Storie Sotto Le Stelle Podcast

Where has Santa Claus gone?Once upon a time there was Santa Claus's Village — but Santa Claus wasn't there. He had been missing for days and days… actually for months. Who would prepare and deliver gifts to the children as they did every year?That part of the North Pole which was usually very busy had become strangely silent — not an Elf could be seen around, no sounds of bells, the sleighs were covered in snow and all the reindeer dozed about confused.If you looked into his house you couldn't see a trace of life. The fireplace cold, the rocking chair covered in cobwebs, an empty cup on the wooden table and a candle stub burnt out long ago.Many were the rumours that had spread about Santa Claus's absence. Some said he was on another planet in a far, far away galaxy, some on the Moon, some on the vast oceans — and someone even said he had opened a bakery in Buenos Aires.The mystery was thick. Nobody could make sense of it and everything was silent and still.Meanwhile, many miles away, in the Southern Seas, a group of seagulls who spent their days fluttering above the bay spotted a small sailing boat in the distance. There was only one sailor on board who was hoisting the main sail up the creaking mast.The eldest seagull couldn't believe his eyes. He did a couple of acrobatics in the air, pulled out his spyglass, looked more carefully and said: "But I know him! That sailor comes from distant lands!"Turning to the other seagulls he told them: "One day, during one of my long journeys, I lost my way and found myself on the frozen rooftops of a village at the North Pole. I landed right on the house of that long-bearded man you see on the boat. He heard me calling for help, came to fetch me, fed me and told me about his work. I think this meeting has something magical about it. Our next adventure is about to begin."Gliding down, they headed towards the boat and all landed on the bow. The seagull and the sailor greeted each other like old friends.Shortly after, a group of dolphins arrived near the sailing boat, curious. They swam in circles around the boat, jumping out of the water.The youngest dolphin noticed something strange. "Look! Wood shavings are coming out of the hold and floating! And you can see little lights below deck."The long-bearded sailor smiled. "Come," he said in a warm voice, "I'll show you what I've done all these months."He opened the hatch to the hold and inside, by the light of two swaying lanterns, you could see a floating workshop full of wonders. With a sharp plane he had worked pieces of wood recovered from the sea, transforming them into toys — and he had done the same with shells, coconuts, cork stoppers, glass bottles, starfish and golden threads that had arrived from who knows where."I travelled to learn new ways of bringing joy," the sailor explained. "But there's so much work to do and Christmas is coming. Would you help me finish?"And so they all set to work together. The dolphins brought special shells from the bottom of the sea. The seagulls gathered coloured feathers. The objects transformed into gifts were placed in large canvas sacks.The days passed quickly.On the first of December the captain, wearing his red warm hat with his pipe in his mouth, looked at the starry sky and said: "It's time to leave."The dolphins lifted the sailing boat until it rose above the waves. The sails filled with wind and it took flight, whilst the flock of seagulls guided it through the clouds following dreams. Together they continued the journey heading north, flying through the endless blue.Night fell quickly and in the sky full of stars one shone brighter than all the others. It was the North Star which with its light accompanied the sailing boat's descent to earth.By magic, as it approached the village, the sailing boat transformed into a sleigh loaded with gifts. The presents built in the hold arrived in the workshop to be delivered together with all the other parcels.When it landed on the roof of his house, a tinkling of bells was heard in the distance. The Elves looked out of their doors and shouted: "It's him! It's him! It's Santa Claus! He's back!"The red-nosed reindeer woke up suddenly and began polishing the sleighs, decorating them with bows and coloured pine cones.Life in the village awakened all at once. The tree branches shook as if they were being tickled. A group of penguins, who had arrived at the North Pole to lend a hand, sliding on the ice sheets at great speed, ended up inside snowdrifts and came out like bouncing balls.“You are so funny! We'll hang you on the Christmas tree as decorations!" the village animals shouted.But the penguins, freeing themselves from the snow, ran towards Santa Claus's house to help with the preparations.In the village absolutely everyone got moving. The reindeer rushed to the Post Office and filled the sacks with letters, then carried them to the workshop. The Elves with the help of the penguins were ready for work.That morning, when the bells rang out in celebration, foxes, squirrels, hares and bears came running from every corner of the forest to celebrate Santa Claus's return. There was so much to do for the joy of all the children in the world.The air smelt of fir trees and homemade biscuits. The Christmas trees sparkled with icicles like stars. The animals chased each other happily with their noses turned upwards.The preparations began in earnest. Throughout the month of December they worked together — saws that sang, hammers that played, coloured paper that flew. Santa Claus told stories of his journey whilst he hammered and sanded.And when the 24th of December arrived, everything was ready. The presents were loaded onto the sleigh and Santa Claus set off on his most important journey.The seagulls flew away towards new horizons, leaving their footprints on the snowy rooftops.Since that Christmas it is said that Santa Claus never left the North Pole again."What if it was only a tale? Is it true, or not? The final decision is yours!" — Written by Lucia & Marco CiappelliFor the Italian version and many more stories to read and listen to: https://www.storiesottolestelle.com Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You’ll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dov'è andato Babbo Natale?C'era una volta il Villaggio di Babbo Natale — ma Babbo Natale non c'era. Era ormai sparito da giorni e giorni… anzi da mesi. Chi avrebbe preparato e consegnato i doni ai bambini come ogni anno?Quella parte del Polo Nord che di solito era molto movimentata, era diventata stranamente silenziosa — non si vedeva un Elfo in giro, niente suoni di campanelli, le slitte erano coperte di neve e tutte le renne sonnecchiavano confuse.Se guardavi nella sua casa non vedevi una traccia di vita. Il caminetto spento, la sedia a dondolo con le ragnatele, una tazza vuota sul tavolo di legno e un mozzicone di candela consumato da troppo tempo.Tante erano le voci che si erano sparse riguardo all'assenza di Babbo Natale. C'era chi diceva che si trovasse su un altro pianeta in una galassia lontana lontana, chi sulla Luna, chi sugli oceani immensi — e addirittura qualcuno diceva che aveva aperto una pasticceria a Buenos Aires.Il mistero era fitto. Nessuno se ne faceva una ragione e tutto era silenzioso e immobile.Nel frattempo, a molti chilometri di distanza, nei Mari del Sud, un gruppo di gabbiani che passavano le giornate a svolazzare sopra la baia avvistarono in lontananza un piccolo veliero. C'era solo un marinaio a bordo che stava issando sull'albero maestro scricchiolante la vela principale.Il gabbiano più anziano non poteva credere ai suoi occhi. Fece un paio di acrobazie nell'aria, tirò fuori il suo cannocchiale, guardò meglio e disse: "Ma io quello lo conosco! Quel marinaio viene da terre lontane!"Rivolgendosi agli altri gabbiani raccontò: "Un giorno, durante uno dei miei lunghi viaggi, persi la rotta e mi ritrovai sui tetti ghiacciati di un villaggio al Polo Nord. Atterrai proprio sulla casa di quell'uomo dalla lunga barba che vedete sulla barca. Lui mi sentì chiedere aiuto, venne a prendermi, mi nutrì e mi raccontò del suo lavoro. Secondo me questo incontro ha qualcosa di magico. La nostra prossima avventura sta per cominciare."Planando, si diressero verso la barca e atterrarono tutti sulla prua. Il gabbiano e il marinaio si salutarono come vecchi amici.Poco dopo, un gruppo di delfini arrivò vicino al veliero incuriositi. Nuotavano in cerchio intorno alla barca, saltando fuori dall'acqua.Il più giovane dei delfini notò qualcosa di strano. "Guardate! Dalla stiva escono trucioli di legno che galleggiano! E si vedono delle lucine sotto coperta."Il marinaio dalla lunga barba sorrise. "Venite," disse con voce calda, "vi mostro cosa ho fatto in tutti questi mesi."Aprì il portello della stiva e dentro, alla luce di due lanterne dondolanti, si vedeva un laboratorio galleggiante pieno di meraviglie. Con una pialla ben affilata aveva lavorato pezzi di legno recuperati in mare trasformandoli in giocattoli — e così aveva fatto anche con conchiglie, noci di cocco, tappi di sughero, bottiglie di vetro, stelle marine e fili dorati arrivati da chissà dove."Ho viaggiato per imparare nuovi modi di portare gioia," spiegò il marinaio. "Ma il lavoro è tanto e il Natale si avvicina. Mi aiutereste a finire?"E così tutti insieme si misero all'opera. I delfini portavano dal fondo del mare conchiglie speciali. I gabbiani raccoglievano piume colorate. Gli oggetti trasformati in doni furono messi in grossi sacchi di tela.I giorni passarono veloci.Il primo di Dicembre il capitano, indossato il suo rosso e caldo cappello e con la pipa in bocca, guardò il cielo stellato e disse: "È tempo di partire."I delfini sollevarono il veliero finché si alzò sopra le onde. Le vele si gonfiarono al vento e prese il volo, mentre lo stormo di gabbiani lo guidò tra le nuvole seguendo i sogni. Insieme continuarono il viaggio dirigendosi verso nord, volando nell'azzurro infinito.La notte arrivò veloce e nel cielo pieno di stelle una brillava più di tutte. Era la stella polare che con la sua luce accompagnava la discesa del veliero sulla terra.Per magia, nell'avvicinarsi al villaggio, il veliero si trasformò in una slitta super carica di doni. I regali costruiti nella stiva arrivarono nel laboratorio per essere consegnati insieme a tutti gli altri pacchetti.Quando atterrò sul tetto della sua casa, un tintinnio di campanelli si sentì in lontananza. Gli Elfi si affacciarono sulle porte e gridarono: "È lui! È lui! È Babbo Natale! È tornato!"Le renne dal naso rosso si svegliarono di colpo e cominciarono a lucidare le slitte, addobbandole di fiocchi e pigne colorate.La vita nel villaggio si risvegliò tutta insieme. I rami degli alberi si scuotevano come se avessero il solletico. Un gruppo di pinguini, approdati al Polo Nord per dare una mano, scivolando sulle lastre di ghiaccio a grande velocità, finirono dentro cumuli di neve e uscirono fuori come palle che rimbalzavano.“Che simpatici! Vi attaccheremo all'albero di Natale come decoro!" gridavano gli animali del villaggio.Ma i pinguini, liberandosi dalla neve, corsero verso la casa di Babbo Natale per aiutare nei preparativi.Al villaggio proprio tutti si misero in movimento. Le renne corsero all'Ufficio Postale e riempiti i sacchi di letterine, le portarono nel laboratorio. Gli Elfi con l'aiuto dei pinguini erano pronti per il lavoro.Quella mattina, quando le campane suonarono a festa, volpi, scoiattoli, lepri e orsi accorsero da ogni angolo della foresta per festeggiare il ritorno di Babbo Natale. C'era tanto da fare per la gioia di tutti i bambini del mondo.L'aria profumava d'abete e di dolcetti. Gli alberi di Natale scintillavano di ghiaccioli come stelle. Gli animali si rincorrevano felici con il naso girato verso l'alto.I preparativi cominciarono in grande lena. Per tutto il mese di dicembre lavorarono insieme — seghe che cantavano, martelli che suonavano, carta colorata che volava. Babbo Natale raccontava le storie del suo viaggio mentre inchiodava e levigava.E quando arrivò il 24 dicembre, tutto era pronto. I regali furono caricati sulla slitta e Babbo Natale partì per il suo viaggio più importante.I gabbiani volarono via verso nuovi orizzonti, lasciando le loro impronte sui tetti innevati.Da quel Natale si racconta che Babbo Natale non sia mai più andato via dal Polo Nord."E se fosse stata solo una favola? Sarà vero, o no? A voi la decisione finale!" — Scritta da Lucia & Marco CiappelliPer la versione in inglese e tante altre storie da leggere e ascoltare: https://www.storiesottolestelle.com Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You’ll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

THE SEASONS IN A BREATHAutumn appeared at the window and looked around— it was November."The leaves are yellow and red.The swallows fly away in flocks over the rooftops.The crisp air smells of roasted chestnuts and burning wood.I like it this way,"Autumn exclaimed.Winter opened the door and looked around— it was January."The snow and the freezing wind.In the woods, mistletoe on branches beneath a blanket of ice.The marmot sleeps in her covered den, dreaming of the stars.How lovely it is to be warm and cozy!"Winter exclaimed.Spring stepped out onto the terrace and looked around— it was April."The flowers bloom and the birds chirp, returning to their nests.With the mild temperature, joyful life vibrates in the air.How wonderful!"Spring exclaimed.Summer went into the garden and looked around— it was July.A cat rests in the shade of a pine tree.The air smells of cut grass and ripe fruit.The butterflies dance carefree to the song of the cicadas.The sun makes me smile!"Summer exclaimed.The months pass and the year spins at great speed,but they will always bring something beautiful. Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You’ll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LE STAGIONI IN UN SOFFIOL'Autunno si affacciò alla finestra e si guardò intorno— era Novembre."Le foglie sono gialle e rosse.Le rondini volano via in gruppi sopra i tetti.L'aria fresca profuma di caldarroste e di legna bruciata.A me piace così.”Esclamò l'Autunno.L'Inverno aprì la porta e si guardò intorno— era Gennaio."La neve e il vento gelido.Nel bosco, il vischio sui rami sotto un mantello di ghiaccio.La marmotta dorme nella sua tana coperta, sognando le stelle.Ma che bello se al calduccio sto.”Esclamò l'Inverno.La Primavera uscì sul terrazzo e si guardò intorno— era Aprile."I fiori sbocciano e gli uccelli cinguettano tornando ai loro nidi.Con la temperatura mite la vita gioiosa vibra nell'aria.Che meraviglia.”Esclamò la Primavera.L'Estate andò in giardino e si guardò intorno— era Luglio.Un gatto riposa all'ombra di un pino.L'aria profuma di erba tagliata e di frutta matura.Le farfalle danzano spensierate al canto delle cicale.Il sole sorridere mi fa.”Esclamò l'Estate.Passano i mesi e gira l'anno a gran velocità,ma sempre qualcosa di bello porteranno. Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You’ll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Halloween over Florence: THE MARKET OF GHOSTSSeverino lived in the bell tower on the hill — the one next to the ancient Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.Every evening, at sunset, he would lock the gate at the base of the entrance stairway and before climbing back up, he would pause to watch Florence color itself amber.And so he did today as well. The tourists had left. Time stopped and silence became sacred again.Through the rusted bars the city stood there motionless — perhaps since forever; with its red roofs, marble facades and the Arno flowing between its stones like a glittering silver ribbon.Domes and towers trembling with light, almost suspended in the air, as if everything and everyone were holding their breath waiting for twilight — and for the night that would cover it with shadows, stars and dreams.One more glance, then he turned on his transistor radio that he had found a few years ago and the notes of Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' filled the autumn evening.Silence may be sacred for the monks, but for Severino music was more so. Seven, his raven, didn't need to be called and at the first notes launched himself from the cypresses of the cemetery above, circled in front of the imposing facade of the Basilica and suddenly glided down along the stairway, to land gently on his left shoulder."Hey Seven, had a good day?""Yes. Could have been worse — Let's settle for that."At which, Severino smiled, turned up the radio's volume and began climbing resolutely toward le Porte del Cielo, while Jazz music echoed among the ancient stones.Nine years ago, on this same day in the month of October, the Olivetan monks residing in the Abbey found a child on the steps of the Basilica.He was there, wrapped in fog, silent as the night, eyes curious as the wind, without name and without past. They called him Severino — I don't know why — and he grew up among prayers and silences. He played in ancient rooms and discovered his world, surrounded by books, tombs, art and mysteries never revealed. At night a raven and a black cat accompanied him, illuminated by the moon, in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, wandering among imposing crypts and motionless statues that whispered memories and mysteries.But on Halloween nights the whispers transform into screams and endless laments. Secrets manifest themselves, legends become reality, and dreams disguised as nightmares knock on doors lit by candles. And that full moon night was precisely this night: October 31st — and remember, whether you believe in spirits or not, nothing changes: the ghosts will come.And Severino was up there, right there waiting for them to arrive. Leaning out the highest window of the bell tower, calm, looking at Florence from above. While Thelonious Monk's 'Round Midnight' played on his radio, he watched — tapping time with one foot and waited.At the second of the twelve strokes of the midnight bells, something began to happen. On the Arno formed a dense fog that pulsed with spectral green. It began to rise and slide slow but inexorable over the bridges like fingers of cold hands of impatient ghosts. It slid over the Ponte Vecchio and rolled through the streets of Oltrarno until reaching San Niccolò, where it climbed up the hill swallowing everything it found in its path.When it reached the gate of San Miniato, it slipped through the bars and climbed up the stairs until it covered, like a high luminous tide, the entire square in front of the church. It climbed up the marble facade and wrapped also the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, covering the entire hill in a cloak of mystery. Then slowly, as if by enchantment, the fog began to dissolve rising toward the sky and when the last cloud melted into the night air, the square was no longer empty.Small jack-o'-lanterns with flickering lights floated in the air smiling with teeth of fire. Black candles sprouted from nowhere, illuminating spectral stalls full of everything and nothing. Bats that seemed made of paper but were alive fluttered among the lights with wings of black velvet, while autumn leaves danced without wind, sparkling with gold and copper. Pumpkins of every shape filled the stands, some carved with funny faces, others covered with silver spiderwebs that shone like threads of moon. Witch hats swirled in the air like flying umbrellas rotating slow on themselves. Roasted chestnuts perfumed the air with cinnamon and mystery, while small dancing skeletons tinkled like ice bells.And finally in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, the Portal opened. Like every Halloween, for centuries, spirits from all over the world congregated in Florence for their annual meeting. A spectral river of ghosts poured into the square, each heading toward their own stall, and each with their impossible merchandise to sell or trade. The spirits had arrived and Severino observed them from above. A carnival of other worlds, made of sounds, colors and unimaginable stories.The deserted square had transformed into the Market of Ghosts. Stalls kept materializing from nowhere, carved and glowing pumpkins told each other stories of Halloweens past, present and future laughing malicious among the perfumes of lost memories, past centuries, tomorrow's candles and fallen stardust. The sky above the Tuscan hills and above Florence was full of ghosts arriving from everywhere to search for the unfindable. But no human eye could see this spectacle. No one except Severino, who descended from the tower enchanted by that spectacle and immersed himself in the crowd pulsating with otherworldly life. Seven circled above him observing with attentive eyes and cawing a bit nervous. Some ghosts looked at him with curiosity and recognized him. Someone greeted him and many others whispered his name in forgotten languages."There he is," murmured a witch from Prague."The child of time," sighed a Norman knight."He's returned, I told you so." laughed a Caribbean pirate.But Severino paid them no attention because there were ghosts selling: dreams of sleeping dragons, laughter of northern gnomes, tears of mermaids in love, the last breath of dinosaurs, shadows of unicorns. And even fears from past Halloweens — two for the price of one, but only for tonight. The ghost of a pirate who died during a boarding gone not so well shouted: "Storm bottles! Lightning in jars!" A witch from Salem whispered: "Love potions that last three lifetimes…" A medieval knight showed swords that cut fear, A Chinese spirit waved kites that fly into the past.The spectral crowd grew and thickened, laughed and bargained, while Severino walked amazed and fascinated among the impossible stalls of the Halloween Market. Seven cawed restless from above and Eleven, the black cat with orange eyes, jumped from one tent to another not losing sight of a single movement of Severino and the hundreds of souls circling around him.A ghost monk from an era that never existed saw him and smiled at him from behind a stall full of ancient radios adorned with mysterious symbols. Severino approached, fascinated."How wonderful! Do they all work?""Oh yes, certainly" replied the monk. "These transmit on the waves of past, present, and future time. But you don't need to buy one."The other ghosts stopped. They ceased selling, buying and bartering. They looked at Severino with respect and listened to what the collector of frequencies told him."The transistor radio you already have is more special than you think. But to discover its true secrets, you'll have to search in the ancient crypts where everything began."And suddenly the first lights of dawn began to illuminate the sky behind San Miniato with pink. In rush and hurry the ghosts said goodbye flying away in the wind. "Until next Halloween!" They told each other crossing in the sky. The stalls vanished. Lanterns and candles went out. The Market of Ghosts dissolved like a dream.Severino found himself alone in the empty square, Seven on his shoulder and Eleven sitting on the low wallLooking at Florence illuminating itself in the day of All Saints. He observed his old radio with new eyes and from the ancient crypts of San Miniato, something seemed to call him. He turned it on, turned up the volume and descended the stairway in time to Chet Baker's version of 'Autumn Leaves'.It was time to throw open the gate of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.___________________We will continue this story.... For now a Happy Halloween to all of you, may you always believe in magic!Story written by Marco Ciappelli for "Stories Under The Stars" Halloween 2025___________________Listen to Severino's Playlist for the songs that accompany this story and subscribe to discover new music with every adventure. 🎺✨Link: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/severinos-playlist-storie-sotto-le-stelle/pl.u-b3b8KZDu2a3Xz  Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You’ll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.