The month of January is traditionally considered the coldest. In fact, its last three days are believed to be the chilliest time of the year: in Italy, we call them Giorni della Merla,  or “the blackbird days,” and there are some little curious legends behind the name, which I am just about to tell you.

A small clarification first, because we need to be precise! As those among you who speak Italian probably noticed already, “merla” is a female blackbird, as opposed to her male partner, the “merlo.”