tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13154771605915094752024-03-19T01:47:34.786-07:00Sicilian ConnectionsTaking you closer to 'casa dolce casa'!Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-40054777245746888712019-03-12T05:00:00.004-07:002020-12-04T05:36:18.808-08:00Carnival time in Sicily! 🎉 {Plus new payment plan for 'Discover Your Heritage!}<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
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<span style="color: white;"><strong style="font-family: Helvetica;">For the past few weeks Italian towns have been taken over by revellers in costume, spectacular street parades and merchant stalls selling every kind of Italian delicacy.</strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The official date of 'Carnevale' this year was the 5th March which is the traditional 40 days before Easter, however many towns were celebrating long before that!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRG1uel7G9fFSOeRRndPk2NtZIEyOcyPC62OtQlMxO2VH4r1FN339pQiK6DzxhneKdu8utMDG8_ZHwqcRKrE2H5cV7jhyphenhyphencO6qcJGeZV0pfJpsTMJGhSiH9MuE64hmhzjRVPd9Ksn-eUc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-12+at+11.13.03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1184" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRG1uel7G9fFSOeRRndPk2NtZIEyOcyPC62OtQlMxO2VH4r1FN339pQiK6DzxhneKdu8utMDG8_ZHwqcRKrE2H5cV7jhyphenhyphencO6qcJGeZV0pfJpsTMJGhSiH9MuE64hmhzjRVPd9Ksn-eUc/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-03-12+at+11.13.03.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: white;">Carnevale is the final celebration before the restrictions of Lent - in fact the term is widely recognised as originating from the Latin words 'carnem levare' or 'take away the meat'.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: white;">The festival itself is thought to have derived from the ancient Roman 'baccanali', celebrations during which drunken revellers would walk around the city with their faces painted whilst singing, yelling and performing pranks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /></span><span style="color: white;"><em style="font-family: Helvetica;">Tricks and pranks are still an integral part of Carnevale, hence the saying 'a carnevale ogni scherzo vale', meaning that during carnival time any kind of mischief can be expected! The 'Carnevale di Misterbianco' is famous for its wonderful costumes such as that in the image below - modelled on an underwater wonderland! </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The large colourful floats are also thought to have taken root from ancient Roman times when citizens would hold a festival called Saturnalia to honour the god Saturn, in the hope of achieving a fruitful harvest.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">During this festival parades of floats carrying masked girls and boys would go along the streets and this tradition is still evident throughout Italy. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: white;">The 'Carnevale di Acireale' in Sicily is world famous for the colourful paper maché floats that pass through the town and each year there is a competition for the best and most original. </span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: white;">I hope you've enjoyed the photos from this year's 'Carnevale'.<br /><br />Hit reply and let us know if you've ever been to an Italian 'Carnevale' or if you celebrate carnival time in your part of the world.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px 18px 9px;" valign="top"><span style="color: white;">Have a wonderful week,</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Founder and CEO - Sicilian Connections</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">P.S We've introduced a BRAND NEW payment plan into our 'Sicilian Connections: Discover Your Heritage' online course which starts on Monday!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 15px;">We want to make it as easy as possible for you to join us in this exci</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 15px;">ting 2 week program and start diving into your Sicilian heritage.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 15px;"><br />Head over to<span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0066;">>> </span><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com" style="font-weight: normal; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0066;">Sicilian Connections: Discover Your Heritage</span></a></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 15px;">now to check out the new payment options.<br /><br /><em><strong>The private Facebook group is already open and we've had so many members share their wonderful Sicilian stories with us already.</strong></em><br /><br />We would love you for you to join us! </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-25941925964838803562019-03-05T03:45:00.002-08:002020-12-04T05:36:47.176-08:00Sicilian Pride and Passion Across the World! <strong><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">Buongiorno! I hope you're having a wonderful week so far. </span></span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">We've received an overwhelming response to our recent posts over on Facebook asking about Sicilian family members that moved over to America in the early 1900s. </span><span style="color: orange;">It's been lovely to hear the stories about your grandparents and great-grandparents and it's very obvious how passionate you all are about your Sicilian connections.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">Between the years of 1861 and 1965, almost 25 million Italians left the peninsula in search of a new life. This is considered to be the biggest mass migration of contemporary times and, in Sicily, was partly due to the drop in economy and over-population experienced after the unification of Italy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><span style="color: orange;">In 1906 alone, 100,000 Sicilians emigrated to the United States of America</span></b></span><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;"> and in 1920, 87 percent of Sicilian immigrants were still headed for the US. Other countries with a significant number of Sicilian immigrants were Venezuela, Brasil, Mexico, Canada, Australia and other countries throughout Europe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">Some of the main cities in America where Sicilians settled were New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco and these immigrants tended to reside together in groups depending on the area that they came from. For example, in New Orleans there was a district called ‘Little Palermo’.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>These Sicilians were so passionate about their homeland that they took many of their traditions and values with them.</strong> </span><span style="color: white;">They believed in these customs so much that many aspects of Sicilian life have become an intrinsic part of communities worldwide and are still very much in evidence today. Throughout the year there are festivals across the world to celebrate different Sicilian traditions. The island’s way of life is echoed daily in neighbourhoods worldwide through their cuisine, language and culture, such as the music listened to or the plays seen at the theatre.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="color: orange;">An example of a tradition which has been taken to America is the ‘Festa di Santa Rosalia’ in Brooklyn which is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Palermo.</span></b></span><strong style="color: white; font-style: italic;"> </strong><span style="color: white;">This</span></span><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;"> annual festival originally took place in the first Italian parish in Brooklyn, the Sacred Hearts and St. Stephens Church in Carroll Gardens, and has since been moved to the community of Bensonhurst. The procession originally involved followers walking barefoot through the streets of the neighbourhood to show their devotion to the Saint.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">Every year Italian-American merchants set up stalls at the various festivals around the country selling Sicilian specialities such as </span><strong style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">‘cannoli’, zeppole’ and ‘arancini’</span></strong><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;"> and entire communities come together to celebrate their heritage and tell stories about their ancestry. </span><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><em><strong>It is viewed as a real honour to belong to such a loyal and devoted community and it is thi</strong></em></span><em><strong><span style="font-size: 15px;">s devotion that will ensure that the respect for ‘u paese vecchiu’, or the old country, will stay strong long into the future. </span></strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">I created Sicilian Connections because over the years I have met many people of Sicilian origin that, for various reasons, have emigrated and live in different locations worldwide, but the passion that they feel for their homeland has remained strong. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">It was my aim to create a community where Sicilians could come together and share their wonderful stories of the island and memories of their ancestors and, thanks to the pride and devotion of our Sicilian Connections friends worldwide, this is now a reality. </span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><em><span style="color: white;">Grazie mille for being such an important part of our lives!</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">A presto,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Debra</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;">Sicilian Connections</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;"><b>www.sicilianconnections.com</b></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: orange;">P.S. - We would really love for you to join us this month as we come together to explore our Sicilian heritage.</span></span></b><br /><strong style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Between the dates of 18th and 31st March 2019, Sicilians across the world are coming together online to dive into their roots and explore their Sicilian ancestry. </span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: white;"><b>We will be providing so much valuable information throughout the two weeks and will show you how to get started in your research and how to avoid making the mistakes that can set you back years.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">The group is going to stay open indefinitely after the immersion has ended so, even if you're not quite ready to start your research, you can watch (& re-watch!) the videos whenever you desire. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">You can also continue to connect with the other people in the group, sharing wonderful discoveries and supporting each other long after the program has ended.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">>> Head over to </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://bit.ly/discoveryourheritage" href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: orange;">Sicilian Connections - Discover Your Heritage </span></span></strong></a><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">now and grab your spot! <em><strong>Earlybird price ends in only 3 days</strong></em> :-) <<</span><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-35575516018937869922019-03-01T13:57:00.002-08:002020-12-04T05:37:17.947-08:00Ready to start exploring your Sicilian heritage? Earlybird doors are open :-)<div style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: white;">Buongiorno!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I hope you're having a wonderful week. Today is a very special and significant day for us here at Sicilian Connections.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">For many years we've been connecting with you through our blog and in our Facebook community. We've been reading the moving stories that hundreds of you have sent to us since 2004, all about your family and how important the island of Sicily is to each and every one of you. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">There's nothing that we've loved more than seeing your old photographs and hearing how your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents came over to America many many years ago, searching for a better future for their family.<br /><br /><strong>Now it's finally time to reveal something that is so close to our hearts and that we have created as a way to help to connect even more to Sicily and to your ancestors who left there long ago.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 16px;"><em><span style="color: teal;">Presenting, 'Sicilian Connections: Discover Your Heritage' (watch the video below) -</span></em></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica;">We're so excited to be able to play an even bigger part in connecting you to Sicily and we have created a private, intimate space for you to share your stories and to dive even further into your Sicilian heritage. </span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: white;">This two week online immersion is more than just an ancestry e-course or a group program - <u>it's our way of thanking you for being such an important and integral part of our Sicilian Connections community. </u></span></strong></span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica;">We are dedicated to providing you with all of the support and information that you could possibly desire to get your research started in the best possible way.<br /><br /><em>When the two weeks are over you will feel fully equipped to step into the path of your ancestors and start discovering more about their journey.....and the best thing is that we won't be closing the group after the two weeks. </em><br /><br />We're going to leave this space open for you to continue to access the trainings whenever needed and to share your findings with other people on the same journey as you.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" style="color: #6dc6dd; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: firebrick;"><strong>Ready to discover more about 'Sicilian Connections: Discover Your Heritage'?</strong></span></a></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><strong><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" target="_blank">>> Click here and you'll be taken to the dedicated website and the special earlybird offer! <<</a></strong></span></span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica;">The program officially starts on the 18th March but we're giving you instant access into the private Facebook group so that you can dive into the introductory videos and we can get to know you better.<br /><br />We can't wait to see you on the other side!<br /><br />Have a wonderful day,</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 24px;"><em><span style="color: #ff0099;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times, 'times new roman', serif;">Debra Santangelo </span></span></em></span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: white;">Sicilian Connections</span><span style="color: #606060;"> </span></span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><strong style="color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" style="color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">www.sicilianconnections.com</a></span></strong><br />
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<strong style="font-family: Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: firebrick; font-weight: normal;"><strong>P.S. - </strong></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;">There is a FAQ section on the program page but feel free to comment below and ask me any questions that you have around the immersion. I'm here to help!<br /><br /><strong>Don't miss out on the earlybird offer!</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">Go to </span></span><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" style="color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0066;"><strong>'Sicilian Connections: Discover Your Heritage' </strong></span></a><span style="color: white; font-weight: normal;">now and start exploring your Sicilian roots!</span></strong></div>
Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-56192009556095317412019-02-14T04:15:00.002-08:002019-02-14T04:17:52.331-08:00Buon San Valentino! Here's a Sicilian Valentine's gift especially for you.Buon San Valentino a tutti!<br />
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We want to wish you a very lovely Valentine's Day! No matter where you are in the world & no matter who you're spending your day with, here at Sicilian Connections we are all connected by our mutual love for the island of Sicily.<br />
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So, here's a short video of Sicily as our gift to you on this special day.......enjoy!
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Tanti auguri! Leave a comment and let us know if you enjoyed the video.<br />
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A presto,<br />
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Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com095121 Catania, Province of Catania, Italy37.425703144147008 15.02609788749998634.186529144147009 9.8625238874999859 40.664877144147006 20.189671887499987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-14419111938919740882019-02-11T04:20:00.002-08:002019-02-11T04:20:48.326-08:00{Video} Introduction to Pietro SantangeloBuongiorno a tutti!<br />
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I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I've had so many messages saying how much you enjoyed last week's video so today I want to introduce my husband and co-founder of Sicilian Connections, Pietro Santangelo.<br />
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The beginning of the video is in Italian for those of you who speak the language and the second part is in English - enjoy!<br />
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I hope you're enjoying getting to know the people behind the scenes of Sicilian Connections.<br />
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We love to hear about the people in our community so please leave us a comment and tell us a little about yourself.<br />
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Buona giornata!<br />
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Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a><br />
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P.S. - Don't forget to join us over on Facebook for lots of beautiful photos and intriguing stories about Sicily. Just click on the photo below -<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/sicilianconnectionspiazza/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1490" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivL-1eBGPMDR4m-Q6fFHsQ3Cj-JK4Fm1aKs54HvCAOYMW1jJdt7rM6EUbuUVCqNz12cE2hgDrgOCtJok8KH7dfKwSPjVMmBOfywJbqTn8Z-3MlIZmE7KbixDTIrmctHk_Ye_oYzrxeGdw/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-02-06+at+11.13.23.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-89806828838222943422019-02-06T03:18:00.000-08:002019-02-06T03:18:24.538-08:00{Video} Grazie a tutti - I'm so excited for what's to come!Buongiorno a tutti!<br />
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I hope you're having a wonderful week. I recorded a short video for you yesterday as we have had many new people join our community over the past few weeks and I wanted to take the opportunity to reintroduce myself.<br />
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Sicilian Connections has been active since 2004 and so many of you have been on this journey with us from the very start. This video is also my way of thanking you for being such an integral part of the Sicilian Connections community and to let you know that there are many exciting things coming up over the next couple of months!<br />
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Do you enjoy sometimes watching videos rather than always reading the blog posts?<br />
Let me know and I may make a more regular appearance :-)<br />
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A presto!<br />
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Debra Santangelo<br />
www.sicilianconnections.com<br />
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P.S. Have you joined our Facebook group yet? Come and join us by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/sicilianconnectionspiazza/" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. We share lots of beautiful photos and intriguing stories about Sicily!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/sicilianconnectionspiazza/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1490" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dw1RVz-XttP-BkmGAdN7Q47w1T5vUgPEepKZ6HEF3-4Y7GDiJQg1lNx4SOAhxPuX1MpFVlSLLjjzdnD7t9Mhtrtfu6py1q4hw0SkEhQUo_TJa23fgLgu4kkrxaVgWUDxHm-uWf_pm9U/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-02-06+at+11.13.23.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-68926051550694960132019-01-28T07:53:00.001-08:002020-12-04T05:34:14.344-08:00How to Make Italian Hot Chocolate!Buongiorno! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. The days are definitely getting longer and brighter here but the frost is showing up daily to remind us that we are still in the middle of winter! Over the weekend, my family and I made some delicious hot chocolate and I promised our lovely Sicilian Connections Facebook members that I would share the recipe.<div>
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You may be wondering what the difference is between a hot chocolate drink in Italy and one, for example, in the USA or UK and I can tell you that when I first tasted a 'cioccolata calda' in Sicily I fell in love with its rich consistency and indulgent taste. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PbTfwqJhoHglM9eZ5BmuqgvDC2md6n-kkHwPPZBpoutuG8PEL1ugusH2kkk-a0fYXH8fCJP7oLD7pfTV94HPz83rZ6zFf2ITgI9wTQ20n6FNO3UK41VNzxNS06XsP_2bIRCSkVHH_n4/s1600/SC+Italian+Hot+Choc.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PbTfwqJhoHglM9eZ5BmuqgvDC2md6n-kkHwPPZBpoutuG8PEL1ugusH2kkk-a0fYXH8fCJP7oLD7pfTV94HPz83rZ6zFf2ITgI9wTQ20n6FNO3UK41VNzxNS06XsP_2bIRCSkVHH_n4/s320/SC+Italian+Hot+Choc.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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We lived in Milan for a while before we had our daughters and the winters in Northern Italy can be so cold! I remember sitting all huddled up in our favourite cafe with a steaming hot mug of this velvety drink and feeling so cosy and content. In Italian bars you can actually get a seemingly endless choice of hot chocolate flavours including coconut, pistacchio and chilli!</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Here's the recipe to make this hot chocolate at home. </span></div>
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Be sure to let us know how it goes!</div>
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<u><b><i>Ingredients (to make 2 small cups of thick hot chocolate) -</i></b></u></div>
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1 cup of whole milk</div>
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1/2 cup of whipping cream</div>
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7 ounces of good quality cooking chocolate</div>
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1 tablespoon of sugar </div>
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1 teaspoon of cornflour (cornstarch)</div>
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1) Heat the milk, cream and sugar over a low heat and stir until it reaches simmering point.</div>
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2) Break the chocolate into the pan and whisk until all of the chocolate melts.</div>
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3) In a separate bowl combine the cornflour with a little milk then add to the pan mixture.</div>
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4) Continue to stir for approx. 3 mins until the mixture reaches the desired thickness.</div>
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5) Pour into cups and enjoy! You can also top with whipping cream but I prefer to savour the chocolate all on its own!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-002SLgMxTzbrPkvzI1Pbb5aBvRRiOiVA5isV7EdSq96Dk0OIWMNUDL9nhWKbSx3ZNcYhUJ0abTVZosittsEoHu4M67EVsjmkXNi1ALnXqw7Rsm6n1qho-wVPgqKvlczWfVYK8LnpgI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-28+at+14.25.41.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="298" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-002SLgMxTzbrPkvzI1Pbb5aBvRRiOiVA5isV7EdSq96Dk0OIWMNUDL9nhWKbSx3ZNcYhUJ0abTVZosittsEoHu4M67EVsjmkXNi1ALnXqw7Rsm6n1qho-wVPgqKvlczWfVYK8LnpgI/s200/Screen+Shot+2019-01-28+at+14.25.41.png" title="How to make Italian hot chocolate" width="200" /></a></div>
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Have a wonderful day, amici. </div>
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Have you joined our Facebook group yet? If not, be sure to head over to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/304770149603514/" target="_blank">Sicilian Connections - La Piazza</a> and join our rapidly growing community of Sicily lovers across the world!</div>
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A presto,</div>
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Debra</div>
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Sicilian Connections</div>
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. - We have a BRAND NEW Christmas Guide out packed with Sicilian recipes and festive traditions!! Go to <a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com">www.sicilianconnections.com</a> to grab your copy :-)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVUD2nd0naFpoblvX0ez_NvPjVroCePJLwWZOjksIlGXz_rUjo-7Uk7Xzoe_htAu2URfh1ZRzLDU1CdOLRmofTuUW7gcct-yyep_RUfS_BRi1aFJWryUL_OayrDCNtfyEUsah7tFVu0M/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-12-03+at+13.06.16.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-80833931669984534692019-01-22T03:13:00.001-08:002019-01-23T05:45:30.510-08:00Homes on Sale for 1 Euro in Sambuca di SiciliaWhen Leonardo Ciaccio, the mayor of Sambuca di Sicilia (a rural town in the Sicilian province of Agrigento) launched a new housing scheme he had no idea that it would have such an impact across the world.<br />
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The governor was simply hoping for an innovative way to repopulate this majestic city and he dreamed of enticing expatriated Sicilians back to their ancestral birthplace. Little did he know that the project would be picked up by the US news channel CNN and become viral across the internet!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfY3XQCLkEBEUxcQudcqFdRET1yM574kdk6jx00rBM2ty31_QtlZBKxfC_o7jHO8i5NtkpRYqKK1RSUU8VLyzFJtEZpqWVV4Jf5UR5Syqo5_Q4LNd5QO8qQYF2433NHDuWYZnOR02A30/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-21+at+12.51.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1436" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfY3XQCLkEBEUxcQudcqFdRET1yM574kdk6jx00rBM2ty31_QtlZBKxfC_o7jHO8i5NtkpRYqKK1RSUU8VLyzFJtEZpqWVV4Jf5UR5Syqo5_Q4LNd5QO8qQYF2433NHDuWYZnOR02A30/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-01-21+at+12.51.38.png" title="Sambuca di Sicilia" width="400" /></a></div>
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In a recent article for an Agrigento website, Sr. Ciaccio told how he had spent the morning showing Japanese and American tourists around the enchanting Italian town. In fact the town has been receiving requests from across the globe, including Switzerland, Spain, France and Germany, and over ten homes have already been sold.<br />
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My interest in this event has been steadily growing but peaked yesterday when I received several emails asking me for my opinion on this interesting project. I've decided to write this article in order to help my loyal followers make an informed decision on the matter.<br />
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My 'Sicilian Ghost Story', a blog from many years ago, was actually based on Sambuca di Sicilia and you can read it <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-sicilian-ghost-story-for-halloween.html" target="_blank">here</a> to get a better feel of the town and its unique past. However, don't let yourself be put off by the ghostly apparitions and spooky legends! This city has much to offer and its rich Arabic history has woven its way intrinsically into the magic of the town.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9TPdhr-8ZKDNq5KKbbGexbEtldhw7el_h9-6m4zSTE3JGpYhQBZZilkENNWAbiX7ARwg6-eUeaVXYd9ACJ7k74zS4IHAXGwhroxV5SUnw0nuaxJxTHL4jRxwm20AZiqeKh5mj1fVhJA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-21+at+12.53.27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1262" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9TPdhr-8ZKDNq5KKbbGexbEtldhw7el_h9-6m4zSTE3JGpYhQBZZilkENNWAbiX7ARwg6-eUeaVXYd9ACJ7k74zS4IHAXGwhroxV5SUnw0nuaxJxTHL4jRxwm20AZiqeKh5mj1fVhJA/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-01-21+at+12.53.27.png" title="Sambuca di Sicilia" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sambuca di Sicilia is situated on a hilltop with views reaching as far as Mount Etna on a clear day. It is surrounded by breathtaking countryside and has rolling vineyards that take you all the way down through the resort of Menfi to the spectacular Mediterranean coastline. Just over an hour's drive will take you to the island's capital of Palermo which offers flights to the main airports across the world.<br />
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While this offer may seem too good to be true, I want to make you aware of the project's small print. In order to buy your home for one euro you must commit to spending at least 15,000 euro over the next 3 years on the property's restoration and also put down a deposit of 5,000 euro.<br />
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Therefore, while the purchase will definitely cost you more then one euro, it could be the perfect way to get your foot on the Italian property ladder and allow you to revisit your 'Sicilian Connections'!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOHhTA5c6dE76KloRVv7l8D894ZVY0QIBvhzJGxW34VEbVPfjcEbaT9Rg76YWKlFi06jFLhfptQIzTeSK9aLoskOA5QEGB6zcS-qoN1iV0dgxsKN9m2ym1JPIZ1-IkAuryYTLAazSNg4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-21+at+12.50.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1102" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOHhTA5c6dE76KloRVv7l8D894ZVY0QIBvhzJGxW34VEbVPfjcEbaT9Rg76YWKlFi06jFLhfptQIzTeSK9aLoskOA5QEGB6zcS-qoN1iV0dgxsKN9m2ym1JPIZ1-IkAuryYTLAazSNg4/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-21+at+12.50.33.png" title="Sambuca di Sicilia" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also want to point out that Sambuca di Sicilia isn't the first Sicilian town to introduce a project of its kind. Several other cities around the island have similar schemes running and I've actually put together a short document showing you the various options so that you can make an educated decision.<br />
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The contact details for the Sambuca di Sicilia scheme are also included in this directory for you together with a list of available houses!<br />
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<b>>> <a href="http://bit.ly/oneeurohomes" target="_blank">Click here for your free guide!</a> <<</b></h3>
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I hope this post has helped you understand the situation better. Feel free to comment below with any questions you may have and be sure to click the 'follow' button to stay updated with the latest news from Sicilian Connections.<br />
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Have a wonderful day!<br />
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Debra<br />
Sicilian Connections<br />
www.sicilianconnections.comDebra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-63715145343489130632019-01-17T04:15:00.001-08:002020-12-04T05:39:08.168-08:00Felice Anno Nuovo! My New Year Stories of Mount Etna & La Befana.Buongiorno a tutti! This is our first blog post of the year and I would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2019. We had such a lovely Christmas and it's been truly enjoyable to take some time out from the hustle of daily life and spend time together as a family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jQN81nuJ4pwQ5P_HX1En05xm7ctTUBPc65ogOU9hsHHoIHxxKHm97Uo9IRYTlWQmDh9ew3BtCz3eFn7NqH5DTzYrflvkkJM_2Skwva6-Tb-QQZNtFp3SpH5b99deS5NyRbn-bHFhL8U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-17+at+12.04.14.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1104" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jQN81nuJ4pwQ5P_HX1En05xm7ctTUBPc65ogOU9hsHHoIHxxKHm97Uo9IRYTlWQmDh9ew3BtCz3eFn7NqH5DTzYrflvkkJM_2Skwva6-Tb-QQZNtFp3SpH5b99deS5NyRbn-bHFhL8U/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-17+at+12.04.14.png" title="Mount Etna Eruption Lava" width="320" /></a>If you have your own 'Sicilian Connections' or even if you've simply been following the news, you will be aware that we have also had some worrying times over the past couple of months.<br />
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Our family in Adrano and Nicolosi spent several nights out on the street after being woken from their sleep by shaking beds and moving furniture. Mount Etna has certainly been very active lately and this has caused a frightening number of earthquakes throughout the region.<br />
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The province of Catania is used to living in the shadow of the fiery mountain and my husband even laughs how he and his friends used to go and play football near the flowing lava when they were young. However, the latest tremors have definitely caused concern and even the older generations can only remember a slight quivering of the light shades many years ago; nothing compared to the violent earthquakes that have been occurring over the past few months.<br />
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We are all praying that Etna has now got rid of any lingering anger and has finally settled down for a long winter's nap!<br />
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We were very happy that La Befana made a visit to our home on the eve of the Epiphany and our daughters were so pleased with the presents she left them. Does La Befana come to your home on her broom every year? I would love to hear about your stories and traditions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMRgNO612RCrheMKauXLiOLraeqtnH2qkUuLRrc2bRwQ0AjLSB9O0NLANZZPLSR801MU_LEroT2u-6DDHv_cRGwp2jzPw_5ZN6DJscTkp63ilIAJkX9tRDZ0UOvTZw5QgUVEC2oEQeTs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-17+at+12.07.15.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1478" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMRgNO612RCrheMKauXLiOLraeqtnH2qkUuLRrc2bRwQ0AjLSB9O0NLANZZPLSR801MU_LEroT2u-6DDHv_cRGwp2jzPw_5ZN6DJscTkp63ilIAJkX9tRDZ0UOvTZw5QgUVEC2oEQeTs/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-17+at+12.07.15.png" title="Taormina Sicily" width="320" /></a>If you would like to learn more about the Italian tradition of La Befana you should hop over to my earlier blog <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.com/2012/01/buon-anno-nuovo.html" target="_blank">Buon Anno Nuovo</a> and watch the good witch herself tell her enchanting story.<br />
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I'm very excited for 2019 as we have lots of lovely things happening over the next few months. If you feel like you want to get more involved in our Sicilian Connections community then definitely watch this space (& click 'follow' for new blog notifications).<br />
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I wish you a happy day or a 'buona giornata' and look forward to speaking to you again very soon!<br />
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A presto,<br />
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Debra<br />
Sicilian Connections<br />
www.sicilianconnections.com<div><br /></div><div>P.S. - We have a BRAND NEW Christmas Guide out packed with Sicilian recipes and festive traditions!! Go to <a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com">www.sicilianconnections.com</a> to grab your copy :-)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cCqWDKXQOqMP4XhrqJZgL3pAbda887XEf0R0HpIz9JTftw5gbbcokXuQm5kFuDXMSwUDThGfVTQu1K61o7OOOeBjRjc56oP6K1dp1iM7UwU9kJeWyvmzF8GHB9ZGgdI3EO7gUsO_gzM/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-12-03+at+13.06.16.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br />
<br /></div>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-19042835543483043182014-12-22T07:59:00.002-08:002020-12-04T05:40:06.680-08:00Caltagirone Nativity Scenes and Sicilian Christmas Cookies!Buona sera a tutti! I hope that you are all well and enjoying the run up to the Christmas festivities! In Sicily, preparations are well underway for the traditional Nativity scenes that appear across the island in the month of December. <br />
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One city in particular that attracts thousands of visitors each year to its Nativity displays is Caltagirone. This Baroque town in the province of Catania has long been famous for its beautiful pottery, in particular its ceramics and terracotta, and actually takes its name from the Arabic words for 'Hill of Vases'. The city's main landmark is the staircase of Santa Maria del Monte which was built in 1608 in the old section of the town. Each of the staircase's 142 steps is adorned with different hand-decorated ceramics using varying styles and figures from the town's ancient tradition of pottery making. To celebrate Caltagirone's Patron Saint 'San Giacomo', or St. James, on the 25th July the steps are lined with terracotta oil lamps which are lit simultaneously by hundreds of locals creating a spectacular effect.<br />
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For the month of December the town comes alive with beautiful Nativity scenes made entirely of terracotta which are displayed throughout Caltagirone. Some residents even open their homes to show their own intricate displays. One fine example of a Nativity scene is 'Il Presepe Animato in Terracotta' which can be found in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine. This Nativity display features moving figures and extends over 80 square metres - the largest in Italy. On the 25th and 26th December and the 6th January there will be a 'live' Nativity scene in the town's historic centre featuring more than 200 local residents dressed in costume. <br />
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Throughout the month of December there will be Christmas markets and processions in the town such as that on the 'Festa dell'Immacolata' on the 8th December. For the two days prior to this feast day there is a delicious aroma throughout the town as bakeries sell the traditional 'muffulette' - a local bread made with fennel seeds.<br />
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Have a wonderful Christmas everyone - Buon Natale! I hope that all of you across the world are beginning to feel the festive spirit. Don't forget to use our recipe for Sicilian Christmas Cookies, or 'Mastazzoli' at - <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tis-season-of-sicilian-christmas.html"><span style="color: orange;">http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tis-season-of-sicilian-christmas.html</span></a><span style="color: orange;">.</span><br />
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A presto!<br />
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Debra <br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a> <br />
<br />P.S. - We have a BRAND NEW Christmas Guide out packed with Sicilian recipes and festive traditions!! Go to <a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com">www.sicilianconnections.com</a> to grab your copy :-)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9nzyWiqVj6gAkhSDsUfr8VFgDNRvwDgL3JfCT2bqQ3DWfWCXZ2QuIn7x60EwQZ4jchliDPtJ-81lUgnllTurif-Q3ljzu_FEPP6YXvQEf8JMRRssCj7XFBTPLVbSh2Ae5JP67Xl3fpc/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-12-03+at+13.06.16.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-9347226944998021902014-10-24T03:26:00.000-07:002014-10-24T05:08:29.402-07:00The Ghostly Bridal Party of CammarataBuongiorno a tutti! I hope that you all had a wonderful Summer and are enjoying the beautiful Autumn colours that now surround us. The dark nights are drawing in and there is a distinct chill in the air which means the time has come again for me to write my Halloween blog - one of the blogs which I enjoy writing the most! This year I have a wonderfully spooky tale to tell; a tale which will take you deep into the heart of Sicily and to a time long ago - a time of noblemen and of tradition. Enjoy!<br />
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Deep in the woods of Cammarata, in the province of Agrigento, lies a lonely castle with a noble past. The imposing, picturesque castle lies in a beautiful location but the mystical woods that surround it have long believed to be haunted. The horror of the events that happened there makes a sad, romantic and tragic story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCx3y2u-PU0xASC2PM12ID52D4tOvo_xMNOmPbbp8Ju5OavO22rXUumUMYt5R0lczx7ECnai4KDVob20gzAjPz_OVq_oeWzTZhRbgB3QuwiMik8RteZ-YD_QFtApdWnHIO_wqdKRIfJCk/s1600/Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCx3y2u-PU0xASC2PM12ID52D4tOvo_xMNOmPbbp8Ju5OavO22rXUumUMYt5R0lczx7ECnai4KDVob20gzAjPz_OVq_oeWzTZhRbgB3QuwiMik8RteZ-YD_QFtApdWnHIO_wqdKRIfJCk/s1600/Castle.jpg" /></a>Hundreds of years ago the Baron of Cammarata had a very beautiful daughter named Elisabetta, whom he adored. She was to marry a nobleman of rank and fortune. But, unfortunately, the bridegroom was the Baron's choice. He had forbidden Elisabetta to meet again the man she truly loved.<br />
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Despite all her tearful protests, Elisabetta was married in the castle chapel by the Priest of Cammarata. Afterwards the full bridal party set out to 'ride the bounds' - that was to ride in procession around the entire boundary of the estate, as tradition demanded. On their return to the castle, a magnificent banquet would be held in their honour.<br />
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Elisabetta's lover had heard of this, and with a party of his friends, he was waiting in ambush in a little wood nearby. His plan was to launch a surprise attack, rescue Elisabetta, and then they would make their escape together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N9IQip23QlshL2RmA6DPgsmpdHSUpyY9QpjXOYu-k6CN6O7UhJIMjvuPr5bQOt7_a7P_VN9rqijPDi86VyE2yZoibLVYl30tDiqM_8-a0AmHWPOwNFPILuQDIGEFmcZ_Zt5d9EGe16o/s1600/20141018_170607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N9IQip23QlshL2RmA6DPgsmpdHSUpyY9QpjXOYu-k6CN6O7UhJIMjvuPr5bQOt7_a7P_VN9rqijPDi86VyE2yZoibLVYl30tDiqM_8-a0AmHWPOwNFPILuQDIGEFmcZ_Zt5d9EGe16o/s1600/20141018_170607.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Back at the castle the feast was prepared and servants and minstrels waited with the Baron in the Great Hall to greet and serve the guests. Many hours passed without their return. The increasingly anxious Baron sent out men to search, but they could find no trace of the missing party. At last the servants were dismissed to bed, and only the Baron was left to keep a lonely vigil in the dimly lit Hall.<br />
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On the stroke of midnight he awoke from dozing to the sound of the castle drawbridge being lowered, and noises of horsemen in the courtyard. Almost in the same instance the bridal party filed silently into the Hall, and in the dead quiet took their places at the table. No-one spoke, not a single word.<br />
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Gazing in puzzlement at his guests, the Baron began to realise to his horror that the white and frozen faces of his daughter and friends belonged to their ghosts.With a terrible scream he fell to the floor in a faint, and as he did, the 'ghostly bridal party' vanished from sight.<br />
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According to the story, the poor Baron never recovered his speech, and remained paralysed for the rest of his life.<br />
<a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAcQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftonidolls.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Ftale-of-ghostly-ride.html&ei=OihKVIjLOszlaMPrgIAM&bvm=bv.77880786,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNFgj8gYpsRHV-IJk3lrjwC6JadS8A&ust=1414232461277793" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="irc_mut" height="283" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQEplLI9u-jaq1JQpJMTz-CanXw643kDqyWAyCHayYxjhLKX6ZKJQ" style="margin-top: 25px;" width="320" /></a><br />
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It was believed that when the bridal party was ambushed, a terrible fight had taken place, Elisabetta herself being accidently killed in the general confusion. No one survived the slaughter, and the blood from the dreadful carnage flowed into a hollow stone, which is known to this day as 'The Raven's Stone'.<br />
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Every year on the anniversary of the tragedy, the ghostly bridal party rides again through the woods near the castle. It is said that the sound of hoof-beats and the jingling of harness can be heard clearly. Strangely, although time has altered the landscape, the riders keep to their original route, passing straight through any walls or fences that now bar their way.<br />
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Have a wonderful Halloween .... and be sure to listen out for the sound of hooves and of jingling harnesses!<br />
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A presto,<br />
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Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'join this site' icon at the right of this blog page. Grazie mille for your support!</span>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-29342771232242973052014-02-07T05:35:00.001-08:002019-01-25T03:48:36.575-08:0069th Annual Almond Blossom Festival - Agrigento<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Buongiorno a tutti! I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year wherever you are in the world. Here at Sicilian Connections we thoroughly enjoyed the festive period but are very happy to see the evenings become lighter and the early appearance of the Spring sunshine! This also means that it is again time for the wonderful 'Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore', or the Almond Blossom Festival of Agrigento. <br />
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This year will be the 69th edition of the International Festival and will take place from the 8th February to the 16th March. The annual festival takes place in the majestic Sicilian city of Agrigento and celebrates the first almond blossoms of the season - one of the earliest visible signs that Spring is coming. The city will come alive with colourful folk dancers from around the world exhibiting their traditional costumes and dances for the gathered crowds. Local restaurants and bars in the area serve delicious almond dishes and vibrant processions take place throughout the town.<br />
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Enjoy this video taken from an Italian news programme which shows last year's festival highlights - <br />
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If you can't make it to the festival why not enjoy some almond and honey cookies, or 'Mastazzoli'. The recipe is on my Christmas blog post - <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tis-season-of-sicilian-christmas.html"><span style="color: #ff9900;">http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tis-season-of-sicilian-christmas.html</span></a>.</div>
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A presto,</div>
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Debra Santangelo</div>
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a><span style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
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P.S. If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'Join this site' icon on the right of this blog page. Grazie mille for your support!</div>
Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-20921440499826231232013-10-23T04:11:00.000-07:002019-01-23T05:58:37.841-08:00A Sicilian Ghost Story for Halloween!>> Update: Due to popular demand, I have created an article about the homes for one euro in Sambuca di Sicilia - <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.com/2019/01/homes-on-sale-for-1-dollar-in-sambuca.html" target="_blank">click here to read</a> :-) Enjoy your ghost story! <<<br />
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Buona sera amici! Well the nights are getting longer and the dark evenings have taken on an almost mystical quality. This can only mean one thing - Halloween is approaching. Any of you that have been following my blog for some time will know that I love this time of year as I can write about one of my favourite topics: Sicilian legends and ghost stories. This year I am taking you all on a journey to a small town in the province of Agrigento called Sambuca di Sicilia. More specifically to a street there which in 1882 was given the official name of 'Via Fantasma', or 'Ghost Street'.<br />
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The legend starts way back in the year 830 when the town was still known as 'Zabuth' in honour of its founder, the Arab Emir Al Zabut. The town was enjoying a period of prosperity under the Arab ruling and was protected by a large Arab fort which dominated the town. A large staircase was built into the rocks around the fort for the Arab troops to utilise in times of conflict and attack. In fact, the town of Zabuth was continuously under siege at that time by the troops of Federico II who was determined to convert the residents to Christianity. It was this conflict between Christians and Muslims (at that time known as Saracens) which led to a great war breaking out in the early thirteenth century.<br />
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Between the years of 1223 and 1225, the town of Zabuth was the location of horrific violence and hundreds of the town's inhabitants lost their lives, as did many of the Christian soldiers sent by Federico II. The legend states that bodies were constantly thrown from the high walls of the fort onto the rocks below. <br />
<br />
The Arabs were defeated and from that day everything changed in the town of Sambuca. The Christian occupants of the town often awoke from their sleep to hear the tortured cries of the war's victims as their souls wandered through the tiny cobbled streets for all eternity. When there was a full moon, it is said that the shadow of an enormous Saracen warrior would appear on the steps of the stone staircase and throw his hands to the sky with a desperate, tormented wail. When commemoration ceremonies were held for the lives of the fallen Christian soldiers, the haunting cries coming from the streets would be heard even above the sobs of the gathered mourners. <br />
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This dreadful fear amongst the town's inhabitants lasted for many years. So much so that in the sixteenth century, a church was built in dedication to the 'Madonna del Rosario' by the Jesuit Gaspare Paraninfo to exorcise the town's lost souls. On the rock face next to the stone staircase where the apparition of Emir Al Zabut would appear, a large mural was painted of the Madonna (the Virgin Mary) to keep any Saracen spirits away. This mural became known as the 'Madonna della Scala'.<br />
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The painting was eroded away by nature's elements long ago but the church of the 'Madonna del Rosario' still exists, as does the cursed staircase ..... however even the town's worst sceptics are loathed to set foot upon it!<br />
<br />
Happy Halloween!<br />
<br />
<h4>
<a href="http://bit.ly/oneeurohomes" target="_blank">>> Click here for your free guide to homes in Sambuca di Sicilia for one euro <<</a></h4>
<br />
A presto,<br />
<br />
Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a><br />
<h4>
<br /></h4>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Amici, if you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'Join this site' icon at the top right of the page. Grazie mille for your support!!</span></span>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-59989581404800645012013-09-25T05:43:00.000-07:002013-10-23T04:14:36.446-07:00A Sicilian's Journey - Book ReviewBuongiorno a tutti! This month we have had the pleasure of reviewing a wonderful book written by William V. Fioravanti. It is a truly captivating read and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Sicily and in Italian immigration. For those of you who have not yet seen the article on our website (<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a>) here is the author's description of his book and our review - <br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">William V. Fioravanti’s Book Description<o:p></o:p></span></span></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a non-fiction account of the life of my grandfather. His life
starts in Sicily and follows him through his arrival in New York and his
experiences in the small colonial town of Johnstown and twin city Gloversville.
Although it is not permeated with gangsters and violence, there is much action.
Life for immigrants in these small upstate New York villages was not a simple
transition and there are plenty of unusual happenings.<br />
<br />
I wrote this story as a treatment for a screenplay and when you peruse the work
you will see how it flows from chapter to chapter. Some chapters are short but
still very visual. It is my sincerest desire that you will find a very unusual
and exciting journey of a Sicilian immigrant striving to survive in a new and
fast changing world.</span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">History,
love and passion are all prevalent in great abundance in A Sicilian’s Journey.
This book is full of interesting information about the actual events of one
family taken from all aspects. I have a great interest in Sicilian culture and
the history of Sicilian immigration to America and gained much knowledge from
reading this book. As soon as I had read two chapters I was engrossed to see how
the story unravelled and to reveal the final outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The story
begins in Sicily in 1878 with Vincenzo Saviotti. Many villages at the time,
although beautiful and historic, did not have an economy that could support
families. Although the Saviotti family had lived in a small Sicilian village
called Castelmola for many years, Vincenzo decided to take his trade as a
cobbler to Messina. It is from this decision that the story of the Fioravanti
and Andreana family begins. As Castelmola, close to Taormina, is a town that I
visit often, I was very interested to read the differences between the
Castelmola that I am familiar with now and that of two hundred years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Sicilian’s
Journey moves between different points in time and focuses on different
characters of this Sicilian family. It is written in such a way that is flows
effortlessly from one section to another. I have found the family completely
fascinating and I particularly enjoyed reading about Guglielmo Fioravanti, the
author’s Grandfather, and genuinely cared about him. As I was reading the book,
I constantly wanted to find out more about the journey of Guglielmo, and all of
his family members, and what happened to them. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sicilian
Americans would relate to this book tremendously; I personally found it a truly
emotional read. I experienced a wide range of feelings and became very involved
with the story. It was easy to picture it all in my mind, making it very real
and prompting me to learn more about the immigration of Italian Americans and
the harsh reality of it; the dreadful conditions on the ships, the
claustrophobia, the dysentery and disease... how did they manage to survive?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fact
that Italians changed their names from their own Italian birth names to
American names highlights the prejudice felt by the immigrants and the measures
that they were forced to take in order to be accepted. They faced terrible
unemployment and difficult housing situations due to their Italian nationality
and allegedly ‘lowly’ stature in America. It is easy to see why Ellis Island
became known as the ‘Island of Tears’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was truly
compelled by this book and by Guglielmo Fioravanti who, with great foresight,
kindness, generosity and hard work for his family allowed them to prosper and
to be blessed in his choice to relocate to the northern New York state of Johnstown.
This lovely book is a must-read. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Sicilian’s Journey can be purchased to read on your Kindle at the
following link - </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Sicilians-Journey-ebook/dp/B00CUMSMXI"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Sicilians-Journey-ebook/dp/B00CUMSMXI</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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A presto,</div>
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Debra Santangelo</div>
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a> </div>
Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-52207630363672079592013-09-09T06:27:00.001-07:002013-09-09T06:27:50.476-07:00La Festa di Santa Rosalia - Bensonhurst<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Buongiorno a tutti! I hope that you all had a wonderful Summer and had the chance to attend at least one of the wonderful Italian festivals that took place all over the world. One of these festivals was 'La Festa di Santa Rosalia' which took place in the Bensonhurst area of Brooklyn, New York.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lDBC4AeyRSvXxEMolfYC36nM8Lw0XPV3JkSwC65iyR6QwmGLkd0__k9NA9UfT9FL8U8TCrzKwEkcwDCNBR_rEVvqF151iMv4OQzwFEQrfDjlaRbSC0qZl7cX0chasmmhjCebI-S2MKA/s320/santa-rosalia-640x460.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When hundreds
of thousands of immigrants left Sicily in the late nineteenth century for the
shores of America they took many of their traditions and customs with them.
This made the transition slightly easier and enabled them to enjoy a piece of
home in this new, unknown land. One of these traditions was the ‘Festa di Santa
Rosalia’ which has been celebrated in Palermo for 389 years and has now become
a long standing tradition in the Italian American community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The feast
has always been celebrated in Brooklyn but it originally took place in the
parish of the Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen’s Church in Carroll Gardens, which
was Brooklyn’s first Italian parish. The procession originally involved
followers walking barefoot through the streets of the neighbourhood to show
their devotion to the Saint. Since then the festival has been moved to the
Bensonhurst area where it has existed for seventy years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=qZc9ByoGvpIBBM&tbnid=CVU8Urc9_yN8GM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ronsaari.com%2FslideShow.php%3Fgallery%3Dnyc%26image%3DBensonhurstStRosaliaFestival1.jpg&ei=VMstUprYLbL50gXFlYCgCA&bvm=bv.51773540,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNFIMBA9zB1PK7pAym_bK8Xd2Bx4wg&ust=1378819242042760" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img height="266" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/nyc/BensonhurstStRosaliaFestival1.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year at
5pm each day from 22<sup>nd</sup> August to the 1<sup>st</sup> September, 18<sup>th</sup>
Avenue was closed between 68<sup>th</sup> Street and Bay Ridge Parkway to allow
local residents to enjoy the offerings of over 100 vendors. These Italian
American merchants offer a wide range of delicious Sicilian specialities such
as cannoli, zeppole and arancini and families from across the city came
together to experience this time honoured tradition. Many Sicilian families
have moved away from these tight-knit communities in recent years and the Feast
of Santa Rosalia often provides the ideal opportunity to come together and
share stories of their ancestry and heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was,
however, some controversy surrounding the festival this year. It was originally
thought that the feast may have to be cancelled, as it was in 2011, due to problems
with street-closure permits and other paperwork issues. Thankfully these issues
were resolved at the last minute and it is the wish of this loyal and devoted
community that the ‘Festa di Santa Rosalia’ will continue to survive long into
the future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amici, if you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'Join this site' icon at the top right of the page. Grazie mille for your support!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A presto!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Debra Santangelo</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a> </div>
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Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-81854914678142992892013-06-28T02:24:00.000-07:002013-06-28T02:24:11.779-07:00Interview with Professor Philip J. DiNovo<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Buongiorno a tutti! This week I had the honour of speaking to Professor
Philip J. DiNovo who is the Founder and President </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">of the
esteemed American Italian Heritage Association and the American Italian
Heritage Museum in Albany, New York. He has also been knighted by the Italian
Government and is a respected figure in America’s Italian community. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Mr. DiNovo agreed to provide our
readers with further information about his organisation and about his own
connections to the island of Sicily and here is our exclusive interview :-) I hope you enjoy it!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="image" src="http://www.americanitalianmuseum.org/images/preserving_logo.jpg" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Good Evening.
Please can you tell us about The American Italian Heritage Association and how
it was originally founded?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I founded the American Italian Heritage Association in 1979. Our mission
is to record and preserve our Italian heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Association has been involved in many projects throughout the Italian American
Community. Can you tell us about some of these activities?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We offer many programs, events and classes to carry out our mission. We
are a resource for all things Italian in the community. We publish a 20 page
bi-monthly newsletter in English that goes to our members in 37 states and
several countries. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">How did
the opening of the American Italian Heritage Museum come about?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In 1985 I founded the American Italian Heritage Museum in Utica, NY and
closed it in 1997. We then moved to Albany, NY and our campus has three
buildings. Our museum is in a former church and there are ten rooms of
exhibits, the Hall of History, the Donor Tree in the Reception Room, the Gift
Shop and two offices. Our museum is the largest Italian American room in the
Eastern part of the USA. On the second floor (1,900 sq ft.) will be our Italian
Cultural Center.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you
please give us some insight into what visitors to your wonderful museum can
expect to see?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our Museum has the following rooms: Immigrant (2), Italian Folk Art,
Religious, Italian American Music, Old Photo, Hall of History, Contribution of
Italian Americans, Art, Special Exhibit and Military.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The museum honors the Italian Immigrants; we tell their story and we tell
of the contributions of Italian Americans.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Termini_Imerese_bjs07-01.jpg"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="File:Termini imerese bjs07-01.jpg" height="271" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Termini_Imerese_bjs07-01.jpg/800px-Termini_Imerese_bjs07-01.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the museum's current exhibits is 'My Sicily, Lights and Color' by the Sicilian artist, Joseph Anastasio. Can you tell us some more about this exhibit?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'My Sicily, Lights and Color' Exhibit is by a member born in Sicily, Joseph Anastasio. The paintings are of Sicily and its people and his body of work shows a tremendous love for, and understanding of, his land. Almost all of his works are painted on ceramic tiles, illustrating scenes of Sicily with its beautiful landscapes, its people, its villages, but most of all the sea and the unforgettable sunsets. In his landscapes, you will find monuments from the ancient Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines and Normans. All of these people left a legacy of their cultures to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. Through his art, Joe Anastasio shows us the Sicily that he will never forget and never stop loving.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you
have Sicilian connections yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yes, both sets of my grandparents were born in Sicily.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please
can you tell us about where your Grandparents are from and how your family came
to live in America?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Both sets of my grandparents came from Sicily and were born in Termini
Imerese, a very beautiful place. My grandfather DiNovo was a truck farmer and
successful in real estate (in Albany, NY). My grandfather Sgarlata was in the
produce business but lost a great deal in the depression.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you
ever visited the island of Sicily? If so, which are your favorite places to
visit there?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been to Sicily twice. I loved all of Sicily, not only for its
beauty and people, but for its traditions etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Termini_Imerese_bjs07-04.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="File:Termini imerese bjs07-04.jpg" height="208" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Termini_Imerese_bjs07-04.jpg/800px-Termini_Imerese_bjs07-04.jpg" style="height: 282px; width: 540px;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you
think that there are still many aspects of Italian culture evident in the
current American society?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I am sorry to say we have lost so much and our mission is more difficult
as we lose the older generation. Our mission is more important than ever!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which
places in New York would you recommend to visitors looking to experience true
Italian American culture?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">New York State has the most people of Italian heritage in the USA. We
have many Little Italys, Italian</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">institutions,
organizations, churches, stores, restaurants etc.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What
have been the highlights of your career so far?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I have been knighted by the Italian government (Cav.). I am the founder
of the Association and Museum and this is my 34th year as a volunteer. I taught
on the college level for 32 years and received many awards. I thank God for the
gifts he has given me and the opportunity to serve.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank
you so much for your time. Would you like to provide any extra information for our
readers who would like to join the association or read more about the museum?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Association Membership </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">is $25 a year (plus postage for those outside the United States). Mail a
check to us and send it to 1227 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205 (USA)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also have a great website<span style="color: white;"><strong> </strong></span></span><a href="http://www.americanitalianmuseum.org/"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;">www.americanitalianmuseum.org</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>
</strong></span>and a Facebook page and a free Email</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Newsletter.
I hope all who read your article will pay us a visit or at least stay in touch
by signing up for our free Email Newsletter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Debra Santangelo<o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-78610693391782065902013-05-15T03:22:00.005-07:002013-05-15T03:22:47.319-07:00Viva Sant' Alfio & Recipe for 'Granita di Mandorla'!<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Buongiorno a tutti! I hope that you are all well and enjoying this lovely Spring sunshine. Today I want to write about one of my favourite festivals in Sicily which is the 'Festa di Sant'Alfio' in the town of Adrano. This festival will take place on the 26th May 2013 and features a parade of beautiful Sicilian carts being pulled through the streets by intricately adorned horses.<br />
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The first parade will take place on the 25th May at 6.30pm and the second will be at 10.30am on the Sunday the 26th May. The horse's riders are all in traditional costume and play Sicilian instruments whch makes for a very festive atmosphere. At 5.15pm on Sunday there will also be a procession of the three Saints - Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino, the three young brothers who were martyred in the nearby town of Lentini in 253 AD.<br />
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<a href="http://www.santalfioadrano.it/fckeditor/immagini_fck/image/Programma2013_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Programma 2013 Sant'Alfio Adrano" border="0" height="400" src="http://www.santalfioadrano.it/fckeditor/immagini_fck/image/Programma2013_1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Now that Spring is here it is also finally 'granita' time on the island of Sicily! This is one of my favourite Sicilian delicacies and is similar to a sorbet. Here is the recipe for Almond Granita which is my all-time favourite flavour! - </div>
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<u><strong>Granita di Mandorla</strong></u></div>
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600 ml Water</div>
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250g Blanched Almonds</div>
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125g Caster Sugar</div>
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1) Put the almonds, sugar and the water in a blender and process until as smooth as possible.</div>
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2) Pour the resulting almond milk into a large sieve lined with a clean J-cloth or muslin set over a bowl. Leave to drip overnight. Help it along every so often by gripping the cloth and squeezing the liquid through. Squeeze as much liquid as you can from the almonds.</div>
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3) Pour into a shallow container and freeze, roughly forking the crystals 4 or 5 times during the freezing process. Serve.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="mainImage" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0EItposaDWlvCarABwH7GeplAti86t0wXt49Whd3pWZBqzEpcilnXSTfVnbi7ebDPTMSHicRq6oflENxrNearZNcpNUBjlqjjSNAmmaKClUNluCS3CVf74tD6DR7c2wEkmf6eNebS1F8/s1600/scursunera.jpg" style="background-color: white; height: 287px; width: 290px;" /></a></div>
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When you have made your Granita di Mandorla, you can watch this video of last year's Sant'Alfio celebrations in Adrano while you enjoy it. Now you can truly feel that you are in the midst of the Sicilian springtime! -<br />
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Amici, if you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'Join this site' icon at the top right of the page. Grazie mille for your support!!</div>
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A presto!</div>
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Debra Santangelo</div>
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a></div>
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Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-32434894389247221502013-04-17T03:18:00.001-07:002013-04-17T03:18:46.106-07:00Villabate Pastry Shop Advances Historical Novel Set in Sicilian HometownBuongiorno a tutti - I hope that you all had a wonderful Easter! Today I would like to share with you a recent article from our website written by the New York Arts and Business Consultant Roberto Ragone. It is about the most famous Sicilian pastry shop in New York - Villabate Alba in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Villabate have been involved with the recent 'Trinacria' campaign and this article gives some interesting insight about their 'Sicilian Connections'.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/Home_13603.html?c=14948" target="_blank" title=""><img alt="" src="http://wizz-it.com/wizz-it/fle/1520/assets/villabate.jpg" style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; -moz-box-shadow: none; -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-border-radius: 10px; -webkit-box-shadow: none; -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); border-radius: 10px; border: 0px solid transparent; box-shadow: none; height: 214px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: rotate(0deg); width: 321px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #cc0033; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Villabate Pastry Shop Advances Historical Novel Set in Sicilian Hometown</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span><strong>Villabate is the name of the New York Metropolitan area’s finest Sicilian bakery and pastry shop. It is also the name of the ancestral town of the Alaimo family, who have owned and operated this Bensonhust institution for 35 years. For family and historical reasons, their hometown of Villabate, Sicily is now the primary setting for <em>Trinàcria: A Tale of Bourbon Sicily</em>, a novel that the Alaimos are helping to support and promote.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span><span>“This may be a case of the Princess and the Pastries, or of the Bourbons come to Brooklyn,” said author Anthony Di Renzo, whose roots also extend to Villabate. Inspired by a town legend, popular when patriarch Angelo Alaimo was still a boy, Di Renzo’s novel pays tribute to their common heritage.</span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>The author’s great-grandfather, Antonio Coffaro, supposedly smuggled food and supplies to Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose troops invaded Sicily as part of the Risorgimento, the Italian unification movement of the mid-1800’s. Garibaldi and a hand-picked retinue came to Villabate and personally thanked him in the municipal square. </span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>Di Renzo’s thanks, however, acknowledges the Alaimo family’s literary patronage. For contributing “dough” towards the book’s production and distribution, the Villabate-Alba Bakery and Pastry Shop will appear in the novel’s acknowledgment section.</span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>Di Renzo’s collaboration with Villabate-Alba honors Sicilian family, Sicilian history, and Sicilian craftsmanship. “After all,” he said, “the Alaimos are artists, too.”</span></span><br />
<span></span><span><span>“Corporations aren’t the only ones who support the arts,” Di Renzo noted. “Small businesses are just as important.” His collaboration with Villabate-Alba honors Sicilian family, Sicilian history, and Sicilian craftsmanship. “After all,” he said, “the Alaimos are artists, too.”</span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>For three generations the Alaimo family has created the finest Sicilian pastries, cakes, cookies and breads, whether in or in Bensonhurt, Brooklyn or back in Villabate, Sicily. The author’s mother, Maria Coffaro Bilo, and Angelo Alaimo, the founder of the Brooklyn pastry dynasty, were distant cousins and childhood playmates. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>When the economic recovery from World War II proved too daunting, Angelo and his son Emanuele immigrated to America. For over a decade, the two worked hard as simple breadmakers in bakeries all over Brooklyn, earning a reputation for quality and craftsmanship. Encouraged by their neighbors and customers, father and son in 1979 started their own place: Villabate of 18th Avenue. On opening day, Di Renzo’s 48-year-old mother, who had moved to America several years before Angelo, drove in from New Jersey to be among the first customers. </span></span></div>
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<span></span><span><span>Since then, Villabate-Alba has passed from Emanuele Senior to Emanuele Junior, Anthony, Lina, and Angela. As the family explained in a 2010 feature on Brooklyn Independent Television, Manny, “the quiet one,” runs things in the back; Anthony, “Mr. Personality,” entertains customers and handles the advertising and public relations; and Angela “basically bosses everyone around.” The new generation is proud of its Sicilian roots and visits Villabate almost every year. <span>However, <em>Trinacria</em> became a rich source of knowledge, providing the Alaimo family a whole new perspective on their roots and their ancestral town’s actual history. </span></span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>From the days of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Villabate, a suburb of 20,000 people, has been an important agricultural center in the Conca d’Oro, or Golden Conch, the fertile plain surrounding Palermo. In 1700, Antonio Agnello, an aristocratic abbé and an amateur botanist, founded a commune to develop the hardy strands of olive and citrus that became the area’s chief crops. Most of the town, not incorporated until 1858, would be parceled from the abbé’s huge estate; hence came the name Villabate, a contraction of Villa dell'Abate (Abbot’s Villa). </span></span><br />
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<span><span></span></span><span><span><span>This land forms the heart of <em>Trinàcria: A Tale of Bourbon Sicily</em>. The book’s title derives from the ancient Greek name for Sicily. <em>Trinàcria</em> refers to the island’s triangular shape and the three-legged gorgon on its regional flag. It is also the nickname of the novel’s narrator and protagonist, Zita Valanguerra Spinelli (1794-1882), Marchesa of Scalea, who moved from Bagheria to Villabate to grow prized blood oranges. Her turbulent life mirrors Sicily’s rocky transition from feudalism to capitalism.<span>Guernica Editions, an independent literary press in Toronto, Canada, plans to release the novel by November.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span><span>The Alaimo family played a key role in the book’s online campaign and live fundraising event, both sponsored by the Italian Cultural Foundation and Casa Belvedere and organized by consultant Roberto Ragone. The Villabate-Alba Bakery and Pastry Shop not only contributed money but supplied a large tray of <em>ossi di morti</em> for the November 29th reception at Umberto’s Clam House in New York’s Little Italy. <em></em>Shaped like human bones, these traditional almond-paste cookies are served throughout the month when All Souls Day falls. They seemed a fitting symbol for a book whose narrator speaks from beyond the grave.</span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>“We’re pleased to do whatever we can to move this book forward,” said Antonio Alaimo, “but we’re just as pleased to reconnect with a long-lost relative. Cousin Anthony and I share the same heritage. Sicilian stories and Sicilian sweets: who can get enough of them?”</span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>Di Renzo agrees. “It’s about the tasting the past. I think of that passage in Proust, where he bites into a madeleine and remembers his childhood. A slice of <em>cassata </em>or a pistachio <em>cannolo</em> has the same effect on Sicilians and Sicilian Americans. It unlocks memories and brings back the dead, whether in Palermo or Brooklyn. In fact, I hope this all inspires post-St. Joseph's Day orders for zeppole and sfingi from Villabate-Alba.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990033;"><strong><span style="color: white;">Readers may sample authentic Sicilian pastries at the Villabate-Alba Bakery and Pastry Shop, 7001 18th Avenue, Brooklyn. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990033;"><strong><span style="color: white;">Business hours are: Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Sunday, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Holidays, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Villabate-Alba also ships practically anywhere. Order through their website at </span></strong></span><a href="http://villabate.com/"><span style="color: #990033;"><strong><span style="color: white;">http://villabate.com</span></strong></span></a><span><span><strong><span style="color: #990033;"><span style="color: white;"> and taste the past</span></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span><span>I hope that you enjoyed this article! A presto :-)</span></span></div>
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<span><span>Debra Santangelo</span></span></div>
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<span><span><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a></span></span></div>
</span><span><span></span></span>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-37025651586523810112013-03-28T14:06:00.000-07:002013-03-28T14:06:53.003-07:00Buona Pasqua!Buongiorno a tutti i miei amici!! I hope that you are all well and finally enjoying some Spring sunshine :-)<br />
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We are now in Easter week which is one of the most significant periods in the Sicilian calendar. Every year, the atmosphere in Sicilian towns changes considerably throughout the week according to the day and its religious implications. Even the weather usually changes accordingly, with the week prior to Easter being dark and miserable only to give way to glorious sunshine on Easter Sunday. My own personal experiences of the week's events have mostly been in the town of Adrano, which is situated at the foot of Mount Etna, in the province of Catania. The processions are so elaborate and moving in this town, and they attract thousands of devotees.<br />
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Today the procession of 'Cristo alla Colonna' takes place from 6pm until 3am tomorrow morning, when the statue of Christ on the cross is carried throughout the streets of Adrano, calling in at each of the town's churches in order for the men carrying the statue to kneel at each altar. This is so emotional to watch as the statue is carried very slowly, three steps forward then two steps back, and sways from side to side. <br />
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On Good Friday from 7am until 2pm the statue of the Virgin Mary, l'Addolorata, is carried through the streets visiting each church looking for her son Jesus, and at 8pm there is the procession of 'Cristo Morto'. In dialect, this is 'U Lizzanti' and is the statue of the body of Jesus which makes four stops around the town, each time accompanied by a marching band playing the funeral song 'Canzoncina a Gesù morto'.<br />
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On Easter Sunday the sun shines bright in the sky and hundreds of families head towards the town centre to see the procession of 'Cristo Risorto' (Christ Resurrected), the Angel and of 'Maria Annunziata' (Virgin Mary). <br />
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The happiest time of the day is when the statues of Jesus and Mary finally meet and this is known as 'A Paci'. The statues are made to dance and kiss and the atmosphere in the piazza is so happy and uplifting. Adrano is renowned for 'la Diavolata', which is a theatrical production held outside in the piazza on Easter Sunday and depicts the fight between good (symbolised by angels) and evil (the devils). In the evening the town holds an incredible fireworks display.<br />
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I wish each one of you a 'Buona Pasqua' and leave you with a video in Italian showing the highlights of Easter in Adrano -<br />
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Amici, if you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'Join this site' icon at the top right of the page. Grazie mille for your support!!<br />
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A presto :-)<br />
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Debra<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a>Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-87272865652685164842013-03-04T02:51:00.001-08:002013-03-04T02:51:53.437-08:00My Interview with Joe Zarba - Renowned Sicilian-American PhotographerBuongiorno a tutti! I recently interviewed a friend of mine, Joe Zarba, who is a very talented photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. Joe's parents were born and raised in Italy and 10 years ago he started to research his ancestral town of Leonforte in Sicily. I would like to share some of this interview with you as it gives a great insight into his photography and is an inspiration to those researching their own Sicilian ancestry - <br />
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<strong><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Good Morning Joe. Please can you tell us a little about yourself and how you became interested in photography?</span></span></span></strong><br />
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<span><span>First, may I thank you for the privilege of this interview.</span></span><br />
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<span><span>I was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and grew up a very happy child in Union City, NJ. As a child the saddest thing was that my father, who grew up in Sicily, died when I was 13. This event has coloured and shaped my entire life.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://wizz-it.com/wizz-it/fle/1520/assets/joe_zarba_portrait2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://wizz-it.com/wizz-it/fle/1520/assets/joe_zarba_portrait2.jpg" style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; -moz-box-shadow: none; -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-border-radius: 10px; -webkit-box-shadow: none; -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 15, 15); box-shadow: none; height: 429px; left: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 0px; transform: rotate(0deg); width: 321px; zoom: 1;" /></a><span><span>I spent the major part of my adult life teaching photography in a middle school here in Brooklyn, NY. It was something I always wanted to do, but never thought I’d have a chance to do, so I never gave it a second thought and then it was dumped in my lap so to speak. There were two cameras and two enlargers at the school and I proudly say I developed (no pun intended) a very reputable program over the course of 20 years. Ironically, I didn’t pick up a camera until I was 26, which was quite a while ago!</span></span><br />
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<span><span>As far as instruction, I am completely self -taught, having gotten my first camera from my father-in-law of my first marriage. The camera had no light meter so I wrote down every exposure and under what conditions I shot until I really learned light.</span></span><br />
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<span> I read everything I could get my hands on and I still have the major periodical that taught me everything. It was an issue of a magazine called Modern Photography and the article was entitled, “Everything you Need to Know about 35mm Photography” Even though we are in the digital age, I consider it still to be a classic of basic fundamental photography.</span><br />
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<span>While the technology changes, the science remains the same. A special thanks goes out to Jim Marsh, who needed a place for his enlarger and used my basement. It was Jim who taught me how to print.</span><span><span></span></span><br />
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<span><span>My photography now is really relegated to my images of Sicily, many of which can be found on my blog siciliabedda-beddasicilia.blogspot.com</span></span><br />
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<span></span><span><span>I have ideas for lots of projects but four grandchildren happily fill up a major part of my life. </span></span><br />
<span></span><span><span>One project in particular, is finding, interviewing and photographing people who were born in Sicily, emigrated and then went back, a story in reverse so to speak. We’ll see what happens with this, but if anyone knows of people in this category, I would be forever grateful to speak to them.</span></span><br />
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<span><span><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Can you please explain to us your connections to the island of Sicily?</span></strong></span></span><br />
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<span><span>I grew up in an Italian culture. My mom was born here, also in New Jersey of parents from Campobasso on the mainland and my father was raised with his three brothers and two sisters in Sicily before he and two brothers separately emigrated to the U.S. I used to sit and look over my dads’ shoulder as he wrote letters home every week. Phone calls were out of the question. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>My mother who passed away in 2002 was as wonderful as any child could ask for but I was always a daddy’s boy. My mom was the disciplinarian and he always protected me! When he died, there was a hole in my heart which I carried with me, mostly unconsciously, until 1988 when I made my first trip to Sicily with my wife Susan whom I credit with being the driving force in my finding my father’s family, connecting, building a relationship and giving me the closure I never had. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>On that trip, we happened to drive to Nissoria (EN) where my two aunts and uncle lived. Fortunately, there was a guy from Queens NY staying with them who did all the translating as I knew only American-Italian which was just a combination of Italian words, real or imagined. I never got the story of why this guy was there or his connection but this was a beginning.</span></span><br />
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<span><span>It wasn’t until about 15 years later, when my wife Susan noticed that most of my photos, whether here or there, were of older men. She stated the obvious; “Joe, you are looking for your father”. After having been to Venice to photograph Carnevale three times, she said, it is time you went to Sicily to find your family. The obviousness of this statement changed my life. Fast forwarding, In October of 2003, I believe it was, I wrote an e mail to the ‘comune’ in Leonforte where I knew my cousin was (the aunts and uncle had all passed away by this time). I was almost glad they didn’t respond because of my language fears and the thought of having them believe I was a relative. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>Anyway, the following February I went to Carnevale in Acireale, Sicily “armed” with a photo book of our entire family including my cousin Angela when she was a child. One Friday it poured and all the events were cancelled for the day. I said, what the heck, and I decided to drive to Leonforte trying to time my drive so the ‘comune’ would be closed for ‘pranzo’ and maybe for the weekend! Well, they were open! I took a deep breath, walked in and introduced myself. All of a sudden I was mobbed and apologies were given for not having gotten back to me. They remembered the email as soon as I introduced myself!</span></span><br />
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<span><span><span><span>We chatted, they took all my information again and promised to do a search and get back to me. This being the town where my dad grew up, I did not want to leave so I just walked the town looking for the oldest people I could find to ask if they knew anyone with the last name Zarba not knowing that in Sicily it is pronounced differently as Zarba`. After a few hours of ‘No, mi (or ci) dispiace”, I decided to return to Acireale. </span></span><br />
<span><span>As I was going down the hill, a little old fiat cinquecento pulled in front of me, motioned for me to get out of the car. The man inside was the same man, Gianmaria, I met in the ‘comune’. He handed me a post it with information and told me to, “Go back into town, go to a bar and ask for help. THIS IS YOUR RELATIVE”! </span></span><br />
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<span><span>I reluctantly did just that and a man in the first bar I went into KNEW my cousin so we walked to her apartment, (which is the same apartment my father and his siblings grew up in) rang the bell and this woman and her daughter came down. He told them, “This gentleman is from New York and SAYS he is a relative of yours”. I showed her the book and she knew it was true because there she was with her mother, aunt and uncle.as well as those who emigrated. The story goes on and on but I could feel the hole finally closing.</span></span><br />
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<span></span><strong><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">How did it feel to finally visit Leonforte, the town that is so important to your family?</span></span></span></strong><br />
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<span><span>It is one thing to visit the town but can you imagine going to the same home your father or mother grew up in? I still get goose pimples thinking of it! Of course it has been renovated but walking the three floors is a journey in my father’s mind and shoes. I imagine conversations he may have had with his parents, brothers or sisters. I imagine what it may have looked like one hundred years ago as he was born in 1902. It is something so personal that trying to describe it takes away from the actual experience.</span></span><br />
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<span><span><strong>I hope you enjoyed this extract of the interview. To see the rest of the questions please go to - </strong><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/?c=15336"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>http://www.sicilianconnections.com/?c=15336</strong></span></a><strong><span style="color: orange;">.</span> </strong></span></span><br />
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<span><span><strong>A selection of Joe Zarba’s Sicilian photography is available to buy at<span style="color: #ff3333;"> </span></strong><a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/Art-Store_11457.html"><span style="color: #ff3333;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>http://www.sicilianconnections.com/Art-Store_11457.html</strong></span></span></a><span><strong><span style="color: orange;">.</span> </strong></span></span></span></span></span><span><span></span></span><br />
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A presto :-)<br />
<br />
Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a> <br />
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P.S. If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the
Google 'join this site' icon at the top of the blog page. Grazie mille for your
support!! <br />
<span><span></span></span><br />
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Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-75389919071818422992013-02-15T03:17:00.002-08:002013-02-15T03:17:39.773-08:00The Festival of San Corrado - Noto, SiracusaBuongiorno amici! I hope that many of you, even if you are not in Italy, have had the chance to enjoy some 'Carnevale' celebrations, or at least had the pleasure of enjoying some of the delicious Carnival food sold around the world! <br />
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Next week, on the 19th February, the Siracusan city of Noto will celebrate its Patron Saint and protector, San Corrado. Corrado Confalonieri originated from 14th century Piacenza and chose to leave all of his possessions behind to become a Franciscan monk and undertake a pilgrimage across Italy. He eventually retreated to a grotto in Noto and lived his life as a reclusive hermit. He was known as a kind, generous man who performed many miracles and when he died on the 19th February 1351, legend has it that the church bells started to ring of their own accord.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of San Corrado - Valley of the Miracles </td></tr>
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Corrado was made a Saint on the 28th August 1515 and his mortal remains are carried through the streets of Noto in both February and August to commemorate his life and good deeds. These celebrations are renowned as being among the most poignant on the island of Sicily and thousands of Sicilians come to the town each year in honour of the Saint; many of the devoted followers choose to follow the procession barefoot. A marching band leads the procession and in the evening there is a spectacular firework display which can be witnessed from miles around. <br />
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The city of Noto is famous for its 18th Century buildings including the beautiful cathedral and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can read about Noto's annual flower festival which takes place in May in last year's blog post - <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/baroque-noto-in-bloom.html">http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/baroque-noto-in-bloom.html</a>.<br />
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Enjoy this Italian video documentary about last August's San Corrado festival in Noto, made by a local news team -<br />
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A presto!<br />
<br />
Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a> <br />
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P.S. If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the Google 'join this site' icon at the top of the blog page. Grazie mille for your support!!Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-42057819548906077322013-02-05T12:28:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:49:27.145-08:00Almond Blossom Festival - Agrigento Buongiorno a tutti! As the evenings start to turn lighter and we head into February, many of us start to look forward to the onset of Spring. The winter snow was fun and Christmas was enchanting as always, but I, for one, am certainly ready for the first rays of Spring sunshine to make their appearance. <br />
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On that note, I would like to talk about one of my favourite events in Sicily - La Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore or 'the Almond Blossom Festival'. This annual event takes place in the majestic city of Agrigento and celebrates the first almond blossoms of the season - one of the earliest visible signs that Spring is coming.<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">The main city of Agrigento lies on a plateau overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of Sicily. It is the site of the ancient city of Akragas which dates back to around 580 BC and was described by the poet Pyndar as ''the most beautiful of mortal cities''. A great number of visitors come to the area to view some of the best-preserved Ancient Greek temples outside of Greece itself, which are situated in the 'Valle dei Templi' (Valley of the Temples) to the south of the city. This is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</span> </span></span></span><br />
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From the 1st until the 10th February, the city comes alive with colourful folk dancers from across the world exhibiting their traditional costumes and dances for the gathered crowds. Local restaurants and bars in the area serve delicious almond dishes and vibrant processions take place throughout the town.<br />
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Enjoy this wonderful video which shows the festival's highlights from last year - <br />
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If you can't make it to the festival then why not enjoy some almond and honey cookies or 'Mastazzoli'. The recipe is at on my Christmas blog post - <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tis-season-of-sicilian-christmas.html">http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tis-season-of-sicilian-christmas.html</a>.<br />
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A presto,<br />
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Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: #ff9900;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a><br />
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P.S.
If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the
Google 'Join this site' icon on the right of the blog page. Grazie mille for
your support!!<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-46713999627931263872013-01-24T12:56:00.001-08:002013-02-05T12:49:43.662-08:00Buon Carnevale!<br />
Buona sera a tutti! With memories of Christmas fading fast and the mountainous supply of panettone finally coming to an end, this can only mean one thing ....... it's Carnival time!! Carnevale in Italy is one of the year's biggest celebrations and towns throughout the peninsula come alive with music, parades and concerts. The word 'Carnevale' is thought to originate from the Latin words 'carnem levare' which literally mean 'to take away the meat', and this highlights the true reason for the festival which is to enjoy a final party before the restrictions of Lent. <br />
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Many towns, such as Venice, celebrate 'Carnevale' in February but, this year, the most famous carnival in Sicily will commence on Saturday 26th January in Acireale. On this day there will be a spectacular inaugural parade around the town at 5pm and then, until the 12th February, Acireale will be a flurry of amazing colours, embellished floats and, of course, mouth-watering Sicilian delicacies. The floats are enormous decorated platforms made by residents of the town and are judged throughout the competition for their design and originality. The winners will be announced at 11pm on the final day.<br />
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Other towns in Sicily which are renowned for their spectacular carnivals are Misterbianco, in the province of Catania, Sciacca in Agrigento and Termini Imerese in Palermo. <br />
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You can read more about the origins of 'Carnevale' on my carnival blog post from last year at <a href="http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/la-vita-e-un-carnevale.html">http://sicilianconnections.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/la-vita-e-un-carnevale.html</a>.<br />
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For a taste of what you can expect from the 'Carnevale di Acireale' enjoy this video of one of last year's finalists - <br />
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Buon Carnevale a tutti! I hope you get the chance to enjoy carnival time wherever you are in the world. Be sure to share your photos and stories with us as always.<br />
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A presto,<br />
<br />
Debra Santangelo<br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/">www.sicilianconnections.com</a><br />
<br />
P.S. If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the
Google 'Join this site' icon on the right of the blog page. Grazie mille for
your support!! <br />
<br />
<br />Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-54142762967036121282013-01-15T06:06:00.000-08:002013-01-15T06:06:57.484-08:00My Interview with Francesca V. Mignosa<br />
Buongiorno mondo! I hope that you are all well and that you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I also hope that you received some delicious candy from 'La Befana' rather than a piece of coal :-) Today I would like to share with you my recent interview with the author Francesca V. Mignosa. Francesca was recently awarded the Italian Literary Award 'Sicilia Mondo 2013' and her first book is called 'My Sicily: Living in the Cusp of the Mediterranean Sea'. I hope you enjoy it! -<br />
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<strong>Good Morning Francesca. Please can you start by telling us about your book ‘My Sicily’ and what inspired you to write it?</strong></div>
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‘Though we left the island, the island never left us’….. I write in my book. “My Sicily” is a collection of personal memories, stories, emotions and favourite destinations as I associate them with each individual place in my native island. It is a personal and educational story (240 pages long) through the island of a thousand scents and colours. I cannot really explain how this project came about – I can just tell you that over the past sixteen years, I have always represented Sicily in the USA (whether I wanted to, or was asked to). This was never my primary intention, neither did it immediately relate to my academic studies, but the more I spoke about my native island, presented events, researched and wrote about it, the more I discovered fascinating aspects of my culture that I didn’t know existed and was so drawn to attempt to describe them in depth and from a different perspective. Sicily is not “mine,” it belongs to all Sicilians and, very affectionately, all Sicilians abroad. The title is such because it describes “my” favourite people, places and aspects of our culture.</div>
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<strong>You recently won the 2012 Italian Literary Award ‘Sicilia Mondo’ for your writing and your role as Ambassador of Sicily in the world. How did it feel to be so honoured by your home country?</strong><br />
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Debra, I was absolutely stunned to receive this news! Also because I had already won the award in 2007 and so winning a second time around was almost unthinkable for me. Through the years, I have always remained close with President Avv. Azzia and Marco Belluardo – they have always followed my professional progress and completely surprised me this year again. I’m so humbled, honoured and delighted to have received such a prominent recognition. I hope to never let Sicilians abroad, and back home, down. I am and can’t be anything else but myself: a Sicilian-American with the best and highest intentions always at heart.<br />
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<strong>Do you feel that the media has had a negative influence on the perceptions of Sicily across the world?</strong></div>
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Perhaps in the past but having now lived abroad for the past sixteen years, I can honestly say that there is a greater fascination towards our island and a more educated approach to the portrayal of Sicily and all aspects of our culture.</div>
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<strong>How do you think that your book will influence your readers’ understanding of the island and its culture?</strong></div>
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My book is a very personal story, but I also conducted a year and half of research and writing. I divided the island into geographical areas: Eastern Sicily, South Eastern Sicily, Southern Sicily, The Heart of Sicily, Western Sicily, Northern Sicily, and the Sicilian Islands. For each individual place, I not only share personal stories, memories and emotions but also the highlights of history, art, cuisine, language, spirituality, the essence of Sicilians from various corners of the island and the values and flavours that make each destination so vibrant and unique. The book is written in a very simple, almost colloquial way, so that anyone, with any background could relate and understand the heart of Sicily and perhaps enjoy the journey so much that they would want to travel to our island! Mine was simply a labour of love – to have 12,000 followers on my blog is almost a miraculous happening for me. All I wanted to do was share a deep passion and love for the beautiful island where I was lucky enough to be born and share the beauty and sweetness of its people.</div>
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<strong>How easy was it for you to settle into the US after being born and raised in Sicily?</strong></div>
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My mom is Sicilian-American so we were raised in a bicultural, multilingual home (speaking Italian, Sicilian, English and French at all times). We lived most of our lives between Sicily and the USA so geographically it wasn’t a difficult transition because we were accustomed to travelling between the two cultures. Obviously, emotionally it was so hard for two teenagers to leave best friends behind but I believe that our destinies are already written and clearly marked. I know it was meant for us to move to the USA, otherwise I might never have written my book if I still lived in Sicily. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I’m so thankful to my parents for having raised my sister and I to embrace the best of both cultures simultaneously at all times.</div>
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<strong>What similarities did you see between the Sicilian culture and that of second and third-generation Sicilian families living in America?</strong></div>
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The values, the food, the spirituality, family, and the hard work ethics.</div>
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<strong>You have spent a lot of time touring recently to promote your book. Which aspects of Sicily do you miss the most while travelling?</strong></div>
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You know, Debra, I feel I am in Sicily every time I talk about my island. I’ve been so touched by the love and support of my readers – they are so sweet and share personal stories of immigration, identity, belonging, cuisine, family anecdotes with me. They make me feel so special. Every time I talk about Sicily, I am in Sicily. As I meet the Sicilian communities of America, I am in Sicily – their warmth and affection is almost overwhelming, but we – Sicilians – know nothing but that abundant love. Even Americans are embracing the book profusely as they wish to learn more about the island from the perspective of a young/recent immigrant with an international background. I’m so touched by their love for Sicily – it is truly contagious.</div>
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<strong>Which destinations on the island would you recommend to our followers looking to travel to Sicily for a short stay and why?</strong></div>
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Taormina – It was built by the Greeks merely for its strategic location and beauty. The two remain constants today. It is truly a Sicilian gem.</div>
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The Aeolian Islands – My favourite destination in Sicily. Raw, essential, authentic Sicilian. They have indescribable natural beauty and a general sense of wellness.</div>
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<strong>Which Sicilian traditions or events are closest to your heart?</strong></div>
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La Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore – Agrigento<br />
La Sagra del Miele – Sortino<br />
La Festa di Santa Lucia – Siracusa<br />
La Festa di Sant’Agata – Catania<br />
Le processioni della Santa Pasqua – Augusta<br />
La vendemmia – October in Augusta<br />
La raccolta delle olive/preparazione per l’olio – Augusta<br />
La Festa di San Nicola – Brucoli<br />
La Festa della Stella Maris – Augusta</div>
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<strong>Do you plan to write any more books?</strong></div>
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I’m working on my second book ……….and already started research for my third!</div>
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<strong>Thank you Francesca and good luck with your work in both Sicily and the USA!</strong></div>
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You can follow Francesca’s reflections on Sicily, her book tour, photos and also purchase ‘My Sicily’ on her blog at <a href="http://francescamignosa.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">http://francescamignosa.wordpress.com</span></a><br />
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<em><strong>Debra Santangelo</strong></em><br />
<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a><br />
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P.S. If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the
Google 'Join this site' icon on the right of the blog page. Grazie mille for
your support!! </div>
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Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315477160591509475.post-15892795301834737012012-12-21T02:19:00.002-08:002013-01-11T03:21:49.514-08:00Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!Buongiorno a tutti. I hope that you are all looking forward to Christmas and are almost finished your preparations! For this special Christmas blog I would love to share with you some interesting Sicilian Christmas images that I have come across recently.<br />
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This first photo was taken in the town of Viagrande, around 20 km from Catania. It features the balcony decorations of Giuseppe Sorbello, a local Fiat 500 enthusiast who loves his car collection so much that he has incorporated them into his Christmas! This is truly a 'Sicilian style' Christmas!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUyoslK3tt_QcjOhjCcB7VKfUdhd0CjuHlc9o0tslu6EjxteniSIAWZLELpj4WLQooHX7ptgnwOgfDwG7hiol7hrxhbwNuRvwc8J0QoNxgK85gxNnb2tv3FAN_zsdTv-cNrn8aRuK6Gc/s1600/Natale+-+Fiat+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUyoslK3tt_QcjOhjCcB7VKfUdhd0CjuHlc9o0tslu6EjxteniSIAWZLELpj4WLQooHX7ptgnwOgfDwG7hiol7hrxhbwNuRvwc8J0QoNxgK85gxNnb2tv3FAN_zsdTv-cNrn8aRuK6Gc/s320/Natale+-+Fiat+500.jpg" title="Davide Anastasi - La Repubblica" width="320" /></a></div>
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The second image is following on from last month's blog post about Christmas Nativities and is actually of an underwater Nativity Scene in the depths of the Tyrrhenian Sea close to Mondello.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11v37QtT78GD5mlc98hnqYY7m4CrWyBbJnsm8zXXdCuTQoDibmtfWY4fnrxJO4jY_AEQnKIxdLHKZlrDyrPCrVQPaQqqzpnlNTpj5ED1fBuWXZEHBVz2-pKdz9sWdvrrv2gQ79UuWr9E/s1600/Natale+nel+mare+-+Mondello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11v37QtT78GD5mlc98hnqYY7m4CrWyBbJnsm8zXXdCuTQoDibmtfWY4fnrxJO4jY_AEQnKIxdLHKZlrDyrPCrVQPaQqqzpnlNTpj5ED1fBuWXZEHBVz2-pKdz9sWdvrrv2gQ79UuWr9E/s320/Natale+nel+mare+-+Mondello.jpg" title="La Repubblica Palermo" width="320" /></a></div>
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This amazing spectacle by Giuseppe Benardo is the result of a collaboration with the local Sea Club, Rotary Club and Theatre 'del Sole' and will be underwater until the 6th January 2013. This Nativity Scene will also be visible at night thanks to a beautiful light installation which lights up the entire sea bed for all to see.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfV-7t1KuhXqPbjguuMLVzeBv07MxoknAZNlnUqRMr9Y_atm82ZY2rNsPQewLd3O5c_rTSFSfdVIQ-zC5GHJe-4aJ3HCDrf1IJI2zxJyHLpuvSZA3uO59Xe5FeUhfZRUoGQL1x-vWC3Y/s1600/Cioccolart+Taormina+Caretto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfV-7t1KuhXqPbjguuMLVzeBv07MxoknAZNlnUqRMr9Y_atm82ZY2rNsPQewLd3O5c_rTSFSfdVIQ-zC5GHJe-4aJ3HCDrf1IJI2zxJyHLpuvSZA3uO59Xe5FeUhfZRUoGQL1x-vWC3Y/s320/Cioccolart+Taormina+Caretto.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sicilian cart made of chocolate - Cioccolart Sicily </td></tr>
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For the chocolate lovers out there, you will be pleased to hear that there will also be a festival in Taormina dedicated to the art of chocolate! The second edition of the Cioccolato Sicily festival will take place at the 'Chiesa del Carmine' from the 20th December until the 6th January and features a beautiful exhibition of chocolate sculptures. There will even be tasting sessions, Christmas markets and a competition for the best chocolate cake!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDF30U8jf9uOIAnwH3P5z55Ah1s_EGa9zIzSx32pXHCwjnhwP2coMc1rGrlUmLKjb02Do4bs6AQ_Uo3m9NnWFfjpPGwsI3n1zbW6akgRtVEA3TQYLmuem_-dWlxKTpubJP0a4-mfrNsU/s1600/Natale+Palermo+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDF30U8jf9uOIAnwH3P5z55Ah1s_EGa9zIzSx32pXHCwjnhwP2coMc1rGrlUmLKjb02Do4bs6AQ_Uo3m9NnWFfjpPGwsI3n1zbW6akgRtVEA3TQYLmuem_-dWlxKTpubJP0a4-mfrNsU/s320/Natale+Palermo+2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas in Palermo 2012</td></tr>
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So, as you can see, there are many wonderful things to visit around the island of Sicily throughout the Christmas period. From the more traditional Nativity scenes of Caltagirone as mentioned in November's blog, to the 'not-so-traditional' aspects as shown here.</div>
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I wish you all a very Merry Christmas wherever you are in the world and a very healthy and happy new year. Thank you so much for your continued support thoughout 2012 - it has been a pleasure, as always, to receive your wonderful stories and photos and I hope that you will keep them coming throughout 2013.</div>
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Buon Natale!</div>
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Debra Santangelo</div>
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<a href="http://www.sicilianconnections.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.sicilianconnections.com</span></a> </div>
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P.S. If you enjoy reading my blog please become a follower by registering at the
Google 'Join this site' icon on the right of the blog page. Grazie mille!! </div>
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Debra Santangelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05202665086914603310noreply@blogger.com0