Culture

Una vita per difendere i diritti civili e diffondere i valori della cultura italiana in America. E per la professoressa Maria Fosco, nata a New York, figlia di emigranti di Orsogna (Chieti), è arrivato un prestigioso riconoscimento in occasione del …

Natale è alle porte, è giunto il tempo di allestire luccicanti alberi natalizi (una consuetudine tipicamente nordica) ma anche di preparare, con metodica cura e precisione, tradizionali presepi. C’è chi è combattuto, da sempre, fra la scelta dell’albero di Natale …

Dear Readers, November notes with an Italian connection: Thanksgiving Day is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November, since it was so fixed by President Lincoln in 1864. The custom dated back to the day of Thanksgiving set aside by the …

Recently a student and I were having a discussion about Pearl Harbor and the detrimental impact it had on the Japanese American population.  From our conversation I realized the student was unaware of how Italians were also mistreated and classified …

During November, Americans bring chrysanthemums to Roman social events. These New England and Midwestern transplants mean well. What could brighten an autumn engagement party at Cul de Sac or a Thanksgiving banquet at AUR better than mums? Gasps of horror …

Dear Readers, December is here, but while “Jesus is the reason for the Season”, each year it seems the focus becomes the ringing of cash registers rather than church bells. Do your holiday shopping with an Italian connection: ***   …

Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519 –1574) was one of the most important members of the Florentine de’ Medici family. He was the second Duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, and eventually became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany. If …

Who do you want to be when you grow up? “I want to be an astronaut,” many young boys – and a few girls – would answer. Some of them actually make it, including 37-year old ESA/ASI astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, …

While American youngsters put their shoes outside hoping that Saint Nick will leave them goodies, six-year old Filippo Brienza of Bologna put his shoes on to go see the Zampognari play.  He waited all year for the beginning of December …

Monuments are problematic, especially official state or national monuments. They dictate to the viewer what to think.  How do we commemorate without dictating?  Mount Rushmore’s intended message does not stop Douglas Gladstone in Carving a Niche for Himself from problematizing …