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Title: Italian-American Folklore (American Folklore Series) by Frances M. Malpezzi, William M. Clements ISBN: 0-87483-533-X Publisher: August House Publishers Pub. Date: 01 September, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Italian-American Folkore - More Please!
Comment: Italian Americans pierced a girl baby's ears and place gold earrings in them, because gold protects the eyes from infection. This is one of the interesting facts in ITALIAN-AMERICAN FOLKLORE, which is a stand-alone volume in the American Folklore series. There are ten chapters: Setting the Scene, Conversation, Customs: The Life Cycle, Customs: The Traditional Calendar, Folk Supernaturalism, Folk Medicine, Recreation and Games, Stories and Storytelling, Drama, Music and Dance, and Foodways.
I was particularly interested in the folk supernaturalism and folk medicine, but all the chapters give interesting tidbits into the Italian immigrant experience. Did you know it is unlucky to be born on Christmas Eve according to Italian-American folklore? A girl born on Christmas Eve will become a strega (a witch) and a boy will become a werewolf. If you are born on the 13th of any month, you are under the protection of Santa Lucia.
It was also interesting to learn that the first Italian immigrants were very regionally oriented and pan-Italian ideology came later. The American Roman Catholic Church's relationship to the Italian immigrants was very interesting as it wasn't initially as amicable as one would have thought, which explains the new immigrants reliance on folk supernaturalism and folk medicine. Never would have known this if I hadn't read this book. The food, which has entered into mainstream America, is, of course, also very appealing.
The book consists of 298 pages, with around 50 pages of Notes and Bibliography. I really enjoyed the book, but I feel like this is just an introduction to the Italian-American experience. I want more!
Although those of Italian descent will find it useful to find their roots, those interested in the folklore of ethnic America will also enjoy this book. It may also be of interested to Modren Wiccan practitioners of the stregheria tradition.
Rating: 5
Summary: Italian Customs -- to the "T"
Comment: As an Italian-American myself, I was searching to fill the gaps on some of the details regarding some of the traditions and superstitions that my grandparents believed in. Since both of them have passed away, we have been filling in a family tree and are supplementing our research with some of the rituals and customs we have come to enjoy and would like to pass them along to our children.
This book was right on the money! Very enjoyable and easy to follow! My father and aunt and uncle enjoyed the portions I read aloud to them-- it brought back a lot of memories and is allowing us to build a more robust family history story! Excellent reading!
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Title: La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience by Jerre Mangione ISBN: 0060924411 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 15 September, 1993 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: Were You Always an Italian?: Ancestors and Other Icons of Italian America by Maria Laurino ISBN: 0393321959 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: June, 2001 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Italian Pride: 101 Reasons to Be Proud You're Italian by Federico Moramarco, Stephen Moramarco ISBN: 1559725125 Publisher: Citadel Trade Pub. Date: 01 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Don't Tell Mama!: The Penguin Book of Italian American Writing by Regina Barreca ISBN: 014200247X Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Under the Southern Sun: Stories of the Real Italy and the Americans It Created by Paul Paolicelli ISBN: 0312287658 Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books Pub. Date: 01 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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