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Italians are a fairly superstitious people, especially when the new year comes around. Here are some seasonal traditions, beliefs and superstitions from across the country, ranging from the most common, such as eating lentils and wearing red, to rather unusual ones. It is a terrible year because of the pandemic but certainly while respecting the rules the Italians will try to keep some traditions, the possible ones

Postwar Christmas in America. Memories of a nine-year-old boy raised in a household of Italian immigrants in New York. A Christmas story that Professor Robert Viscusi generously offered us for publication years ago. We propose it again in this difficult Christmas also as a tribute to Bob’s memory, who sadly left us a few months ago. Thanks Bob, and buona lettura to you all.

Every year in the U.S., many people celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Although it is unclear when the dinner became so popular, this celebration is considered one of the most Italian traditions. Typically, the family gathers around a feast of seven different seafood dishes or one or two different types of fish prepared in seven different ways.

The Neapolitan nativity is The Word made flesh, wedded to the myths, fables, stories and splendors of a culture that continues to preserve the past. And the Neapolitan nativity, now as then, goes beyond religion. Thanks to this identification of our day-to-day lives with God, the sacred and profane, the past and present, history and legend fuse together.

Each Italian region has its own Christmas specialties: fresh filled pastas, like tortellini and ravioli, the capon, or seafood cooked in different styles, and many savory and sweet pies. Christmas desserts are very important and range from the ubiquitous Panettone and Pandoro, to the Struffoli, Torrone, Panforte, Mustazzoli and many more.

The nativity scene, in Italian called presepe, represents the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ and is one of the main traditional Christmas decorations in Italy. In almost every church and in many homes there is a presepe. It is usually prepared on December 8, the day of the feast of the Immaculate Conception and is displayed for about one month. Many cricitics this year at the crib in the Vatican from Castelli in Abruzzo, with Joseph and Mary and the other characters, in the shape of a torpedo

The authentic Italian culinary destination safely opened their very first Texas location in NorthPark Center

In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities the French Doctor Manette, after spending 18-years in La Bastille in City # 1 (Paris) is released to live in City # 2 (London) with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met. The story is used to warn the readers about the terrible conditions that led to the bloody French Revolution, and the even bloodier Reign of Terror. A similar, perhaps slightly less bloody, Tale is reflected in the inglorious record of New York City Mayors that has been a progression of mostly more, and less unflattering comparisons.

Exactly 100 years after women gained the right to vote, we will finally have a woman in the second highest office in the land. And as a woman of color and the daughter of immigrant parents, Kamala Harris crashes through two other glass ceilings. Her mother was born in India and her father was born in Jamaica.

Italian art never stops in New York. "Unrelenting", by Italian artist Francesco Simeti, projected onto the walls of the Italian Consulate in NYC. This is a Magazzino Italian Art's project created during the pandemic

The 100per100 talks are back to understand what the future of Made in Italy will be in the world

This fall, while traveling is not an option and movie theaters continue to be closed in many areas, American audiences can take a dip into Italy’s culture and atmosphere from the comfort of their couch. Italian movies are coming online. The 30th edition of New Italian Cinema Events USA (N.I.C.E.) will take place in New York, from November 14th to November 21st and in Philadelphia, from November 29th to December 6th. A curated selection of 11 recent movies not yet released in the U.S. will be available to the public on Eventive.org for this landmark cinema festival, offering a thorough exploration of the richness of contemporary Italian cinematography through renowned authors as well as new talents.

On November 12th 2020 The Gilda’s Club NYC will host their annual gala, honoring Giovanni Caforio (M.D. Bristol Myers Squibb) and Emma Stone (Actress and Gilda’s Club NYC Ambassador), virtually. To support this year Gilda’s Club NYC fundraising, Remembering Marco will participate to the virtual auction launched on November 5th 2020 with The Yellow Cab Project. The Yellow Cab Project is part of the activities of Remembering Marco, a charity initiative started by Annalisa Menin in 2013 to raise funds in her husband, Marco Omiccioli, memory.

BOOK. Can Inheritance Be Transcended by Accidents of Love? Luca Taviano and Rabbi Joseph Neiman: Two Stangers of Different Faiths United by a Hope and a Secret. An interview with David Biro, author of "This Magnificent Dappled Sea"

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) , the largest and most loyal representative of the more than 20 million Italian American citizens living in the United States, congratulates Dr. Jill Biden as she is set to become the first Italian American First Lady. “Dr. Biden’s strong connection to her Italian American heritage and dedication to education aligns with NIAF’s mission,” said NIAF Chairman The Honorable Patricia de Stacy Harrison. “Education is at the Foundation’s core as we provide scholarships and grants to empower high achieving students to further their education in all fields. We send our congratulations to the First Lady designate.”

“This is not who we are,” Biden, Harris, and many others insisted during the campaign. Yet we must acknowledge the fact that 70,000,000 Americans voted for Trump. The candidate and President understood his supporters all too well. “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot some people and I wouldn’t lose voters.”

A series of online discussions about Fellini and his films, facts, and fantasy. The series will highlight Fellini, the man and his legacy, including clips from some of his most famous films: La Strada, Notte di Cabiria, I Vitelloni, La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, and Amarcord.

These are times of pandemic, everything changes. Even these days dedicated to Halloween and other traditions in Italy as in the world. Everything will be different but we need to remember our traditions to continue as soon as everything is over. In all the Italian regions in the days between October 31st and the day of Saint Martin (November 11th) is custom to celebrate the juxtaposition of life and death with numerous events

“Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita,/ mi ritrovai in una selva oscura (Midway upon the journey of our life,/ I found myself within a dark forest).” This powerful beginning could be enough to fall in love with the Italian language. With its musicality, its verbal intelligence, its expressive force...

Events organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Consulates General in Los Angeles and Houston