L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 www.italoamericano.com 17 The Traditional Neapolitan Nativity Scene Displayed in St. Peter's Square Continued from page 1 Italy's popular patron St. Francis of Assisi, whose name and humble lifestyle Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio assumed on being elected Pope on March 13. The tree, a custom started in 1982 by Pope John Paul II, is selected from a different European country or region each year and illuminates the city with a festive holiday spirit. The first tree was donated by Italy followed by Ukraine, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. Some trees were older than 100 years and more than 100 feet tall. The Vatican Christmas tree has been chosen from a region in Germany three times since 1982 and most recently in the year 1998. This year, it was harvested on the German-Czech border in the woodlands of the Bavarian Forest and the Bohemian Forest, and brought to Regensburg, in Germany. While the Christmas tree is on display for all the weeks leading up to Christmas, the nativity scene will be unveiled, for the first time, on the night of December 24. This year, for the first time, it will be made by famous Neapolitan artisans, according to a long time tradition. The com- Attention Clubs and Organizations! Your Calendar item submissions are welcome. Items are due no later than three weeks prior to the date of the event. They may be emailed to linda@italoamericano . All submissions must include: Event, date, time and address of the event, brief description, as well as a phone number or website for additional information. Subject to editor's review and space availability. Not all items submitted will be published. The tree is a custom started in 1982 by Pope John Paul II plex artistic and architectural scene is a gift of the famous Neapolitan nativity scene creators, Cantone and Costabile to Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, who along with the Campania Region has gifted it to Pope Francis this year. "This Nativity scene consists of 16 life size figures with all the fundamental characters of the XVIII century Neapolitan manger. So we will have - as Antonio Cantone said - the Holy Mary, Saint Joseph, Jesus (il Bambinello as he is called in Naples), the three Kings and a corollary of characters. The scene recalls the birth of Jesus Child in the traditional landscape of Campania felix". The statues' heads, hands and feet are made of colored terracotta, the eyes are crystals, while the bodies are made of iron and foam rubber. They are dressed with handmade suits inspired to the eighteenth-century Neapolitan tradition and enriched by traditional accessories. The Nativity scene will have a rocky set of around 7 meters by 12 with a height of around 6 meters. Two ancient walls collapse as a result of heavy rains in Pompeii Continued from page 1 But again, despite good intentions, and because of the heavy rains and winds of the last days, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii has been plagued by another building collapse. A wall of an ancient shop in the city's Via Stabiana crumbled, and some plaster fell from the nearby House of the Fountain. Conservation authorities said repair work would start very soon, as the damaged buildings are in an area that was already set to be restored as part of a 105-million-euro ($142 million) project launched in February thanks to Eu funds. But the emergency remains. One of the world's most renowned archaeological parks and one of the most visited Italian sightseeing is now facing this new collapse because ordinary maintenance work has been neglected for too many years. Since 2010, at least a dozen buildings have crumbled, includ- Since 2010 a dozen buildings have crumbled under rain in Pompeii ing the famous House of the Gladiators. After Unesco warning, plans for the revamping and preservation of the ancient archeological site were announced in April. In July, Italian Minister of Culture Massimo Bray promised to install safety measures and open thirty-nine work areas by 2015. But urgent jobs are needed: sections of structures that have fallen in the past two years have already triggered new concerns about Italy's ability to protect the 2,000-year-old treasure from further degradation. Dec. 21 – Sat.- OCAIW Meeting - Mission Viejo Country Club (26200 Country Club Dr, Mission Viejo 92691) $35.00 Entertainment Alexandra Rupp accompanied by the Pazarro Brothers. Call: Lucy Gallo 949-472-8218 or Arline 949-786-7845 Dec. 25, Wed.-Christmas Day at St. Peter's Italian Church. Midnight Mass, 9:30 am (English); 11:00 am (Italian). NO EVENING MASS Dec. 31, Tues.-New Year's Eve Gala Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana. 6:30 pm Join us as we bring in the New Year. Reservations: 323-225-8119, ext. 10 Jan. 8, Wed.-St. Anthony Dinner Meeting 6:30 pm at Casa Italiana. Reservations: Johnny 213-250-2464 Jan. 13, Mon.-Santo Padre Pio Society Dinner Meeting. 6:30 pm, Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, 90012). Vi prego di partecipare a una serata piacevole per stare con gli amici. Cost: $15 per person. For reservations and information please call the president Maria (818) 241-4672. Jan. 18, Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Jan. 18 – Sat.- OCAIW Meeting - Marie Callenders (15363 Culver Dr, Irvine 92604) $25.00 White Elephant. Call: Lucy Gallo 949472-8218 or Arline 949-786-7845 Jan. 18, Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Jan. 19, Sun.-Cinema Italiano offered by Italian Cultural Arts Council, Film: Lezioni di cioccolato (Chocolate Lessons) (2007). Where: Bowers Museum 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706. In the state-of-the art, ultra deluxe Norma Kershaw Auditorium. COST: Adults $10, Students: $5 (no need to RSVP). SCHEDULE: Arrival: 1:30- 2:00 pm, Reception/Refreshments; Seating in Auditorium: 1:45 pm, Program Begins: 2:00 pm. For information call (714) 567-3600. Jan. 19, Sun.-Abruzzesi e Molisani di California 24th Anniversary Dinner Dance, honoring Guy Masciotra. At the Castaway Restaurant (1250 E. Harvard Rd., Burbank, CA). 12 noon to 4pm. Music by The Sicilian Band. Cost: $40 per person. For reservations call Adelio Di Gregorio (818) 985-0951 Jan 19, Sun.-Santo Padre Pio Society Rosary at St. Peter's Italian Church (1039 N. Broadway, Los Angeles) 10:30am. For information call President Maria Bruno at (818) 241-4672. Jan. 26, Sun.-POINTers (Italian genealogy group)-Luncheon 12:00 to 4:00 pm at Raffaello Ristorante (400 South Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731). For reservations and information call Diane at (310) 645-9442. Feb. 1 Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Feb. 6, Thurs.– Italian Movie Night 7:00pm at the San Juan Capistrano Regency Theater. Come early and join us at 6:00pm upstairs in Rick's Cafe for Happy Hour (26762 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, CA. 92675) 949-661-3456. Screening El Presidente. Movie in Italian with English subtitles Feb. 12, Wed.-St. Anthony Dinner Meeting 6:30 pm at Casa Italiana. Reservations: Johnny: 213-250-2464 Feb. 15, Sat.- St Peter's Italian Church Casa Italiana Valentine Dinner Dance & Crowning of the Parish Queen. 5:00 pm Mass; Crowning of Parish Queen at 6:00 pm. Dinner Dance follows; Reservations 323-225-8119, ext. 10 Feb. 16, Sun.-Cinema Italiano offered by Italian Cultural Arts Council, Film: Si può fare (We Can Do That) (2008). This unusual Italian-language seriocomedy from director Giulio Manfredonia walks a fine-line, suspended midway between genial farce and sensitive, compassionate drama. Where: Bowers Museum 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706. In the state-of-the art, ultra deluxe Norma Kershaw Auditorium. COST: Adults $10, Students: $5 (no need to RSVP). SCHEDULE: Arrival: 1:30- 2:00 pm, Reception/Refreshments; Seating in Auditorium: 1:45 pm, Program Begins: 2:00 pm. For information call (714) 567-3600.

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