Te Deum on New Year's Eve

The Glory of the Holy Spirit with trumpet

A plenary indulgence is granted if the Te Deum is recited publicly on New Year’s Eve and a partial indulgence is granted to those who recite the hymn in thanksgiving.

We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Thee, the Father everlasting, all the earth doth worship.
To Thee all angels; to Thee the heavens and all the powers:
To Thee the cherubim and seraphim continually cry:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth.
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
Thee, the glorious choir of the apostles,
Thee, the admirable company of prophets,
Thee, the white-robed army of martyrs, praise.
Thee, the holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge:
The Father of infinite majesty;
Thy adorable, true, and only Son;
Also, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou, O Christ, art the King of Glory,
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou didst take upon Thee to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin’s womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our judge.
We therefore pray Thee to help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting.
Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance.
Govern them, and raise them up forever.
Every day we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy name forever; yea, forever and ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, to keep us from sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
R. And worthy to be praised, and glorious forever.

V. Let us bless the Father and the Son, with the Holy Ghost.
R. Let us praise and magnify Him forever.

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
R. And worthy to be praised, glorified and exalted forever.

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
R. And forget not all His benefits.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

New Years Eve and the Feast of San Silvestro I

My lucky skivvies

December 31st is the Feast of San Silvestro il Primo (St. Sylvester the First), Pope (314-335) and Confessor. Widely venerated across Southern Italy, he is the principal patron of Sacco (SA), Cesinali (AV), Feroleto Antico (CZ), Cermignano (TE), and Castroreale (ME), among others. 

According to tradition, he baptized and miraculously cured Emperor Constantine the Great of leprosy. A version of the story can be found in the renowned Sicilian folklorist Giuseppe Pitrè’s The Collected Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales, a collection of Sicilian oral traditions. Even more amazingly, he is said to have subdued a pestilent dragon with the aid of the Blessed Mother.

By happenstance, the day coincides with New Year's Eve and has become somewhat entwined with the jubilant year-end celebration, so most of the popular traditions affiliated with La Festa di San Silvestro have more to do with the secular New Year than with the Saint's day. 

Typical New Year's Eve celebrations in Southern Italy begin with dinner parties. And what better way to ring in the New Year than with a hearty meal with family and friends? Customarily lentils and pork sausages are served for dinner. It's said the food represents wealth and will bring good fortune to those who partake in the meal. In some households, figs are also exchanged so the coming year will be sweet as well. Afterward, people gather around bonfires or get together in the streets and squares to socialize and make merry. At midnight they watch huge fireworks displays. (The one in Naples is sheer pandemonium—watch YouTube video)

Of course, not all the rituals and folklore are related to food. In Naples, for example, some people still throw their old and broken household items out of their windows at midnight, taking the popular saying "Out with the old and in with the new" quite literally. This cleansing ritual symbolizes an optimistic fresh start.

The superstitious also believe smashing plates and glasses on the ground will frighten and chase away evil spirits. At the very least, its a cathartic release.

Wearing red underwear is another popular custom. The explanations for this curious practice are varied. For example, I've heard it said that red is a lucky color and it will bring prosperity to the wearer. Supposedly, it also symbolizes virility or fertility and is worn by those looking to have children or find romance. 

Whatever the true meaning is, I won't be taking any chances and will be wearing mine when I ring in the New Year. Evviva San Silvestro! Ora pro nobis. Buon Anno! Happy New Year!

Prayer to St. Sylvester 

O Loving Father and Saint Sylvester be a tower of strength to Your children, grant us increase, protect us from all harm and present, with your powerful intercession, our prayers to the Almighty. Pray for us, O Holy Father Saint Sylvester that we may be made worthy of promises of Christ. Be present to Your servants, O Lord, and through the intercession of our Holy Father Saint Sylvester, bestow upon us the unceasing help of Your grace so that, by following his example, we may be defended by Thy protection. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Feast of Santa Colomba di Sens

Santa Colomba di Sens, ora pro nobis

December 31st is the Feast of Santa Colomba di Sens, Virgin and Martyr. According to tradition, her relic was translated from France to the Cattedrale di San Sabino in Bari, Apulia, in the eighteenth century by a group of Vincentians fleeing religious persecution. In Bari, Santa Colomba is invoked against fire, drought and other natural disasters. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Santa Colomba di Sens. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Patrick O’Boyle, was taken inside the crypt of the Bari Cathedral. Evviva Santa Colomba di Sens!

A Prayer to Santa Colomba di Sens

O Glorious Santa Colomba, you served God in humility and confidence on earth, now you enjoy His beatific vision in Heaven. Help me to strengthen my faith and protect me in conflict. Obtain for me the grace to live a holy life, so that one day I may join you in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen

Top Ten Posts 2023

01 The Silent Night of the Cucibocca
02 Remembering The Ides of March
03 J.M.W. Turner and Naples: The Picturesque, Mythical and Mystical
04 Resisting the Madness
05 Memento Mori
06 Adelina Patti and Two Sicilies and European Opera in New York and Beyond (Part 1)
07 On the Mend and Never Feeling More Alive
08 Taking Our Side
09 The Truth is Out There
10 Roma Amor

Honorable Mention:

11 Fourteen Years and Counting

12 Adelina Patti and Two Sicilies and European Opera in New York and Beyond (Part 2)

13 Among the Ruins and the Forest Passage

14 Adelina Patti and Two Sicilies and European Opera in New York and Beyond (Part 3)

15 Objects of Devotion: Venerating Our Patrons at the Museum

16 Medieval Times at the Met

17 Fragments of a Lost Metropolis

18 “Doing Diaspora” Well

19 Arbëresh Tradition and the Poetry of Mario Bellizzi

20 Random Thoughts as the End of Autumn Approaches

Click here to see last year’s results

Feast of San Ruggero di Canne

San Ruggero Vescovo, ora pro nobis

December 30 is the Feast of San Ruggero di Canne (1060/70-1128/29), Bishop of Canne and principal protector of Barletta, Puglia. In addition to the Bishop’s habit, miter and crosier, the Saint’s distinctive attribute is the eagle. It is said a great bird once shaded the holy man with its wings during a pilgrimage to the Sanctuario di San Michele Arcangelo on Mount Gargano.

In Barletta San Ruggero is also honored on April 27, which commemorates the translation of the holy relics from Canne to Barletta in 1276, and on the second Sunday of July, the Patronal Feast of Barletta, along with the Madonna dello Sterpeto.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to San Ruggero in Italian. Evviva San Ruggero di Canne!

Preghiera a San Ruggero di Canne

O custode e pastore del gregge di Dio e instancabile annunciatore della salvezza, San Ruggero, scelto tra i fratelli a guidare la Chiesa di Canne: insegnaci ad essere come Te, discepoli della Parola, testimoni autentici e credibili del Vangelo.

Amico di Cristo, che per disposizione divina ha i privilegiato a luogo della tua pace. e del tuo riposo Barletta, Città di Maria, sostienici sempre con la tua intercessione fino a quando, accolti tra le braccia misericordiose del Padre, canteremo in eterno la sua misericordia. S. Ruggero, prega per noi!

Looking Back at 2023

Father Time with Baby New Year

I’ campo ancora (I’m still living) ~ motto

Looking back at 2023, I have a lot to be grateful for. First and foremost, I survived a massive heart attack in mid-August and the doctors said by all rights I should not be here. Apparently, God has other plans for me. My somewhat offhanded joke at the time was: “A heart attack was way too easy, God has a more painful death in store for me.” I hope this is not some self-fulfilling prophecy, but just in case, I’ve taken to praying to St. Joseph for a Happy Death.

Keeping my resolution to live a more fulfilling life, I'm trying to make the most of the time allotted to me and striving to better myself both spiritually and culturally. Devoting myself to a less active and more contemplative lifestyle, I’m doing my best not to take the little things in life for granted or get upset over things I have absolutely no control over (e.g. politics). Easier said than done with all the bad news constantly being shoved in our face, I really enjoy lampooning the dirty cloacae in power. It seems, I still have a lot to work on.

In addition to prayer and meditation, I’ve been immersing myself in poetry, philosophy, and all sorts of artwork. I've been visiting museums, parks and libraries, as well as spending as much quality time as possible with family and friends. Clearly, at this point in my life, I’m past my prime and in physical decline, but without the slightest hint of exaggeration, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am today. Despite what the wet blankets have predicted, my newly acquired euphoria thus far has not waned.

Requiescant in pace

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Not without loss and sorry, a beloved aunt and a younger cousin, her son, died just eleven days apart from each other this year. While death is never easy, she was sick and suffering for a long time. We pray she is in a better place. My cousin, on the other hand, was in the prime of his life. A hard-working and devoted father of two young sons, he was good-natured and admired by everyone. I’m not looking to fuel conspiracy theories, but he and his father (my uncle) both began having seizures after getting the COVID vaccine. I believe his life was cut short by the jab. May they rest in peace.

Living the dream

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” ~ Edgar Allan Poe, Eleonora (1842)

On a more positive note, I was knighted again in April—this time into the Royal Order of Francis I. [1] Bestowed by HRH Prince Carlo di Borbone, Duke of Castro and Grand Master of the Order, the investiture ceremony was held at the Columbus Citizens Foundation in Manhattan and, to my great joy, presided over by our esteemed Delegate and dear personal friend Gr. Uff. John M. Viola.

An incredible honor, I don’t know many people who actually get to live out their childhood dreams. You see, as a kid, while my friends wanted to be astronauts, cowboys and the like when they grew up, I always dreamt of one day being a knight. The suit of armor and the charger are missing, but the code of chivalry and the Quest for the Grail is alive and well.

After God, Naples [2]

Sarò con te,
E tu non devi Mollare,
Abbiamo un sogno nel cuore,
Napoli torna campione! [3]

In May Napoli won their Third Scudetto and, even though the team is struggling to retain their title this season, we’re still celebrating the great victory. Replete with memorable moments, it was truly a remarkable achievement—one we won’t soon forget. Grazie ragazzi e Forza Napoli Sempre!

Numbers don’t lie, but they can be manipulated

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” ~ Attributed to Mark Twain, who mistakingly attributed it to Benjamin Disraeli

Significantly less important than the items touched on above, but I guess still worth mentioning is that we reached over 2,000,000 visitors in September. Some have made more of this achievement than I think it deserves. I personally don’t put much stock in these numbers because there are too many questionable variables surrounding them. For all we know they can be bots, referrer spam or haters.

Whatever the figures, I still maintain that this undertaking is primarily a cathartic exercise to help flesh out our own thoughts and occasionally offer our opinions. If people happen to find it interesting and enjoyable, so be it. We don’t claim to speak for the Duosiciliano Community or even a large part of it, nor do we want to. As we have said in the past, this is not some popularity contest or cash grab. We prefer quality over quantity.

Better than all the figures, the single most rewarding moment throughout this endeavor was when a young man found us at church and told us we were the reason why he returned to the Faith. If for nothing else, this made the whole venture worthwhile.

The coming New Year

"Give me a condor's quill! Give me Vesuvius' crater for an inkstand!" ~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)

Looking forward to reaching our 15th Anniversary this March, we appreciate all our supporters and often pray for your intentions. Invigorated with new life and conviction, we will continue to work hard and do our best. Happy New Year and God bless you all.

Notes
[1] In May 2016 I was invested into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George by HRH Prince Carlo di Borbone, Duke of Castro and Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George at the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents in New York City.
[2] Neapolitan slogan quoted from The Passion and the Fashion, edited by Steve Redhead, Avebury, 1993, p.93
[3] I’ll be with you,
And you must not give up,
We've got a dream in our hearts,
Napoli, become a champion again! ~ Napoli football chant

Feast of San Tommaso Becket

San Tommaso Becket, ora pro nobis

December 29th is the Feast of San Tommaso Becket (St. Thomas Becket), Bishop and Martyr. Patron saint of secular clergy, he is the protector of Mottola, a town in the Province of Taranto, Puglia. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer for St. Thomas Becket. The accompanying photo of the gold Reliquary Pendant of Bishop Reginald of Bath for Queen Margaret of Sicily (Eng. ca. 1174-83) was taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. According to the inscriptions on the obverse of the pendant, the reliquary once contained pieces of the blood-soaked vestment of San Tommaso. Evviva San Tommaso!

Prayer for St. Thomas Becket

O God, for the sake of whose Church the glorious Bishop Thomas fell by the sword of ungodly men: grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his aid, may obtain the good fruit of his petition. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

A Look at the 2023 Suffrage Mass for SG Francesco II at the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittoria in Napoli

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio

Wednesday, December 27th, over 100 people gathered at the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittoria in Napoli to celebrate the Annual Holy Mass in Suffrage for Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies.

Members of the Fondazione il Giglio, Movimento Neoborbonico, 1° Reggimento Re, and Sacro Militare Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio were in attendance.

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio

Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Il Giglio 

Photo courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photo courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Viva 'o Rre! Remembering Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies

Servant of God Francesco II, ora pro nobis

At this year’s annual remembrance of Servant of God Francesco II of the Two Sicilies, we attended the Latin Tridentine Mass for the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista and prayed for His Majesty's beatification and the canonization of his mother Queen Blessed Maria Cristina di Savoia. Afterward, we enjoyed some fellowship, Duosiciliano fare, and the bottle of Re Manfredi Aglianico del Vulture we had blessed at the Mass. Viva 'o Rre!

Re Manfredi Aglianico del Vulture

For more information about the Beatification and Canonization process for Francesco II visit the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

Prayer for the Glorification of King Francis II of the Two Sicilies
[For private use only]

Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant HM Francis II, King of the Two Sicilies, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies
[For private use only]

O God, who has placed a great light in Your saints and a provident support for Your people along the path, listen with goodness to our prayer, and glorify Your servant Maria Cristina di Savoia, in whose life as a wife and queen You have offered us a shining model of wise and courageous charity, and grant us, through her intercession, the grace [mention here the graces you are asking for] which from You, with trust, we invoke. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast of Santa Caterina Volpicelli

Santa Caterina Volpicelli, ora pro nobis

December 28th is the Feast of Santa Caterina Volpicelli, founder of the Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart. Born into an upper middle-class family in Naples on January 21, 1839, Caterina gave up the bourgeois lifestyle for the grace of a religious vocation. In 1873—with the approval of the Cardinal Archbishop of Naples, the Servant of God Sisto Riario Sforza—she founded the Institute of Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart, a confraternity dedicated to contemplation and many charitable works. Among these were the establishment of orphanages, libraries and chapels. During a cholera outbreak in 1884, Caterina and the handmaidens distinguished themselves in ministering to the needs of the victims. They were granted a "decree of praise" from Pope Leo XIII on June 13, 1890. 

Caterina Volpicelli died at the age of 55 on December 28, 1894. She was declared venerable by Pope Pius XII on March 25, 1945 and proclaimed blessed by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 2001. Recognizing a miracle attributed to her intercession, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Caterina on April 26, 2009. In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to Saint Caterina Volpicelli. Evviva Santa Caterina Volpicelli!

Prayer to Saint Caterina Volpicelli

Saint Catherine, mother of young people and children, sister of the poor, friend of families, confidant of those who, eager to meet Christ, rely on your prayer and your advice, show yourself to us today, mother, sister, friend and confidant; help guide us on the paths of holiness. Teach us to love the Eucharist and the Church. Grant us wisdom of heart and mind. Feed in us deep faith, perfect charity and living hope. Make us love Jesus and the Virgin Mary, as you loved them. Amen.

Further reading: Caterina Volpicelli (1839-1894)

Feast of the Holy Innocents

Holy Innocents, orate pro nobis

December 28th is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the infant boys of Bethlehem massacred by King Herod in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. In remembrance, I'm posting a Prayer for the Holy Innocents. The accompanying photo of the Massacre of the Innocents (c.1640) by Pacecco de Rosa (Naples b. 1607—Naples d. 1756) was taken at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Prayer for the Holy Innocents

We remember this day, O God, the slaughter of the holy Innocents of Bethlehem by the order of King Herod. Receive, we beseech thee, into the arms of thy mercy all innocent victims; and by thy great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish thy rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

A Prayer for the Victims of the 1908 Earthquake in Sicily and Calabria

Triangular charity labels issued in 1908 to help raise money for the survivors

In memory of the victims of the earthquake and accompanying tsunami that devastated Messina, Sicily and Reggio Calabria, on December 28, 1908, we offer a prayer to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. An estimated 100,000 lives, including 90% of the inhabitants of Messina, were lost in the tragedy. May Sant’Emidio, Santa Rosalia, San Francesco di Paola, San Giorgio and the Madonna della Lettera watch over you.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Novena to the Three Kings

Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar

Pray the Novena to the Three Kings for nine consecutive days, December 28th to January 5th, in preparation for the  feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.

Day 1
O Holy Magi, you were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Son of justice; obtain for me an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding, one day, the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy. Glory be to the Father...

Day 2
O Holy Magi, who at the first appearance of the wondrous star, left your native country to go and seek the new-born King of the Jews; obtain for me the grace of, “Responding promptly, to every Divine inspiration.” Glory be to the Father...

Day 3
O Holy Magi, who disregarded the severity of the season and the inconveniences of the journey, so that you might find the new-born Messiah; obtain for me the grace, not to allow myself to be discouraged by any difficulty which may meet me on the road to my salvation. Glory be to the Father...

Day 4
O Holy Magi, who, when deserted by the star in the City of Jerusalem, sought humbly from the rulers of the Church, the place where you might discover the object of your journey; obtain for me the grace to have recourse, in faith and humility, in all my doubts and perplexities to the counsel of my superiors, who hold the place of God on earth. Glory be to the Father...

Day 5
O Holy Magi, who were gladdened by the reappearance of the star which led you to Bethlehem; obtain for me from God, the grace that remaining always faithful to Him in afflictions, I may be consoled in time by His grace, and in eternity by His glory. Glory be to the Father...

Day 6
O Holy Magi, who, entered full of faith into the stable of Bethlehem, prostrated yourselves on the earth, to adore the new-born King of the Jews, though He was surrounded only by signs of poverty and weakness; obtain from the Lord for me a lively faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the true spirit of poverty, and a Christ-like charity for the poor and suffering. Glory be to the Father...

Day 7
O Holy Magi, who offered to Jesus Christ gold, frankincense and myrrh, thereby recognizing Him to be King, God, and Man; obtain from the Lord for me the grace never to present myself before Him with empty hands; but that I may continually offer to Him the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, and the myrrh of penance. Glory be to the Father...

Day 8
O Holy Magi, who, when warned by an angel not to return to Herod, travelled to your home country by another route; obtain for me from the Lord, the grace that, after having found Him in true repentance, I may avoid all danger of ever losing Him again. Glory be to the Father...

Day 9
O Holy Magi, who were first among the Gentiles called to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who persevered in the faith till your deaths; obtain from the Lord for me the grace of living always in conformity to my baptismal vows, ever leading a life of faith and, like you, one day seeing God in His heavenly Kingdom. Glory be to the Father...

Around the Web: The Blessed Karol of Southern Italy

Francesco II and Maria Sophia leave Gaeta

Reprinted from The Missive

By Fr. William Rock, FSSP

Many readers of the Missive are no doubt aware of the devotion found in traditional circles to Blessed Karol of Austria and his wife, Servant of God Zita. This devotion is founded primarily on the recognition of their virtues, but there is the strong influence of what they represent. As the last Catholic Emperor and Empress, their lives and deaths represent a delineation between a previous order of the world and the present one. As the last monarchs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, their unjust and forced dethronement is seen as the death of Christendom, the spirit of which many traditional Catholics prefer over the spirit which pervades the world today. For the spirit of Christendom built civilizations, guided nations, and allowed the Catholic Faith to penetrate and infuse every aspect of the faithfuls’ lives.

There is little doubt that Blessed Karol and his devotees would find a kindred spirit in Servant of God Francesco II of the House of Bourbon, the last King of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He ruled over a kingdom which encompassed the southern part of the Italian peninsula and the island of Sicily. This territory was first organized as a kingdom in A.D. 1130 with the crowning of the first King of Sicily, the Norman Roger II. Yet the foundation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Il Regno, are rooted deep in history, going back from the time of Roger II to the various, prior districts governed by the Lombards, Normans, Byzantines, and Muslims, to the former provinces of the Roman Empire, and finally back to the original Greek colonies of Magna Græcia and the settlements of the Phoenicians. Continue reading

La Vigilia and Other Christmas Traditions

Sunday morning we attended the Traditional Latin Christmas
Vigil Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, New York

Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis

Like many Duosiciliano Americans, my family still keeps the tradition of La Vigilia di Natale, the Southern Italian ritual of eating seafood and eschewing meat on Christmas Eve. We don’t do the so-called Festa dei sette pesci, or “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” but we do eat a variety of aquatic delicacies.

The Nativity at Our Lady of Peace Church

Despite regular and varied claims to authenticity, I believe the “Seven Fish” custom is a relatively recent fabrication. According to my family’s matriarchs there were never a set number of dishes served, we simply ate what we could afford and what was fresh and available.

Today, we normally have shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels and scungilli (whelk), which all can be prepared in a variety of ways. Capitone fritto alla napoletana (fried eel) use to be the main course, but nowadays, since the passing of my grandparents, the dish has been replaced with aragosta (lobster), ricci di mare (sea urchin), seppia (cuttlefish), or baccalà (salt cod). This year, we enjoyed baccalà in umido (stewed codfish) and mini lobster tails.

Insalata di mare

Fritto misto di mare

Spaghetti alle vongole 

Baccalà in umido with tomato, onion and olives

Mini lobster tails

Following the fish bonanza, we had three different types of meatless panzerotti, a delicious deep-fried crescent-shaped dough filled with onions and capers; sweet ricotta; and the classic mozzarella and tomato.

Panzerotti

Next came fruit, roasted chestnuts, caffè and an assortment of delicious sweets, including homemade pizza di ricotta and cartellate. There is no panettone in my house.

Pizza di ricotta

Cartellate with fig syrup

Afterward, we played tombola with the kids and attended Solemn High Midnight Mass at the Shrine and Parish Church of the Holy Innocents in New York City.

Before Mass, the choir performed traditional carols and hymns. Plunged in darkness, the church was lit by candlelight during the procession   

After the procession, Baby Jesus was placed in the crèche and blessed

After Midnight Mass, we stayed for the Low Mass

Low Mass was celebrated by Fr. Leo Camurati 

John, Fr. Leo and David. After the Masses, we joined parishioners in the church hall for a festive coffee hour, replete with Polish and Italian delicacies

Still full from our Vigilia dinner, I did not eat the amazing
looking dishes at the coffee hour, but I did imbibe a
little Chartreuse and Nursia Ale during the toasts

Christmas morning we exchanged presents, and visited family and friends until dinnertime. Sadly, this year I did not make the Mass at Dawn commemorating Sant'Anastasia di Sirmio. 

This year, on top of the bottles of wine and liqueur, I received
Palaces of Reason: The Royal Residences of Bourbon Naples by Robin L.
Thomas and bookmark with Masolino da Panicale's Archangel Gabriel

No less extravagant than the Eve, Christmas dinner was a culinary tour de force with plenty of hot and cold antipasti, insalata, lasagna and grilled steak. Fruit, dessert and caffè completed the meal.

Christmas dinner is served

An impressive array of antipasti on a charcuterie board

Melanzane grigliate

Lasagna with tiny meatballs

Grilled steaks

During our meals we enjoyed white and red wines from Campania

Not quite finished yet, on December 26th, the second day of Christmas, we celebrate St. Stephen's Day (my saintly Confirmation namesake) with leftovers and homemade torrone, a sticky candy made from honey and nuts that dates back to Roman times. I like mine with a glass of Strega or Amaro.

Torrone

As always, the ladies outdid themselves and treated us to another memorable Christmas. Buon Natale a tutti!

~ Giovanni di Napoli, December 26th, Feast of Santo Stefano primo Martire

Amended for 2023