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saints

Feast of Sant Antonio

Posted on June 13, 2017

Sant Antonio - Francesca Di Meglio

Posted in: Uncategorized | Tagged: antonella, antonia, antonietta, antonio, catholic, feast, june 13, name day, saint anthony, saints, sant antonio, tonino, tony

Sant Antonio Feast Day

Posted on June 13, 2016

Sant Antonio Post Card - Di Meglio

Posted in: Uncategorized | Tagged: catholics, feast days, italians, italy, postcards, saints, sant antonio

Feast or Famine in Ischia, Italy?

Posted on August 27, 2015

Festa di Sant' Alessandro in Ischia, Italy © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

It’s always all or nothing in Ischia, a small island off the coast of Naples that is the home of my ancestors and husband. In August, it’s all… all tourists, all sunshine (at least when God cooperates), all beach, and all feasts.

We love our saints around here, so we honor them with unique celebrations. When the rest of Italy goes to sleep in August, Ischia throws some pretty big parties. There’s the pageantry of Sant’ Anna in early August that has parade floats traveling in the sea toward Castello Aragonese. There are the more subdued but equally important religious feasts for the patron saints of various towns, including the Festa di San Rocco in Barano and the Festa di San Giovan Giuseppe in Ischia Ponte.

Then, there’s the Festa di Sant’ Alessandro, which took place Aug. 26, with a parade that starts in Ischia Ponte and arrives in Ischia Porto. Since Alessandro is a royal name, the feast celebrates royalty and features Ischitani dressed as the people who long ago lived on the island (after conquering it). In a parade that is part fashion show and part history lesson, you can see how Ischia evolved through the ages.

It begins with the Greeks, who first settled the island as Pithecusa. Through the years, royals from Spain and even the Arab world came to what is now known as Ischia. The garb of these different distinct cultures and time periods is depicted throughout the parade. Animals get in on the act, too, with horses that dance or carry carriages and for the first time this year a falcon and owl. Flag throwers and marching bands are also part of the pomp and circumstance. You can see a parade past on YouTube. In case you’re interested in seeing more of those stunning costumes from the 2015 event, here are a few choice pictures:

 

Sant' Alessandro kids in traditional Italian garb in Ischia, Italy © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Sant' Alessandro couple in traditional royal garb in Ischia, Italy - Francesca Di Meglio

Traditional Italian garb © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Traditional Italian royal garb in Ischia, Italy © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

 

Di Meglio uses the written word to help families create memories and stick together. You can follow her on Facebook at Francesca’s Newlyweds Nest and on Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Tagged: alessandro, clothes, fashion, feasts, ischia, italy, royalty, saints

Perception of Bloggers in Italy

Posted on August 5, 2014
Blogger Tee - Di Meglio
This blogger tee sends a clear message. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

When I first arrived in Italy in June, I was hauling Baby Boy down the street in his stroller – in the hopes of getting him to nap – and was greeted by the T-shirt in the photo above. The message “Sono una blogger, non sono una santa,” translates to, “I’m a blogger, not a saint.” My reaction was, “WTF?” As a blogger, I took offense. Why shouldn’t I? It was meant to be offensive. I’m no saint. That much is true.

But I know the Italians. They are conspiracy theorists by nature. I already told you that the latest scapegoat for the island’s economic woes are meteorologists who predict the bad weather (even though their predictions have been correct this summer). The next problem child for the Italians is the up and coming blogger. Blogs might be old school in the United States, but they’re still the newest form of communicators around here. This tee suggests that bloggers are a bit devilish, a bit naughty, probably because they tell people the truth and share just a little more than most Italians like. Bloggers make Italians uncomfortable, even a bit nervous.

While the islanders are famously good gossipers, they like to gossip in private. You can’t get more public than the Internet nowadays. Blogs often are like gossiping with the entire island watching. Good blogs are among the first to share the news of the day, even if it isn’t so positive – that photo of you a little tipsy by the fountain, word that apple juice could kill ya, or predictions of bad weather. God forbid. My advice to the Ischitani and people everywhere is: If you don’t want to see it in print (in old-fashioned newspapers or new world blogs), don’t do it. Punto e basta.  

Yeah, so, I’m not a saint because I just opened up about this online. Airing dirty laundry is a no-no in the Italian rule book. But like any good Italian, I’m okay with breaking the rules now and then. So, you keep making your passive aggressive T-shirts and I will keep acting in a way that permits me to wear them.

Di Meglio is the writer of the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus and the Newlyweds Expert for About.com. You can follow her on Twitter @ItalianMamma10.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Tagged: bloggers, culture, gossip, italians, italy, saints, sinners

St. Patrick Is Italiano?

Posted on March 17, 2011
My Italian husband makes like the Irish while St. Patrick apparently made like the Italians, at least a little. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio
My Italian husband makes like the Irish while St. Patrick apparently made like the Italians, at least a little. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Recently, I worked on a story about St. Patrick for Las Vegas’ La Voce and ItaliansRus.com, both publications for Itaian Americans. In my research, I learned that St. Patrick has ties to Roma. You can read all about it in the story, “St. Patrick is a Paesano.” In the meantime, enjoy the photo of my hubby (above), who is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as I write this. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! Irish – and Italian – eyes are smiling on you.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Tagged: antonio, celebrations, feasts, holidays, husband, italiansrus, la voce, our paesani, saints, st. patrick

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