Saturday November 7th, 2026.
It's mum (or auntie, depending on who’s calling) Concetta's birthday. It’s always a struggle to celebrate, even just with a cake, because it’s harvest time and everyone’s very busy. Mum pretends to complain, but we all know that for her this is just another chore: what can she do if she’s ended up with someone like Dad Piero, who was born, brought up and has always lived in the countryside? Over time, she too has learnt to be part of all this beauty (which is often hard work).
This year, however, someone has decided to give her a surprise. Along with grandma Anna, aunt Enza and uncle Santino – who often pop down to help, bringing with them baked pastries, meatballs in tomato sauce, lentil soups, biscuits, cakes with all sorts of jam and walnuts to feed the pickers – the other half of the Sparacino family arrives from Corleone: uncle Vicé, aunt Anna, Vita, Giuseppe, Anna Maria and their little ones, Vito and Vincenzo. As we all know, when we’re together we eat plenty, have fun and work more easily. The hard work feels less of a burden, and the day flies by amidst a bit of chat, a laugh and a bite of focaccia, between a “Vito, be careful!” and an “Amunì ca sta scurannu!” (translation: “Come on, let’s get a move on, it’s getting dark” – as uncle Vicé would say). For us Sparacinos, family means helping one another, each in their own way: aunt Enza and uncle Vicè are a prime example of this – they never leave their brother Piero on his own – but so is Vito, who’s always ready to lend a hand despite his incredibly strong-willed nature and being just 2 years old.
And so, this Saturday becomes a celebration: sunshine, warmth, food, love. Mum Concetta is happy, and even though she’ll be spending her birthday under the olive trees again this year, picking olives, she knows that, together with everyone else, it’s all worth it.
P.S. Thanks to Anna Maria for being a brilliant camerawoman.
