L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS preparation for Christmas rather than material indul- g e n c e . A f t e r w a r d , t h e S u Truncu 'e Xena, a Christ- mas log, is lit in the hearth and burns throughout the h o l i d a y s e a s o n . L i k e t h e Ceppo, this tradition traces back to fire rituals embodying warmth and protection dur- ing the colder months, with the flickering flames of the log mirroring the light and hope that Christmas brings to the community. At the stroke of midnight, Sardinians gath- er for Sa Miss'e Puddu, the R o o s t e r ' s M a s s , a u n i q u e Midnight Mass heralded by the crowing of a rooster, an ancient symbol of renewal and the arrival of light. Sere- ne, candlelit churches pro- vide a deeply spiritual atmos- p h e r e , w i t h h y m n s a n d p r a y e r s r e i n f o r c i n g t h e sacredness of the occasion. Families dress in their finest attire to attend this Mass, which remains one of Sar- d i n i a ' s m o s t c h e r i s h e d Christmas traditions. Farther south, the zam- pognari, or bagpipers, bring the sounds of the Christmas s e a s o n t o t h e r e g i o n s o f Abruzzo and Sicily. Tradi- tionally shepherds, the zam- pognari descend from the m o u n t a i n s t o p e r f o r m i n t o w n s a n d v i l l a g e s , t h e i r haunting melodies filling the air with festive cheer. The zampogna, a bagpipe craft- ed from goat or sheep hides, a n d t h e c i a r a m e l l a , a woodwind instrument, are central to their performances. This tradition, which dates back to the Middle Ages, is believed to honor the shep- herds who were among the first to witness the birth of Christ. Key in the zampogna- ri's seasonal repertoire is I t a l y ' s m o s t w e l l - k n o w n Christmas song, Tu Scendi dalle Stelle, a favorite in the country, with a deep meaning for the faithful. In Sicily, just like in many o t h e r a r e a s o f I t a l y , t h e Christmas story takes on a vivid form with the Presepi Viventi, or living Nativity scenes.Towns like Custona- ci transform into representa- tions of Bethlehem, with local r e s i d e n t s r e e n a c t i n g t h e Nativity story. These produc- tions often incorporate tradi- tional crafts, foods, and cos- t u m e s , t o c r e a t e a t r u l y immersive cultural experi- ence. The settings frequently include natural caves or his- toric town centers, which add authenticity and depth to the performance and allow visitors to step into a tangible recreation of the Christmas narrative. Sicilian specialties like cassata and buccellati are often enjoyed alongside the performances, blending faith, arts, and local flavors. Always in Sicily (and again, also in other parts of Italy) alongside the Presepi Viven- ti, we find the Novena di Natale, a nine-day series of prayers and hymns leading up to Christmas.This tradi- tion is associated with the shepherds' journey to Bethle- hem and is often accompa- n i e d b y m u s i c f r o m b a g - p i p e r s , a n o d t o t h e tradition's old connection with the pastoral and rural world. Each of these traditions — and each of the many more we couldn't write about for space reasons — is a symbol and a token of the season for Italian people, a sign it's "that time of the year." Each of these traditions are also a meaningful and powerful connector to our past, our m e m o r i e s a n d t i m e s t h a t formed our minds and souls making us, ultimately, the individuals we are today. But what do these celebra- t i o n s m e a n f o r I t a l i a n - Americans? For many, they could mean the exact same, because they may have expe- r i e n c e d t h e m a s c h i l d r e n directly, or they may have heard tales about them from their parents and grandpar- ents, who would likely remi- nisce about their youth back in the Old Country at the Christmas table. At the same time, they can also be meaningful for those w h o d o n o t h a v e d i r e c t l y lived them. Think about it: perhaps your own ancestors were once part of these very celebrations back in Italy; maybe they stood in the glow of the 'Ndocciata torches in Molise, or listened to the h a u n t i n g m e l o d i e s o f t h e zampognari as they played in village squares. This is why, by exploring and cele- b r a t i n g t h e s e t r a d i t i o n s today, we are honoring the memory of those who came before us, and creating a liv- ing connection to a past that is, fully and without a doubt, part of the person we are now. Recreating some of these t r a d i t i o n s — w h e t h e r a t home, with friends, or in a larger community — or learn- ing about those our ancestors lived and experienced, can be a deeply rewarding way to k e e p o u r h e r i t a g e a l i v e . They're an opportunity to reflect on our roots, to cele- brate the resilience and cre- ativity of those who came before us, and to pass that sense of identity on to our children. And in doing so, we can make history our own, adding new layers of mean- ing that will continue to grow over time. While multifaceted, customs unite us through the common theme of faith, and of the victory of Light and Good over Darkness; they also run a thread made of memories, scent, and voices through the length and width of the peninsula CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Above, careful! The Krampus are in town! (Photo: Tgasser/Dreamstime) and, below, two zampognari playing in the streets (Photo: Konstantinos Papaioannou/Dreamstime)

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