The Abruzzesi & Molisani Club celebrates heritage day

On September 28 approximately 110 members and friends of the Abruzzesi and Molisani di California celebrated “Heritage Day” at Villa Scalabrini in Sun Valley, Cal.This celebration was a wonderful occasion for Abruzzesi and Molisani in good faith to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Abruzzesi and Molisani are truly a bunch of very sincere people that enjoy getting together and exchange moments of real friendship prompted, in this case, by a review of recollections of the past.

Their feelings showed on their faces at they listen intently to a long list of towns of their two regions. Many of them became emotional when their towns were mentioned and their eyes shined with nostalgia and passion. Especially when Steve Inglese related about his beloved city Sulmona, tears of emotion came very close to run down on his cheeks while a lump in his throat made his speech uneasy.

Following an exceptionally good dinner prepared by chef Guy Masciotra the Abruzzesi and Molisani enjoyed an oral review of traditions, sagras and festivals of their regions. The review included a list of cities and towns of each region, their characteristics and manifestations. Several members were encouraged to relate their experiences and the participation resulted in a very interesting exchange that all the participants found exciting. Everybody enjoyed going back with their memories to the time, when they lived in those towns or nearby areas with their families and relatives. They were thrilled by the memories that brought them back to their youth and to the intimacy of their families.

People that many years ago experienced those events, were delighted to learn that those traditions are still very much practiced and carried on today. Some club members that several years ago lived in those old towns in Italy were very young at that time to appreciate the intensity of their love for the birthplace. It’s evident that “Heritage Day” and a touch of nostalgia, today brought them all back to reality.

Excerpts from the review: typically Abruzzesi are the Easter processions held in Sulmona, called “La Madonna che scappa” and also “La Madonna della Resurrezione”. Sulmona is a well known city for many reasons, as Steve Inglese interjected: “the city is famous for the production of “confetti”, the sugar coated almonds, that have become symbol of happiness, wealth and good luck at countless events in which they are offered within family and relatives”.

Sulmona belongs to the province of L' Aquila, the capital of the region, but is mostly famous for being the birthplace of Ovid, one of the greatest poets of antiquity and also the author of “Methamorphoses”, a masterpiece of Greek and Roman myths. Ovid was born in Sulmona, 43 BC and died in 17 AD. As Bart Inglese emphasized, in downtown Sulmona, right in the middle of Piazza XX Settembre, there is an impressive monument, the statue of Ovid, the pride of the city. A matter worth mentioning: during the last two major conflicts, WWI and WWII, the hills surrounding the city of Sulmona were exploited as Pow camps.

As a matter of a fact those hills identified as “Campo 78”, in 1917 housed Austrian soldiers captured during the Isonzo and Trentino campaigns and a few years later, in 1941, British officers captured in North Africa. During the month of February in Taranta Peligna, (province of Chieti), every year local people hold the Festival of the Panicelle, which consists of bread-rolls blessed in honor of San Biagio, the saint protector of the throat.

During the month of March in the town of Monteferrante (province of Chieti) the paesani prepare the “Table of St.Joseph”, which is a very old tradition that is also practiced scrupulously and enthusiastically in many countries of South America and Australia or wherever Italian communities are present. In Vasto, on “Good Friday” and also in Gessopalena, (both towns are in the province of Chieti), they have the “Procession of the Thorn” and the “Reenactment of the Suffering of Christ on the Cross”. In Locullo (province of Aquila) and also in Pretoro (province of Chieti) people celebrate “Lu Lope” (the wolf) with the participation of the “Serpari” (snake handlers).
In Pratola Peligna (province of Aquila) they have the Feast of Mary, La Libera.

In Ortona (province of Chieti) they hold the Feast of Forgive- ness (Festa del Perdono)
In the month of July in Teramo they hold “Il trionfo della Pace”. Every August in Colle Corvino (province of Pescara) they hold the Festival della Trescatura (wheat harvest); In Nocciano (province of Pescara) “La Festa dell’Uva”, the grapes festival. In San Giovanni Lipioni (province of Pescara) “La Sagra delle Scrippelle”.

In Lettomanoppello (province of Pescara) in the day of “All Saints “ (November 1st), they follow the Procession of San Rocco. In Scanno (province of Aquila) piles of wood are burned in honor of San Martino. In Torini Di Sangro (province of Chieti) they hold a special wake in honor of Madonna di Loreto with a whole night procession and singing until morning.

A tradition typically Molisana is the manufacture of bells: in Agnone (province of Campobasso): the seven-century old foun- dry Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli has been making bells for most churches and basilicas in the world for over 700 hundred years. The city also specializes in the craftsmanship of copper and precious metals. Campobasso, the capital of the region Molise, boasts one of the most important museums in the world, the Museo Sannitico, that provides the greatest collection of Sanniti findings over 3,000 years old. From the Isernia’s archeological excavations “La Pineta” (the woods) dates back 700 thousands years (fossilized wood).

The city of Venafro (province of Isernia) lies with great elegance at the center of the Volturno river valley. Venafro is famous for its Archeological Museum packed with incredible findings of the Roman era, as the most beautiful statue of La Venere di Venafro (the Venus of Venafro). Also very interesting is the Medieval Castle totally rebuilt in the XV century; the Castle hosts the paintings of 26 stallions, drawn in natural size, a unique collection indeed. Scapoli (province of Isernia) is famous for continuing the old tradition of the bagpipes. In Scapoli there is a museum with a collection of bagpipes from all over the world.

In Sepino (province of Campobasso) stands the imposing church of Santa Christina, who is the patron saint of the city. She died 900 years ago. On September 14, 2011. Pope Benedetto XVI, visited the church on the occasion of the Church getting a new campanone; the old big bell had to be replaced after being damaged by fire and by an earthquake.

Sepino is the very ancient city of the Sanniti. Sepino is situated at the center of a magnificent road network, called “Tratturo”, that crosses the whole region of Molise, connecting Pescasseroli in Abruzzo with Candela in Puglia. Tratturo is a fantastic road, built several thousands years ago and neatly covered by grass.
The walls surrounding the city of Terravecchia, date back to the IV century BC.
It’s only fair to mention that the above list of cities and towns and their festivals represents only a fraction of the effective number of locations that amount to several thousands of very beautiful and characteristic places full of folklore and traditions. Practically every town, regardless of size, has its traditions and beauty.

Tony Ghezzo
contributor