Focus::Life & People

Like most holidays, Easter time is another reason for great Italian tradition and cuisine. The Easter lunch in Italy is a delicious reason for a spectacular meal, great company and a primal celebration of the end of winter and nature’s (not just Christ's) rebirth.

Ever wondered what it would be like to spend Easter in Italy? Here is your guide to some of Italy's finest celebrations.

Saint Lucy's Day is a Christian feast day celebrated on December 13, commemorating Santa Lucia, a 3rd-century martyr. The feast is a Catholic celebrated holiday with roots that can be traced back to Sicily. Of course this is a different year and the pandemic has canceled all initiatives, but we want to remember them so that we are all ready to celebrate next year.

Jeff Capaccio’s passion for Italy and Italian American heritage was astounding,” said NIAF Chairman Patricia de Stacy Harrison. “His tireless effort to promote Italian and Italian Americans in hi-tech and innovation truly empowered exceptional leadership in our community and was of extraordinary value to our Board of Directors. The NIAF family is deeply saddened by this untimely loss. He will always be admired and remembered.”

What a wonderful surprise to discover that the legend of St. Valentine is not limited to romantic love.

Let's Make Cannoli from Scratch! Join Alison Scola online from her kitchen to yours, when together, you will make cannoli. She will teach you how to bake this beloved pastry from scratch: the cream and the shells -- and you'll learn insider, expert tips too! - Sunday, February 7, 12 Noon to 2PM (Eastern) - Online on Zoom

Carnival this year ends on Shrove Tuesday, February 16th. It is very early this year. Of course, due to the pandemic, there are no celebrations in Italy. The party is practically postponed to 2022, but we want to publish a list of events usually taking place in Italy anyway. It is a way to dream and overcome this period.

Rich in environmental, cultural, and gastronomic diversity, Italy’s greenest region offers tourists unforgettable experiences. 

The old good witch who brings candies and coal to the Italian children. Its origin and multifarious celebrations. January 6 is approaching so don't forget to hang up your stockings.

The old good witch who brings candies and coal to the Italian children. Its origin and multifarious celebrations. January 6 is approaching so don't forget to hang up your stockings.

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.

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

If you met my grandmother, “Nana Rose”, chances are you can share a story about the experience. Chances are, she talked about you, too. My Nana had a “personality”, for sure. She appreciated personality in those she interacted with and was dismayed by the lack thereof. Of utmost importance to her was whether her partner in a moment could hold a conversation, keep her entertained, or make her laugh. That one was important. A laugh changed her life; I’ll save that story for another time.

Governor Cuomo: "While there is much sadness this year and I am disappointed to not be at the gala and not to march in the parade, there is a silver lining. This year we unveil a magnificent monument to our Italian American legacy and that monument will stand for all time... Thanks to the Columbus Club, and Angelo Vivolo and the Mother Cabrini Commission, we are unveiling a beautiful statue erected in Battery Park City on the shore of the Hudson River, looking directly at the Statue of Liberty." "As Governor, I used many of the lessons taught to me by my Italian parents and grandparents, our legacy. Tell people the truth. Be direct. Don't be afraid. Protect one another. Operate as a family. And believe in ourselves and believe that we can overcome"

Due to COVID-19, the Italian Welfare League had to make the difficult decision to postpone this year’s highly anticipated 100th Centennial Celebration until 2021. The Italian Welfare League will host a Virtual Autumn in New York Fundraiser on Oct 24 at 12 noon. The event is free. You can register here.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will celebrate its 45th Anniversary Gala virtually on Saturday, October 31, 2020, and honor Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who will be presented with NIAF’s 2020 Leonardo da Vinci Award for Leadership in Health and Science live during the Gala.

Armando Varricchio, Ambassador of Italy to the United States, presented the honor of “Cavaliere” of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic to Harrison and McBride at Villa Firenze, the Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C., on October 7.

Five Largest Italian American Groups in the Nation Unite to Defend Columbus. The Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Italians Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy (OSDIA), and UNICO National -- gathered together in an unprecedented show of Italian American unity to form, and fund, the National Columbus Education Foundation. John M. Viola, executive producer of the Italian American Podcast, and former president and chief operating officer of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) was unanimously named the Foundation’s first executive director.