November 27, 2013

"Cucina Della Nonna" in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Participants and organizers pose for a photo
Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Giovanni di Napoli

On Sunday (Nov. 24th) I had the great pleasure of attending Cucina della Nonna ("Grandma's Kitchen"), the first of hopefully many celebrations of Neapolitan food, family, and culture sponsored by the Region of Campania (Regione Campania). The event included participants from several mutual aid societies originating from Campania — specifically the towns of Sacco, Teggiano, Sassano and Quaglietta — located in the provinces of Salerno and Avellino respectively. 

I showed up to the event at the San Cono Society headquarters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and watched masterful women demonstrate how they prepare their families’ gastronomic specialties. It was great to see these cooks get their children and grandchild involved with the cooking and preparation. The intoxicating aromas immediately brought me back to my childhood, reminding me of my grandmother's kitchen and the many wonderful meals we shared together as a family. 

The food was incredible! Cavatieddi rianisi, Savuzicchia cu' pipajuoli, Oacciarieddi cu' li fasuli, Trippa cu' patanj, Carna ri puorcu cunzata, Rava juoli cu senzifero, Cunigliu mbuttunatu, and Fusiddi cu sugu ri cunigliu were just some of the traditional dishes we enjoyed. Roasted chestnuts and a cheese course followed the tasty entrees. And, at the end, we indulged our sweet tooth with an assortment of delectable homemade desserts.

I am grateful that the members of the societies put on the event, and I’d like to give a special thanks to the ladies who worked so hard preparing and cooking all the delicious food. It was an unforgettable experience!
Father Vincent says a few words before saying grace
(Above and below) The nonnas demonstrate some of their time-honored culinary techniques, handed down over several generations 
(Above and below) Like all successful events, a great deal of planning
and hard work took place behind the scenes
(Above and below) A feast fit for a king! 
(Above and below) The ladies put the finishing touches on the platters 
before serving an army of hungry guests 
(Above and below) Some of the delicious sweets we had for dessert 
The accordionist kept the party rolling,
playing our favorite waltzes, tangos and tarantellas
(Above and below) Revelers trip the light fantastic
Placards give brief descriptions of the four towns—Sacco, Quaglietta, Teggiano and Sassano—represented at the dinner

November 25, 2013

Feast of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria

Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, ora pro nobis
November 25th is the Feast of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria (St. Catherine of Alexandria), Virgin and Martyr. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and Four Capital Virgins, she is, inter alia, the patron saint of millers, potters, mechanics, spinners, archivists, librarians and hat makers. Widely venerated across Southern Italy, she is also the patroness of Caprioli (SA), Santa Caternina (SA),  Melito (SA), Grammichele (CT), San Pietro Clarenza (CT), Santa Caterina (CT), San Pietro Clarenza (CT), Pedara (CT), Locri (RC), Mongrassano (CZ), Santa Caterina Albanese (CZ), Monteverde (AV), Santa Caterina dello Ionio (CZ), Santa Caterina di Nardò (LE), Santa Caterina Villarmosa (CL), Santa Maria a Toro (BN), and Viggianello (PZ), among others
In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The accompanying photo of St. Catherine of Alexandria (c. 1650) from the workshop of Bernardo Cavallino was taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. Evviva Santa Caterina!
Prayer to St. Catherine of Alexandria
Glorious Saint Catherine, virgin and martyr, help me to imitate your love of purity. Give me strength and courage in fighting off the temptations of the world and evil desires. Help me to love God with my whole heart and serve Him faithfully. O Saint Catherine, through your glorious martyrdom for the love of Christ, help me to be loyal to my faith and my God as long as I live.

November 10, 2013

Feast of Sant'Andrea Avellino

Sant'Andrea Avellino, ora pro nobis
November 10th is the Feast of Sant'Andrea Avellino, Theatine priest and confessor. Invoked against strokes, apoplexy and sudden death, he is one of the co-patrons of Naples and patron saint of Castronuovo di Sant'Andrea, a small town in the Province of Potenza in Basilicata, where he was born in 1521. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to Saint Andrew Avellino against sudden death. The accompanying photo was taken at Saint Andrew Avellino Roman Catholic Church (35-60 158th Street) in Flushing, New York. Evviva Sant'Andrea!
Prayer to Saint Andrew Avellino Against Sudden Death 
I. O most glorious saint, whom God has made our protector against apoplexy, seeing that thou thyself didst die of that disease, we earnestly pray thee to preserve us from an evil so dangerous and so common. Pater, Ave, Gloria. 
Verse  By the intercession of St. Andrew, stricken with apoplexy.   
Response  From a sudden and unprovided death deliver us O Lord. 
II. O most glorious saint, if ever by the just judgment of God we should be stricken with apoplexy, we earnestly beseech thee to obtain for us time enough to receive the Last Sacraments and die in the grace of God. Pater, Ave, Gloria. 
V.  By the intercession of St. Andrew, stricken with apoplexy. 
R.  From  a sudden and unprovided death deliver us, O Lord. 
III. O most glorious saint, who didst endure, before dying, a terrible agony, through the assaults of the devil, from which the Blessed Virgin and St. Michael delivered thee, we earnestly beseech thee to assist us in the tremendous moment of our death.  Pater, Ave, Gloria. 
V.  By the intercession of St. Andrew, stricken with apoplexy. 
R.  From a sudden and unprovided death deliver us, O Lord. 
Amen.

November 8, 2013

Geraldine McCaughrean's "Monacello: Anything but Perfect" Available Online

By Lucian

As a fan of Southern Italian folklore, and an avid promoter of our people's traditions and culture, it was no surprise that I fell in love with Geraldine McCaughrean's children's series about Monacello, based on one of the most popular spirits of Naples.

Unfortunately, due to the current state of the book industry, the third installment in the series will not be published. We were very disappointed, as we posted reviews of the first two books and were looking forward to the third. However, Ms. McCaughren has not let us down!

She is generously providing the latest book on-line free of charge.

We wanted to thank her and spread the word. Below is a letter from her website explaining how to access it. 
IMPORTANT NEWS! 
A solution to the mystery of Monacello 3 
I am very sorry to say that it has been decided not to go ahead with the publication of the final part of the Monacello trilogy (That's how the book industry is right now, I'm afraid.) I feel really badly towards readers who, having bought the first two books, have been left hanging. 
So I have decided to PUBLISH PART THREE, Monacello: Anything but Perfect, RIGHT HERE, ON THE WEBSITE. 
In due course, I am hoping all three books can published in one satisfying volume for people coming to the story for the first time. But for those of you who have already embarked on Monacello's search for his roots, the concluding adventure of the 'Little Monk' will be available here, free of charge, NOW! 
Just go to the Books logo, Book of the Moment and click on Monacello: Anything but Perfect.

November 1, 2013

The Feast of All Saints, la festa di Ognissanti

All ye holy saints, orate pro nobis
Guadeámus omnes in Dómino, diem festum celbrántes sub honóre Sanctórum ómnium: de quorum solemnitáte gaudent Angeli, et colláudant Filium Dei. ps. 32, 1. Exsultáte, justi, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudátio. V Glória Patri. 
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a feast in honor of all the saints, in whose solemnity the angels rejoice and join in praising the Son of God. Ps. 32, 1. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright. V. Glory
November 1st is All Saints' Day, la festa di Ognissanti, a holy day of obligation in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. In celebration, I'm posting the Introit and Prayer for the Feast of All Saints Day in Latin and English. The accompanying photo was taken in the old Hall of Saints at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (275 N 8th Street) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Prayer
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui nos ómnium Sanctórum tuóram mérita sub una tribuísti celebritáte venerári: quæsumas: ut desiderátam nobis tuæ propitiatiónis abundántiam multiplicátis intercessóribus, largiáris. Per Dóminum.
O Almighty, eternal God, Who hast granted us to venerate the merits of all Thy saints in one solemnity, vouchsafe to us, we beseech Thee, through the multitude of our intercessors, that abundance of Thy mercy for which we ever have hoped. Through our Lord.

New Books

Some new and forthcoming titles that may be of interest to our readers. All are available at Amazon.com

Sanctity and Pilgrimage in Medieval Southern Italy, 1000-1200 by Paul Oldfield

Publisher: Cambridge University
Publication Date: March 31, 2014
Hardcover: $89.10
Language: English
Pages: 320


The Medieval Salento: Art and Identity in Southern Italy (The Middle Ages Series) by Linda Safran

Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
Publication Date: March 7, 2014
Hardcover: $85.50
Language: English
Pages: 496

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