Monday, December 23, 2024

Ideas On How To Celebrate An Italian American Christmas

Ideas On How To Celebrate An Italian American Christmas

Christmas season 2024 is here and that means getting excited for familiar and comforting traditions, great food, gifts, parties, and getting together with family. For many it is their favorite holiday, not so much for the material or financial gifts they receive but for the gifts of family, friends and togetherness they celebrate. Much like the American Thanksgiving, but on a universal level, being shared by just about every peoples across the world. Here is a link to actual Christmas traditions in Italy, but for purposes of this article I want to focus on the American descendants of the great wave of Italian immigrants. 

You see, many of us have "Americanized" and integrated so well into American society that there is little that distinguishes us as "Italian," other than our last names, and for some even that has been changed. Christmas is no different. Many Italian American families today celebrate it the American way: Mass or church attendance on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, Christmas light looking, a big dinner and family get together, the story of Santa Claus, the one popularized by American writers, cartoonists and corporate advertisers like for Coca Cola,  (go here and/or here for more about the history of Santa Claus), and the unwrapping of presents, usually on Christmas Day but sometimes on Christmas Eve. These are all great, fun and wonderful traditions, but fort those who want to reclaim a bit of their Italian heritage, or for non-Italians who simply want to add something different to their holiday traditions or enjoy some cultural diversity, here are some ideas on how to make your Christmas more "Italian American."

1.) Buon Natale! 
If you forgot or never knew it, try learning and speaking Italian, starting with saying "Merry Christmas" in Italian, "Buon Natale!" "Happy New Year" is "Felice Anno Nuovo!" You may already have the Italian colors of red, white and green around of course!

2.) Attend Traditional Masses: 

You could attend The Mass of The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics anyways, and of course, and when the Christmas season in Italy gets "into high gear" according to The Proud Italian, and a Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. I suggest attending ones that are held in Italian. Even if you're not Catholic, many parishes will do something special for Christmas. My parish, Our Lady of the Rosary, an Italian National Parish in San Diego's Little Italy, for example holds a Christmas play involving young parishioners dressed up as the Holy Family reenacting the first Christmas, then would sing Christmas carols before the final Midnight Mass. 

Christmas Carols at Our Lady of the Rosary:

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary: 

3.) Presepi 
For the Presepi, or for Americans the traditional Manger or Nativity Scene, according to The Proud Italian, "Italians take pride in the amount of love and detail they put into all things creative. When it comes to building their own unique versions of the Nativity Scene, this is no different. They combine the traditional scene and add their own personal twists into their creation by adding Ferrari’s, football players, and a variety of other 'Italian things.' Not only are these masterpieces called presepi all individual and very personal. They are also created by their makers using all sorts of materials, including pasta and nuts, to name a few." You may want to personalize your American Nativity Scene in some way to imitate an Italian Presepi.

4.) La Befana!
Italians have the story of La Befana, the Christmas Witch. According to The Proud Italian, "Christmas gifts to the children in Italy are believed to be given by the ever searching, good-hearted witch called La Befana. The legend goes that she was asked by the shepherds to accompany them on their journey to visit the baby Jesus. Apparently, she declined due to having had too many house chores to complete. It is said that she later had a change of heart and followed suit. She is believed to still be searching for this child today, and leaves gifts for the kids,  wherever she goes along in her journey. To find out more about this magnificent and mysterious woman, read our La Befana Article."  In addition to Santa, try telling the story of La Befana as well, it just makes the holiday that more fun and culturally diverse.

5.) Music
Of course, your choice of music is subjective and either way you'll have some Christmas songs playing. But try listening to Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli, and Dean Martin just to name a few old Italian American favorites, or to actual Italian Christmas music in Italian. 

6.) Food 
Next to Jesus Christ and family, food is the next important thing at Christmas time to Italians of course! Many Italian American families eat traditional American Christmas dishes, but, like in Thanksgiving, add something Italian to the table, usually a pasta dish like lasagna. Desserts of course include Italian cookies, cannoli, and such. Try adding something "Italian" to your Christmas dinner and dessert! 

Panettone, an Italian type of sweet bread with a cupola shape, is also an Italian Christmas food tradition some families have. You can learn more about it here and here.

In addition, some families still celebrate The Feast of the Seven Fishes. Eataly.com says this about this "Italian tradition": 

"Typically, the family gathers around a feast of seven different seafood dishes or one or two different types of fish prepared in seven different ways.

"Despite its popularity among Americans, many Italians do not even know about the tradition — or its origin. Surprised? The answer can be found in the biodiversity of Italy: the country boasts so many differences between the north and south. 

"...The ancient tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic custom of abstinence from meat and dairy products on the eve of certain holidays, including Christmas.  The number seven is rooted back in ancient times and it can be connected to multiple Catholic symbols: in fact, the seven seems repeated more than 700 times in the Bible. Also, according to the Roman Catholic Church, seven are the sacraments, the days of the Creation, as well as the deadly sins. Hence seven courses!

"Flash forward to the early 1900s, when the official "Feast of the Seven Fishes" first emerged. Italian-American families rekindled the Old Country's Christmas Eve tradition by preparing a seven-course seafood meal (hence the name of the newly found tradition) that both made them feel close to their homes, while celebrating the sea, a major connection in Italy. Today, it's considered one of the oldest Italian traditions — but we give America credit for that!"

If you have the time and energy and feel adventurous, why not have a meal of seven types of different seafood dishes and celebrate The Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas?

7.) Family togetherness....crowded and loud!
 The most important part of Christmas is in fact celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but next to that is the gathering with family....or people we consider family. Why not make it a crowded one? Oh sure, because of covid now you might want to keep it smaller and have some social distancing, but that's not typically easy for Italians! Even if it has to be outdoors, I suggest having a big gathering of "family" and make sure, like any Italians, they talk loud and use their hands a lot! You non-Italians can watch and learn! lol

8.) Honorable Mention: Visit a Little Italy at Christmastime
Though not easy for everyone, I suggest visiting a Little Italy neighborhood at Christmastime. On the West Coast we have North Beach in San Francisco, Little Italy San Jose , Little Italy in San Diego, and now a "Little Italy" in LA (in San Pedro) and in Sacramento! Normally these neighborhoods, like any American neighborhood, would be decorated very festively for Christmas and other holidays and be bustling with holiday shopping and food, and sometimes even with events and activities like the Christmas Village and Tree Lighting in San Diego (Video of 2019) (2021 flyer).

Well, that's it, that's what I have found through some quick research and from family memories on ideas on how to make Christmas "Italian American." If there is anything I left out or if I made any mistakes, please let me know (respectfully) in the comments, and feel free to share how your own family and friends celebrate Christmas! Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!

Back to The Italian Californian Main Site

Friday, November 1, 2024

November is National Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month in the U.S., a time dedicated to honoring the culture, history, struggles, and contributions of the Indigenous peoples of North America. While these communities deserve recognition and respect every day, November serves as a special reminder to focus on their enduring legacy.

In recent decades, tension has arisen between the Italian American community and Native Americans, largely centered around the legacy of Christopher Columbus. Despite Columbus sailing for Spain—where he was known as Cristóbal Colón and even gave his children Spanish names—Italians and Italian Americans continue to regard him as a hero linked to their heritage. In the U.S., many Italian Americans view him as a figure who paved the way for European colonization, the Christianization of the Americas, and the eventual founding of the United States. Some even consider him the first immigrant.

However, Native Americans, who suffered greatly from European colonization, see Columbus as a symbol of their victimization. They view him as a villain responsible not only for atrocities against the Indigenous people he encountered but also for setting in motion centuries of oppression by European settlers.

Efforts by Italian Americans to clarify Columbus’s legacy—arguing that his more negative actions have been exaggerated—have failed to bridge the gap between the two groups. Regardless of whether Columbus is seen as a hero or a villain, the undeniable truth remains: his "discovery" of the Americas opened the door to colonization and the eventual suffering of Native populations. Finding common ground on this complex historical figure remains elusive.

In a global society and a culturally diverse nation like the U.S., The Italian Californian aims to build bridges and foster connections with other ethnic and cultural communities, including Native Americans. While the Columbus debate may never be fully resolved, our hope is to find common ground on shared values and issues that bring us together.

Italians and Native Americans actually share much in common, though these similarities have often been overshadowed by the Columbus controversy. Like the Americas, Italy has been repeatedly conquered and colonized by foreign powers throughout history. Italians, particularly in the South and Sicily, are well aware of the hardships brought by conquest and oppression. In the U.S., Italian immigrants faced significant prejudice and discrimination in the early 20th century.

Despite these parallels, the fact that most Italian Americans have successfully integrated into mainstream American society has caused our struggles as a minority to fade from memory, even within our own community. The Columbus issue has only deepened the divide between us and other groups that have endured prejudice and conquest, such as Native Americans.

This e-magazine holds no illusion that we will resolve the Columbus controversy. Instead, we aim to focus on the common ground we share with our Native American brothers and sisters. Even today, Native Americans face significant hardships, particularly on certain reservations, where poverty and other challenges persist. While we cannot undo the suffering they have endured, we can extend an olive branch by first recognizing and understanding their ongoing struggles, and second, by contributing in any small way we can to address these contemporary issues.

You can learn more about contemporary Native American issues through this Google search link here:native american issues today - Search (bing.com) and here: Microsoft Copilot in Bing

Throughout American history, Italians have stood up for minority groups, including Native Americans. A shining example is Father Eusebio Kino, an Italian Jesuit priest who worked in what is now Mexico and the American Southwest during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Under the Spanish flag, Fr. Kino was a strong advocate for Indigenous rights, defending Native peoples from the abuses of Spanish soldiers and resisting their forced labor in Spanish mines.

Fr. Kino's dedication to protecting Native communities was extraordinary. He not only introduced Catholicism but also fought for the dignity and well-being of the Indigenous people he served. Historian Herbert Bolton described Kino as "the most distinguished pioneer and missionary on the northern frontier of New Spain," noting that Kino “never lost sight of the fact that his first duty was to protect the Indians from exploitation.”

Father Eusebio Kino’s legacy is honored with statues in several key locations across the U.S., Mexico, and Italy, recognizing his advocacy for Native Americans and his missionary work. In the United States, one of the most prominent statues is located in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., where Kino represents the state of Arizona. There are also statues of Kino in Tucson, Arizona, and at Kino Park in Nogales, Arizona.

In Mexico, his memory is preserved with statues in various locations, including Hermosillo and Magdalena de Kino in the state of Sonora, where his remains were discovered. These statues commemorate his extensive missionary work and his contributions to the local Indigenous communities.

In Italy, his birthplace of Segno, located in the Trentino region, proudly honors him with a statue, celebrating his Italian heritage and his humanitarian contributions across the world.

These statues stand as lasting tributes to Father Kino's enduring legacy as a defender of Native rights and a pioneer who bridged cultures.

Father Kino is perhaps the most notable, but certainly not the only example of Italians who have stood up for Native Americans and other marginalized groups. These advocates deserve recognition and should not be overlooked or forgotten due to the controversy surrounding Columbus.

You can learn more about Kino here:

Monday, October 7, 2024