Ok, so i just got back from a 2 week trip to rome. I left right after christmas and understand that italians celebrate christmas until the epiphany. amidst the christmas lights were lighted signs saying "piovono polpette" and "auguri" everywhere. i have no idea what they mean. now, my italian is not that good, but as i understand it "alle otto" means "at eight oclock" but people were saying it at carnival games seemingly as an expression of joy. Can anyone tell me what any of these sayings mean?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11322 posts
Christina:
From Wikipedia: Raining Meatballs is an animated film of 2009 produced by Sony Pictures Animation. The film is inspired by children's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Cloudy with possible rain translatable into meatballs).
"Auguri" as I understand it from my minimal Italian, is Seasons Greetings.
Could you have been hearing "Il Lotto alle otto?" I am not sure of the meaning in translation.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11322 posts
Sorry - I didn't say Piovono Polpette = Raining Meatballs, which Wikipedia describes.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
Auguri is literally 'wishes' and is used for Seasons' Greetings as well as for birthdays. Tante Auguri = Happy Birthday.
Laurel explained Piovono Polpette, which came out on December 23.
Can't help with alle otto. It does literally mean at 8 o'clock, so I would assume that it has become a form of some slang, perhaps connected to the Lotto as Laurel suggests.
Posted by
Freedonia
15014 posts
Il lotto Alle Otto is a televised lottery program with an Italian flair. Think Powerball/Mega Millions with entertainment. Very popular in Italy. (At least it was a few years ago. Not sure of its status today.)
Posted by
OP
easton, md, us
3 posts
Thank you all so much for responding. I can finally put my mind to rest!