounded by several olive twigs would be enjoyed along with other traditional food and drink. Father Christmas may soon pay a visit to the children, dispensing gifts and other traditional treats for children, including mariote e gali-cakes of fougasse, a biscuitlike pastry flavored with orange flower water, almonds and aniseed. Little boys received fougasse in the shape of a chicken (u galu) and little girls received those in the shape of dolls. No doubt the children had a sparkle in their eyes that rivaled the area's sunshine. BACK-LIMITED EDITIONS
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