December 2009 News and Events.htm

News and Events ~ December 2009

News from the Society:

A Message from the Society President

     Entering the last month of this year and reflecting on our Society, I am astounded at our accomplishments. It was just over two years ago that a group of 55 people met in Albany NY, mostly unknown to each other and connected only by common ancestry from the town of Craco. The fervor and zeal generated there propelled us on a mission to preserve the culture, history and traditions of Craco. Those objectives became very tangible and now a new vision of preserving Craco Vecchio itself seems to be looming in front of us.
     Since that first meeting our membership grew sixfold! We traveled to Craco, gathered each year in ever larger Reunion events, located a century old statue of San Vincenzo and met in Lower Manhattan yearly to celebrate this Crachese feast. But what seems more amazing is what found us.
     During our return to Craco a documentary film producer took an interest in filming us and joined the event. This led to his involvement with the town of Craco in their efforts to save the town. At our first reunion in New York City the Society was made aware of the San Vincenzo Martire di Craco, an almost forgotten organization of the earliest Crachesi in America. Concurrent with this revelation was the donation of a historic statue of San Vincenzo Martire and the original flag of the Società. Subsequently, we were blessed by the discovery of previously unknown old films and photographs of Craco.
     Several individuals were responsible for these accomplishments. Their contributions, whether material, time, or effort allowed us to produce preservation material that included:
 the English language translation of the history of the town,
 a DVD with films of Craco going back 80 years,
 a history of San Vincenzo and the statue, relic, and Società in New York,
 a 3D “virtual” recreation of Craco as it existed, and
 material that makes up several pages on our website allowing us to share the rich history of Craco with the world.
     During the course of developing these projects, we have tried to recognize the individuals and their contributions but I am again compelled to thank them all.
     Perhaps the most amazing development was the recognition of the Historic Center of Craco by the World Monuments Fund as a Watch List 2010 Site. The Society is rightly proud of its contribution to the proposal to the WMF that now brings Craco worldwide visibility. Recognizing the great challenge faced by the town administration to bring the preservation of Craco forward we enthusiastically wait to see their plans. In the meantime, we can consider ways to support this effort and look to the 2010 plans for our Society.
     Certainly, in view of the WMF announcement, a trip back to Craco is called for along with our annual reunion and celebration of the feast of San Vincenzo. Additionally, we will pursue translation of the story of the Madonna della Stella. These efforts will continue our mission by adding to the historic material we have already attained.
     In closing, I again must thank you the members for your support. Although we are small and our resources are limited, it seems we are following in the path of our ancestors who also faced similar challenges yet made something bright and wonderful on their little hilltop. We too can take pride in our Society and perhaps even dare to consider it a “new Craco village.” Although we are not physically close together, being spread out through three countries, we are close in spirit which may be the most important thing.
     On behalf of the Board of Directors I want to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a wonderful and prosperous 2010.

Society Honors

The Society was honored by the Italian American Museum along with two members who made contributions to the Italian American Community.

Stephen LaRocca, was recognized for his efforts perpetuating the Feast of San Rocco and reinvigorating the San Rocco Society of Potenza.

Bob Rubertone was recognized for his use of technology to make information about Craco available. His contributions include creating the Craco Society website, developing a virtual 3D replica of Craco before the frana, a method of electronically translating the history of Craco from Italian into English, and creating an electronic store allowing members to purchase Craco related items that support the Society.

The Society is extremely lucky to have such passionate and devoted individuals contributing to our mission.

The Society was also recognized in the Italian national magazine, “Il Repubblica” with an article. You can read it at: Periodici On-Line

An affiliated publication, Oggi7 contacted the Society about including a larger article on the Society in their upcoming edition. So visit their website during this month at: www.oggi7.info to see the article.

     The above photograph from the December 2009 calendar shows Craco with a rare covering of snow. Sitting in the region called “Mezzogiorno” (land of the midday sun) by Italians. Climatically, during the summer months it bakes under an almost African sun impeding agricultural development and in areas away from the coast the winter is bitter and cold. But because Craco it is in a semiarid area snow is quite uncommon so although snow to us in North America is synonymous with the Holiday Season it was not a feature of Christmas there.
     The Craco: A Year in the Life calendar concludes with a description of the traditions to celebrate Christmas but does not include the story of the “presepio.” The word presepio (Nativity Scene) comes from Latin and today it means manger or crib.
     The encyclopedia describes the presepio as a three dimensional representation of the birth of Jesus Christ, composed of mobile figures arranged according to the artistic sense of the builder as well as realistic elements such as houses, rocks, plants etc, which is prepared for Christmas and removed by the 2nd February. As such, the presepio is closely related to the theatre because it intends to render an event remote in time and space present and real by means of fiction of a spectacular nature and at the same time, like the theatre, it cannot be separated from the scenery: in fact without scenery around the figures representing the holy event, you have a model of the nativity but not a presepio.
     With time the tradition of the presepio evolved in various phases. It was first found in churches with figures placed at side altars and chapels specially reserved for the presepio.
     Later came the aristocratic period in which the tradition of a presepio in the home became popular among the nobility and nativity scenes were ever richer and more pretentious, but also highly artistic. This tradition gradually extended to all the social classes acquiring a typically popular character which it retained.
     In Craco, a traditional presepio with figures made of locally obtained clay was set up in the Church of San Nicola Vescovo (Chiesa Madre). A small light over the presepio was attached to a coin box where children would drop a coin to illuminate the scene for a minute or so, the proceeds helping to support the church.
     Speakers were also placed in the bell tower which would play Christmas music for all to enjoy. Throughout the years, Frank and Anna Rinaldi have continued this important tradition in their home and were kind enough to share it with all of us.

The presepio of Frank and Anna Rinaldi

Young Cracotan In The News

Last month Cracotan Lucia Camperlengo organized an event night at University of South Florida, where she gathered more than 100 people to view the documentary 'Invisible Children: A Rough Cut'. Invisible Children is a nonprofit organization bringing attention to the orphaned children (often pressed into military service) in Uganda after a war in that country. Lucia Camperlengo is a senior at USF and plans to continue her education with a masters in public health, possibly concentrating in global health. As a result of her efforts, USF will likely sustain an ongoing Invisible Children group for student activists.

http://www.usforacle.com/invisibility-envisioned-1.2040506

A Holiday Recipe

Although not a traditional Crocotan recipe, Ean Camperlengo’s drink was recognized by “Atlanta’s Finest Dining” magazine. It is a great seasonal consideration—a Blood Orange Mojito.

Blood Orange Mojito
3-4 fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp sugar
2 lime wedges
Muddle together in a 6 ounce glass
Add:
2 ounces rum
1 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces Blood Orange juice
Shake on ice and garnish with mint leaves and a lime wedge to make a red and green holiday delight! Salute!

Events this Month in Craco:

Dicembre

Olive oil

Pick olives and bring them to the frantoio (press) to make olive oil. Customary to sample the new olive oil by toasting bread at the frantoio and drizzling the first few drops of the virgin olive oil on the toasted bread.

December 8: Immaculate Conception

Dec 8: Celebrate l’Immacolata – feast of the Immaculate Conception – there will be a small festa, but no processione. Will make nativity scene with handmade clay figures, and moss gathered from the fields.

December 13: Santa Lucia

Dec 13: Celebrate Santa Lucia. Will soak ceci, grain and cook it for several hours and offer it to poor people. My brothers and sisters remember having this “porridge” for breakfast on the feast day of Santa Lucia.

Natale – presepio, pettole, baccala, Tombola

During the week of Christmas – will make pettole, panzerotti filled with a sweet chestnut or ceci filling, also make cartellate.

Christmas Eve – eat baccala (cod) and other seafood, midnight mass.

Christmas Day – families gather to play Tombola using orange peel as Tombola markers.

New Years Eve – not a major event.

Click here to view A Year in Craco. Events in Craco for every month are listed. Thank you to Joe Rinaldi in Canada for his contribution to this page.

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