L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D ear Readers, December co- mes from the Latin word de- cem "ten," be- cause this was the tenth month of the early Roman Calen- dar. December is also the month when, in years past, I al- ways included a few lyrics to Italian Christmas carols like "Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle" (You Come Down from the Stars) or, for your end of year Italian American Group parties, to some of my Italian 50s favorites like Volare, Guaglione and Lazzarella so you and your friends could sing-along. But this year, cari lettori, with the surging pandemic, corona- virus case numbers on the rise and people wisely holding back on travel and holiday parties, sing-along lyrics will not be needed. *** Christmas, or Natale as it is known in Italy, reflects on nativity and on December 25 as the feast of Christ's natal day, hence the Italian word Natale. When our parents and grandparents first came to the U S A , t h e y c e l e b r a t e d Christmas as a time for family g a t h e r i n g , a t i m e t o g r e e t f r i e n d s a n d o f f e r s p e c i a l foods. It is only when they became more "Americanized," via the friendly but persistent persuasion of their American born children, that they reluc- tantly embraced the merry extravaganza of faked-good- will and gift giving concept of Christmas, touted to keep the cash register bells ringing and the church bells low profile. Bells are symbols of the announcement of the birth of Christ. In medieval times, on Christmas Eve, church bells tolled as they did for the dead. This was to warn the devil of the imminent birth of Jesus. At the stroke of midnight , a f t e r a n h o u r o f o m i n o u s tolling, the bells rang joyously. C a n d l e s a n d t h e i r light represent the "light of t h e w o r l d . " I n a g e s p a s t , torches, lamps and fires were used to celebrate joyous occa- s i o n s a n d f e s t i v a l s . M a n y y e a r s a g o , c a n d l e s w e r e notched and used to tell time. E v e r g r e e n s h a v e b e e n associated with Christmas for centuries. Before Christianity, pagan people considered ever- green trees as a sign that win- ter would end and warmth would return to the Earth. Evergreens have been decora- ted as Christmas trees since the sixteenth century, with candles representing stars. St. Francis of Assisi is said to have built the first m a n g e r s c e n e m o r e t h a n seven hundred years ago and manger scene replicas are still e n j o y e d t o d a y . O n e o f h i s prayers is still meaningful today (perhaps even more so, in these turbulent days) and during the Christmas season and upcoming New Year, a time for new resolutions, I think we should all take the message to heart and try to incorporate some of the ideas it imparts into our daily lives. For example: "Lord, make me an instrument of peace," can be translated to an avoidance of center-digit displays on the freeway, when another driver cuts you off — or otherwise contributes to your displea- sure— thereby reducing "road rage" one person at a time. Santa Claus was brought to America by Dutch settlers. He was then pictured as a pale bishop in ancient robes and called Saint Nicholas, after a fourth century Christian who was known for his generosity in giving to the poor, especial- l y t o c h i l d r e n . I n C l e m e n t Moore's poem about the night before Christmas, St. Nicholas evolved into a plump, jolly old man with a sleigh and eight reindeer. Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany, was celebrated in England with a great feast to make the end of the holiday season. In earlier times in the I t a l i a n c o u n t r y s i d e , bonfires were kindled, and amid dancing around them, predictions for good or bad weather made for the coming year according to the direc- Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. tions in which the smoke blew. In Rome, it is the last chance to splurge at Piazza Navona before the stalls and candy makers close up and leave for another year. The end of festi- vities in Italy is supposed to take place on January 6th, the day of the Befana. The little o l d w o m a n k n o w n a s l a B e f a n a w a s s w e e p i n g h e r house when the Three Kings came by looking for the Christ Child to present their gifts to. W h e n s h e w a s a s k e d t o accompany them, she said she was too busy with her sweep- ing. Later, when she finished, she set out to find the Child but lost her way and is still searching. Each year, it's said, she passes through Italy, leav- ing pretty gifts for children who are good and bits of char- c o a l f o r t h e n a u g h t y . Hispanics in the United States still exchange gifts on this Day of the Three Kings in memory of the Magi, who bore presents to Christ. Books for Bambini that you can enjoy yourself first, by Tomie De Paola: The Legend of Old Befana Tony's Bread (Panettone) M e r r y C h r i s t m a s S t r e g a Nona Country Angel Christmas Francis the Poor Man of Assisi The Clown of God ITALIAN TELEVISION KSCI CANALE 18. Presentano: Maria Cristina Heller e Franco Brescia Teleitalia in onda tutte le Domeniche alle ore 13 o 1:00pm Siamo collegati con i satelliti DISHNET e DIRECTV, SPECTRUM E TUTTI I CAVI DEL SUD CALIFORNIA Per Informazioni e Pubblicita` telefonate a (818) 260-9318 Cell: (818) 288-2518

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