Meet Fanny Clemente, owner of Il Corno, one of the newer traders at Oxford Covered Market bringing traditional Neapolitan food and drink culture to Oxford. Fanny’s excitement for May Morning was infectious, and as a former Oxford student she brings both personal memories and fresh energy to the occasion. With a few special treats planned for the morning too, she felt like the perfect person to speak to.
May Morning is such a special part of Oxford life, what is it about May Morning that makes you keen to get up so early throw open the doors at Il Corno for all the May Day revellers?
May Day is without any doubt my favourite day in the calendar. Staff members are shocked when I tell them this since it involves waking up so early and opening the shop at 6am, but there’s just something different in the air that day, a feeling of suspension, of everyone stopping their daily routines just for once, and gathering together, that feels so special. And then the music, the people dancing and singing, savouring a moment of true glee and doing so regardless of age differences or cultures. If I had to pin it down I’d say May Day is about bringing together people who would probably never cross each other’s lives. It’s magical. I just love it.
You studied in Oxford, so do you have any favourite memories of May Morning from your student days?
I didn’t take part in many of the University’s traditions, mainly because I studied there at a postgraduate level, but I do remember attending May Day with some friends. And I distinctively remember leaving home at 5am and walking towards Magdalen Tower from North Oxford with so many other people, all eager to get there and filled with hope and anticipation and excitement. That mix of feelings I experienced while walking over to Magdalen bridge was so special and hard to express. It is my favourite memory of May Day and the reason why every year I look forward to those very special hours, searching for and always finding that special mix of feelings.
You often celebrate Neapolitan culture through the food and events you host at Il Corno. Do you see any similarities between Oxford’s May Morning spirit and the traditions you know from Italy?
Definitely. It goes back to that magical ability of bringing people together I was mentioning before. In Italy we have so many festivities that do that. Of course in Naples we have the feast of San Gennaro on the 19th of September which gathers people from all over the city, as well as curious tourists, to witness the miracle of the blood of Naples’s patron saint being liquefied. But you don’t have to believe in the miracle to be part of that special day. It’s more than a religious festivity, it’s part of the DNA of Neapolitan culture and it allows us to take a moment of respite, stop our daily hustles, and focus on something different, bigger than us, and be together. And I think May Day is in this similar to San Gennaro’s feast. It allows us to stop our crazy life, take a break, think and act differently, respond to the call of music and dancing, be in the moment.
Are you planning anything special — whether that’s a promotion, new menu item or something else to mark the occasion?
Absolutely! In occasion of this year’s May Day we are launching a new item in our menu called the “caffè corretto”, a traditional custom in Italian bars whereby your espresso (for us caffè means espresso!) is “corrected”, amended, so to speak, with a splash of sambuca or brandy. We thought May Day was the perfect occasion to introduce this new item for people who’ll want – and probably need! – an extra caffeine kick but with something special. Precisely in the spirit to do things differently for one day. Espresso, but with a twist!
We hope hearing from Fanny and her love of May Morning brought the spirit of May Morning alive for you as much as it did for us. If you weren’t sure about going, maybe you’ve been persuaded. If you do, make sure to pay a visit to Il Corno and say hello to Fanny and her team!