Italian Traditions

[Joanna Leone]

Hi everyone,

I would love to hear about some of the ways that you carry on the Italian traditions in your life, such as holiday traditions, cooking, leisure activities, or music, etc.. I would love to hear! I am always interested in hearing stories that you might want to share about your family, friends, or things that you continue to carry on from your parents, grandparents, or greatgrandparents!

[janmarie]

joanna-i contacted someone i didn't know to contact me on my e-mail-this great computer technology wouldn't do nothing-anyway,so much to say-honest to God, well, every sunday when iwas a kid we'd go to my grandmothers' house to have fried eggplant, spaghetti and meatballs----her name was rosalie tusa, married harry monroe--pasquale tusa was her dad-left scicily, my grandmother rosalie was born in 1898--anyway, i'm from new orleans originally,--truly proud of my heritage--i'm single, but my real name-lol-before marriage-janmarie monroe---here in the states w/curly long black hair, olive complexion---asks if i'm mixed--how rude--i either walk away or say, you figure it out-------so---you're in CT--jeez--my e-mail is [e-mail]---funny, back when Mass was latin, fr melancon baptized me as joann, being female because mother and daddy said jan, and that's what to them i was going to go by, and to him it was male---so anyway, they were very young--i love this discussion--please e-mail me--that poor guy i contacted-who doesn't know me from adam---anyway-i've said enought--gratsi--janmarie

[Joanna Leone]

Hello JanMarie!

Ahhh, fried eggplant! There is nothing like fried eggplant with marinara sauce. Meatballs with those delicious eggs, breadcrumbs, and basil! We used olive oil from Italy to brown the meatballs. Sometimes my mother makes marinated eggplant. Do you carry on these traditions? Have you kept the recipes? Did you travel to Sicily? If so, how did you like it? Sundays were and always will be special at my house. Sometimes we fry zucchini, too!. Do you live in Connecticut? Wow, I remember some of the masses being in Latin, too!

[janmarie]

joanna, hope you got my message and e-mail-gratsi-janmarie

[Joanna Leone]

Hi again Jan,

Do you carry on some of the holiday traditions, too? If so what are they? We still make boccola and calamari on Christmas eve, and listen to the songs from Naples.

[Joanna Leone]

Hi Jan,

How have you been?

[nancy miracle]

Marilyn Monroe, aka Nancy Cusumano was an Italian American. This too seems to be an Italian American tradition. Very private people, and of course the time which she was famous was completely differant, but not that so much as the
way the Italian Americans are. They are naturally insular, from my experience, it is an old school way of being, more than likely to protect themselves as the prejudice against Italian Americans was so widespread especially after world war two and before. anyway, twas a tradition, and is still going on, they are not opened people.

[c distin]

I think Madonna, the singer is Italian.

[Joanna Leone]

Hi Marilyn (aka Nancy)

You have brought up a very good point about Italian Americans. I agree that Italians and Italian Americans protect themselves as they experienced alot of prejudice when they came to America. For instance, as you probably already know, it was difficult for some Italians to find rent as some landlords did not want to rent houses or apartments to Italians. Also, it was difficult for Italians to find work at first due to prejudice. Many Italians endured alot of racial slurs and were insulted by many. Based on these challenges as well as the challenges endured during and after World War II,
many Italians and Italian Americans are protective. It is their nature. But, during my travels through Italy and as I met
many other Italians and Italian Americans here in the states, I have noticed that many of them are open, warm, and
friendly. They bring their protective shield down and have invited me into their homes during my travels. They
are not always protective, but they let their protective wall down when they are comfortable with you and if they
see there is some common bond with the other person.

You brought up great points and you are correct, but I just want to mention that sometimes Italians and Italian
Americans wear their heart on their sleeve and are very giving and open people without the protective nature.

I am so glad that you replied to me and you brought up a great point. I hope to chat with you more!

[C. Kay Larson]

Ladies,

I just joined this discussion group and so this is my first entry.

I agree that keeping up family, especially cooking, traditions is very important. I inherited about 6 what I call "heirloom" recipes from my mother who was from the Midwest, farm country, including a Kentucky fried chicken one (one of my ggmother's lines). But I heard of an event recently that you all might want to keep in mind. A life style columnist for the NY Times died some time ago and he apparently was a very good cook. So at his funeral, family or friends printed his 4 favorite recipes on the memorial program to share with everyone. Great idea! But we'll always remember our favorites from childhood: foods, books, songs, animals, etc. So anything you impress a child with will stay with him or her for the rest of their lives.

With that said, the main reason I"m writing is to let you know of the book my colleague/boss Russell P. Trocano and I recently published: _Leaving Santa Croce: The History of Maine Evergreen Nursery and the Costa Family in America, 1901-2008_. Unlike other immigration stories it ties together the horticultural and historical customs established by the Dutch in Bergen County, NJ to the success of the Costa family in their nursery business. This year the Dutch are celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's sail. They were the first landscapers in America and Sicily had very strong floral traditions, too. So this is a nice, short history that relates an authentic tale of how this family became very successful in America, carrying on prior and their own cultural traditions. For those interested, copies can be obtained from John Bill by writing him at [e-mail].

I look forward to keeping up periodically with your discussions.

C. Kay Larson, MBA, independent historian/author

[nancy miracle]

very interesting and i will pass along this information.

[c distin]

My grandma used to make gnocchi and sauce at Christmas plus those yummy honey cookies but I am not sure what you call them. Just knowing and speaking Italian would also keep up the tradition. Wearing black for a year after a close loved one dies was another tradition my grandma used to keep. We kids were not raised Catholic but going to church on Saturday night was tradition. Chestnuts in the late fall, early winter, a tradition I like to keep. Broccholi rabe and fava beans, also yummy favorites. Italian olives. Italian store. Breadsticks. All things I recall as a young girl that my dad and grandma used to make the traditions. Volare -- the song. The Rat Pack - Frankie, et al. My memories.....

[Joanna Leone]

There is nothing better than the Rat Pack and Frankie! They are my favorites! Yes, costagna..or chestnuts in the late fall are the best....those green olives in the piazza are calling my name!!!!! How about Lupini beans???where did you grow up? Are you from the Northeast? I grew up in Connecticut and I will always remember the Claudio Villa album, lupini beans and the sausage that my aunt and uncle hung ont he ceiling of their basement!!