L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D ear Readers, just in time for your end- o f - y e a r p a r - t i e s , h e r e comes the lyrics of one of I t a l y ' s 1 9 5 0 s favorites, Volare, so you, or any of your senior citizens' relatives and friends, can sing along, or at least reminisce! *** The best-known Italian song in Italy and abroad, after Domenico Modugno sang it at the Sanremo's Fes- t i v a l d e l l a C a n z o n e Italiana in 1958, was Nel blu dipinto di blu, commonly known as Volare: Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito Volare oh, oh Cantare oh, oh Nel blu dipinto di blu Felice di stare lassù E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole Ed ancora più su M e n t r e i l m o n d o p i a n piano spariva lontano lag- giù Una musica dolce suona- va soltanto per me Volare oh, oh Cantare oh, oh Nel blu dipinto di blu Felice di stare lassù Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscon perché Quando tramonta la luna li porta con sé Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli C h e s o n o b l u c o m e u n cielo trapunto di stelle Volare oh, oh Cantare oh, oh Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu Felice di stare quaggiù E continuo a volare felice più in alto del sole Ed ancora più su M e n t r e i l m o n d o p i a n piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me Volare oh, oh Cantare oh, oh Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu Felice di stare quaggiù Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu Felice di stare quaggiù Con te! F l y i n g ( t r a n s l a t e d b y Francesco Ciabattoni) I think a dream like this will never come back: I painted my hands and face blue then I was suddenly seized by the wind and began to fly in the infinite sky Fly, oh oh! Sing, oh, oh, oh, oh! in the blue-painted blue sky, so happy to be up there And I flew, I flew happily higher up than the sun, and higher yet, w h i l e t h e w o r l d s l o w l y faded away down there, a sweet music was playing just for me… Fly, oh oh! Sing, oh, oh, oh, oh! in the blue-painted blue sky, so happy to be up there But every dream vanishes at dawn because when the moon sets she takes them away with her. But I keep dreaming in your beautiful eyes, that are blue like a star- spangled sky. Fly, oh oh! Sing, oh, oh, oh, oh! in the blue-painted blue sky, so happy to be up there And I flew on, so happy higher up than the sun, and higher yet, w h i l e t h e w o r l d s l o w l y faded away in your blue eyes your voice is a sweet music that plays for me Fly, oh oh! Sing, oh, oh, oh, oh! in the blue-painted blue sky, so happy to be up there In the blue of your blue eyes, so happy to be down there, with you! *** N e w Y e a r ' s E v e o r L a Festa di San Silvestro is not a public holiday in Italy. However, celebrations on the e v e b e f o r e t h e n e w y e a r include firework displays, 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. c o n c e r t s , a n d p a r t i e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y . E v e n c o s t u m e s s u c h a s throwing your old things out of the window at midnight, representing out with the old and in with the new, still exist in southern Italy. On N e w Y e a r ' s D a y , traditional cotechino con l e n t i c c h i e , a s p i c y p o r k sausage and lentil soup, is typically served. It is believed to bring good luck to all who consume it. The lentils repre- sent good fortune, and the pork prosperity and wealth. You can omit the spicy pork sausage and be happy with just the Buona Salute in the New Year! *** On January 6th, Italians and many others celebrate the Epiphany. In Italy, they r e f e r t o i t a s L a Befana or Epifania. Befan a i s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e word Epifania, the Italian name for the religious festi- v a l o f t h e E p i p h a n y . L a Befana is a benevolent old woman with magical powers who brings gifts to children i n I t a l y o n t h e e v e o f t h e Epiphany. L a B e f a n a v i e n e d i notte (The Befana comes by night) C o n l e s c a r p e t u t t e rotte (With her shoes all tat- tered and torn) C o l v e s t i t o a l l a romana (She comes dressed the Roman way) V i v a , v i v a l a B e f a n a ! (Long life to la Befana!)

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