The Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation

Photos of Frank's Benefit

 Christmas: More Italian Than You Might Think

Ever notice that the traditional Christmas colors - red, white and green - are the same as those of the Italian flag? Coincidence? Maybe it's more. Did you know that Christmas really began in Italy ?

Although it's common to refer to the birth of Jesus as "the first Christmas," that’s incorrect. The holiday is a commemoration of his birth, not the event itself. The first Christmas actually took place in the year 336 - in Rome - after the Emperor Constantine approved Christian worship in the Empire.

Early Italian Christians even set Christmas' date. As was often the case then, Christian feasts were made to coincide with Pagan ones. They picked Dec. 25 because it was the feast of Mithras, god of light and truth, and came in the middle of a celebration that ran from Dec. 1 7 (feast of Saturn, god of agriculture) to Calends (New Year's Day).

Italy also introduced the most important of all Christmas artifacts, the presepio (manger scene). St. Francis of Assisi arranged for the first one in 1 223 at his hermitage in Greccio. He used live people and animals. But in the 1 700s two Neapolitans, Carlo IV, king of Southern Italy, and Gregorio Rocco, a Dominican priest, widely expanded the use of presepi by substituting figurines. Rocco put up over 400 presepi, all over Naples. Today presepi are made throughout Italy (and the world, for that matter); Naples, however, still has the most elaborate ones.

Typical Italian Christmas foods - On Christmas Eve: Capitone (large female eels); baccali (cad fish); pumpkin stuffed tortelli. On Christmas Day: Tortellini in brodo (small dumplings filled with pork and spices in a clear broth); capons stuffed with chestnuts; boiled meats with a capers sauce; zampone (leg of pork stuffed with sausage and smothered in lentils); turkey stuffed with pasta, meat, livers and giblets. Dolci (sweets): Strufoli (fried dough balls drenched in honey); frappe (fried pastry ribbons sprinkled with powered sugar); cassata (angel cake filled with frozen cream); pinocchiati (pine nut cakes); dried figs; candied almonds; chestnuts, and "fruits" and "vegetables" made of marzipan. Also, the sweet breads: Panettone (originally a specialty of Milan, now made throughout Italy); panforte (a specialty of Siena) and pandolce (a specialty of Genoa).

Italian gift-giving Practices In Italy gifts are given not only on Christmas Day but on almost any day between Dec. 6 and Jan. 6 and especially on: La festa di San Nicola (St. Nicholas' Day, Dec. 6), la festa di Santa Lucia (St. Lucy's Day, Dec. 1 3), la vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve), Natale (Christmas), la festa di Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day, Dec. 26), l'ultimo dell'anno (New Year's Eve), Capodanno (New Year's Day) and la fiesta dell'Epifania (the Epiphany or "La Befana Day," Jan. 6)

Popular Italian Christmas carols - "Gesu) bambin 1'e nato" ("Baby Jesus is born"), "Tu scendi dalle stelle" ("You came down from the stars"), "Mille cherubini in coro" ("A thousand-cherub chorus") and "La canzone di zampagnone" (The bagpipers’ carol")

Some local traditions - In Cortina d'Ampezzo: Hundreds of people ski down an Alpine peak carrying torches at midnight on Christmas Eve in the "Fiaccolate degli sciatori" ("Skiers' torchlight parade"). From a distance, the mountain looks like it is covered with fireflies.

In Bologna: The bue grasso (fat ox) procession takes place on New Year's Eve. The animal is decorated from horns to tail with flowers and ribbons. Procession ends just before midnight in Piazza San Petronio. Cannons are fired, church bells are rung, everyone lights a candle and fireworks are set off. Finally, a special lottery is held; the winner gets to keep the ox.

In Rome, Naples and several other central and southern cities: Zampognari (bagpipe-playing shepherds) come down from the hills before Christmas and play in front of Marian shrines and carpenter shops (in honor of St. Joseph).

In Rome: Cannons are fired from the Castle Sant'Angelo, near the Vatican, at sunset on Christmas eve. Atmidnight the pope says mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

Buon Natale a tutti!

Children's Books for Natale

What better gift for the Italian American child than a book about their Italian heritage! There are a variety of excellent new children's books on the market that profile Italian themes. These books can be ordered from your local bookstore. Following is a listing of recommended stories for your children or grandchildren.

* "The Language of Doves" by Rosemary Wells - immigrant Italian grandfather passes on memories of his boyhood in Italy to his Italian American granddaughter on a Brooklyn rooftop.

* "Uncle Alfredo's Zoo" by Judith Vigna - Italian American granddaughter and her grandmother travel to Italy to visit tile village where Nonna grew up.

* "The Crimson Elf: Italian Tales of Wisdom" by Michael Caduto - the author draws upon his Italian ancestrv to create these magical Italian folk tales for all ages.

* "American Too" by Elisa Bartone - set in Brooklyn’s Little Italy and based (in a true story, Italian immigrant girl makes her American dream come true.

* "Antonio's Apprenticeship: Painting a Fresco in Renaissance ltalv" by 'I'avlor Morrison - Italian life in Renaissance Florence learns the art of creating frescoes in his uncle's paint shop

* Toto In Italy" by Biddy Stevens - a young boy's adventure in Rome gives a taste of everyday Italian life and Italian words.

* " Danilo the Fruit Man" by Amy Valens - set in Sicily, this delightful tale for young children weaves Italian words and Sicilian folk-art into a magical story about life.

* "I am Italian American" bv Ruth Turk - an Italian American child talks about aspects of her heritage.

* "Fire at the Triangle Shirt Factory" bv Holly Littlefield - children's story about the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire and the Italian immigrant women who worked there. Based on a true episode in Italian American history.

* "A Student's Guide to Italian American Genealogy" by 'Terra Brockman - written for children

* "The Legend of Old Benfana,".....T'he Mvsterious Giant of Barletta," "The Clown or God," "Strega Nona’s Magic Lessons," "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring," & "Merry Christmas Strega Nonna" by Tomie DePaola - famous Italian folktales adapted for children.

* "Michael The Angel" by Laura Fischetto and Letizia Galli - humorous watercolors and this childhood tale of Michelangelo bring the Florence of his day to life.

"T'he Thread of Life", by Domenico Vittorini - These twelve old Italian tales evoke the flavor and aroma of a lively Italian countryside - gnarled olive trees, guitar music, and a grand storytelling tradition.

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Il Giornaletto is a newsletter of the Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation

Address: 1950 Old Tustin Avenue, Santa Ana, Ca 92705

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