Italian Holiday Traditions Discussed at Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, 2/21

On Sunday, February 21 at 1 p.m., as part of the Terza Domenica Heritage Series, Professor Louis Leonini will start spring off a little early with "Italian Holiday Customs & Traditions." He'll focus on St. Joseph's (San Giuseppe) Day and Easter, but since his December lecture on Christmas traditions was canceled due to a snowstorm, he'll also talk a bit about that holiday as well. Admission is $5, members are free. Seating is limited.

The Catholic Church recognizes St. Joseph as the Patron Saint of the poor and orphaned, of working men and of carpenters in particular, but not much is known about his life. According to the Bible, he was a descendant of King David, born in Bethlehem. He lived in Nazareth and was a carpenter by trade. When he found out his fiancée Mary was pregnant, he considered breaking the engagement. But an angel came to him in a dream and told him that Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Joseph awoke he obeyed the angel and married Mary, and they named the child Jesus.

Professor Leonini will explain how La Festa di San Giuseppe began during a drought in Sicily in the Middle Ages, and how Italians still pay homage for their deliverance every March 19. He will describe the elaborate ceremonies performed at altars built to St. Joseph, and the sumptuous foods prepared and shared with the poor.

Easter is the highest holy day in the Christian year, and Professor Leonini will explain the wonderful traditions and customs-and food-Italians have to celebrate what they call Pasqua. He will describe the role that Rome played in the past, and continues to play today, in Easter celebrations. He will also discuss the holy days leading up to Easter, and will emphasize the Good Friday rituals that are particularly intense and fascinating in the southern Italian provinces and towns. He will tell how the various regions of Italy take the same symbols of the day-the egg and the lamb-and turn them into their own traditional regional foods of Easter, and will explain the origin of Easter eggs, Easter baskets, and the Easter bunny.

Christmas is Italians' most beloved holiday, and Professor Leonini will describe customs in the different regions of Italy-from Advent through New Year's Day-and explain the origin of such Christmas icons as trees, wreaths, candles and the presepio. And of course, he'll discuss traditional Christmas foods-from the Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes to the typical maialino arrostito customarily served on New Year's Eve.

A first- and second-generation Italian-American, Professor Leonini has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Late Modern European History, along with 30 credits completed toward a Ph.D in this area. He was a teacher for the New York City Department of Education for 33 years, and has taught teacher education courses at both campuses of St. John's University. He taught Italian and was chairman of the Foreign Language Department at St. Joseph Hill Academy, and taught Italian for adult learners at the Federation of Italian-American Organizations in Brooklyn. Currently he is teaching "An Introduction to Italian Language, History & Culture" at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, where he is also a regular lecturer and member of the Speaker's Bureau.

The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was the home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary hero who championed the unification of Italy. For over 50 years the museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men, and to promote understanding of the Italian-American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes.

Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, the restroom is on the second floor. At press time, program funding has been provided through the Order Sons of Italy in America; by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Office of the Staten Island Borough President, Richmond County Savings Foundation; Northfield Bank Foundation, and by grants allocated by New York State Senator Diane Savino and New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned and operated by the Order Sons of Italy in America.