The Italian Heritage Parade Board of Directors cordially invites you to the 2024 Grand Ball – at the JW Marriott, 515 Mason St., San Francisco. Ticket includes three course seated dinner and live entertainment/music from Perry Sings Sinatra & Martini Straight Up.
If you have any questions about the Grand Ball, please contact Molly Leveroni First: (415) 680-0309 / mleveroni@gmail.com.
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Heritage Months in the U.S. were created to highlight the contributions of ethnic groups that have shaped the country but were often left out of textbooks and popular culture. These months aren’t about dividing people but about recognizing the unique histories and cultures that make up America. Italians, like other groups, advocated for their own heritage month to ensure their contributions to the country are honored.
Today, nearly every ethnic group has its own heritage month, from Irish to Asian to Italian, as a way of ensuring their histories are shared and respected. However, it’s important to remember that while these months celebrate distinct cultures, they also highlight the ways in which all Americans are connected.
Why We Americans of Italian Ancestry Should Care About Our Heritage
Italian Americans, like many other cultural groups in the United States, have a rich heritage that contributes to the diverse mosaic of American culture. Preserving and celebrating Italian American history and culture is important for several reasons:
1. **Identity and Heritage**
- **Cultural Identity:** Celebrating one's heritage helps maintain a sense of identity and continuity, linking individuals to their ancestors' traditions, values, and histories. This can provide a sense of belonging and pride in one's community.
- **Family Ties:** Many Italian American families place a strong emphasis on the importance of family and preserving their heritage helps strengthen these bonds across generations.
2. **Contribution to American Society**
- **Historical Contributions:** Italian Americans have played significant roles in various aspects of American society, including politics, arts, science, and business. Celebrating these contributions highlights their impact on the nation's development.
- **Cultural Contributions:** Elements such as cuisine, festivals, and religious traditions have become integral parts of American culture, enriching its diversity.
3. **Education and Awareness**
- **Combat Stereotypes:** Like many cultural groups, Italian Americans have faced stereotypes and discrimination. Celebrating their true history and culture helps dispel these stereotypes and educate others about the community’s real character and contributions.
- **History Lessons:** It's important for younger generations to understand the struggles and triumphs of their ancestors, including issues like immigration challenges and integration into American society.
4. **Preservation of Language and Art**
- **Language:** Maintaining the Italian language within families and communities helps preserve an essential element of cultural expression and communication.
- **Art and Literature:** Italian art, whether through music, literature, or visual arts, is a vehicle for cultural expression and continuity.
Why Not Just Be Proud to Be Americans?
Being proud to be American and celebrating one’s ethnic heritage are not mutually exclusive. The United States is characterized by its diversity and the unique blend of cultures that each group brings to the national identity. Embracing one’s roots enhances this mosaic, rather than detracting from a unified American identity.
Issues Facing Italian Americans Today
While Italian Americans are largely assimilated into American society and do not face the same level of discrimination as in the past, there are still relevant issues:
- **Stereotyping:** Media and popular culture often perpetuate narrow stereotypes of Italian Americans, particularly through associations with organized crime or by reducing the culture to simplistic ideas (like food or accents).
- **Loss of Cultural Identity:** As generations assimilate, there’s a risk of losing cultural traditions and language, which are integral to the community's unique identity.
- **Cultural Preservation:** As older generations pass away, there is a challenge in keeping cultural traditions alive and relevant for younger generations who may feel more disconnected from their heritage.
In summary, celebrating Italian American heritage is a way of recognizing and honoring the past, understanding the present, and preserving a unique cultural identity for future generations. It also contributes to a richer, more diverse American society where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Come and celebrate Italy with us at the Festa Italiana! Enjoy an afternoon of La Dolce Vita in an urban winery village.
Join us for an evening of live entertainment and Italian delights to celebrate 108 years of Italian Community Services as the heart of the Bay Area Italian community.
Enjoy an evening bursting with heart-pounding excitement and death-defying acrobatics by Dear San Francisco. Featuring an exciting live auction, hosted bar and reception.
JOIN US FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT SHOWCASING
OUR RICH HISTORY, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS!
The Italian Cultural Society Presents
CLICK TO PURCHASE CELEBRATION EVENT TICKETS
In many Cities in California including Sacramento,
Columbus Day is also Italian American Heritage Day!
This year they are both recognized on October 12, which
is also the date Columbus discovered America.
Columbus Day is not only a national holiday but is a recognized
holiday in many cities and states across the nation. When we
celebrate Columbus Day we are celebrating the arrival of Western
Civilization to the Western Hemisphere and our own arrival on
these shores. The Columbus holiday has long been associated with
Italian Americans as a symbol of their national pride and identity
and their enormous contributions to America. The holiday is
celebrated throughout Italian-America with parades and festivals.
It is the one day of the year that Italian Americans across the
nation celebrate their heritage together.
RESERVATIONS ENCOURAGED
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CLICK TO VIEW PAST COLUMBUS DAY EVENT PHOTOS
About the Gala
Saturday, October 26, 2024
5:30 pm Reception | 7:00 pm Dinner Awards Program | 10:00 pm After Party
Black-Tie or Military Dress Uniform
OMNI Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
To celebrate the great legacy that unites us and all the objectives achieved so far, NIAF organizes its Anniversary Washington, D.C. Gala every autumn inviting the President of the United States; figureheads from the political, financial and cultural arenas; illustrious Italian Americans; and about 1,000 guests from the United States and Italy. On this occasion, the Foundation awards honors to eminent Italian and Italian American personalities, who have distinguished themselves in their professional or civic role. Previous NIAF honorees include Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea & Veronica Bocelli, Joe Di Maggio, Sophia Loren, Roberto Benigni, Al Pacino, Leonardo di Caprio, Martin Scorsese, Nicholas Cage, Danny DeVito, Sylvester Stallone, Stanley Tucci, Aurelio & Giada De Laurentiis, Miuccia Prada, Massimo Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Gianni & Santo Versace, Paola Fendi, Susan & Giovanni Agnelli, Giuseppe Lavazza, Lee Iacocca, Stefano Domenicali, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Leon Panetta, Justice Antonin Scalia and other notables in business, sports, entertainment and politics.
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N ovember is National Native American Heritage Month in the U.S., a time dedicated to honoring the culture, history, struggles, and contri...
