Monsignor Rinaldi, mentioned numerously in the past for his work in Craco made a visit to New York in 1961. The photograph below of an event celebrating his visit was sent to the Society by Joe and Sue Benedetto, with other members contributing names of individuals in the picture.

The visit by Monsignor Rinaldi represented a tangible connection the Crachesi that were a generation removed from their ancestral town. During his visit to Benedetto and Rinaldi relatives over a six month period he generated many impressions that reflect the difference in time and cultures.

He is recalled as commenting, ".. there was too much waste of food in the US," but his views may have been colored by WW II and its aftermath, when food in Italy was scarce. Branches of the Rinaldi family had several celebrations in his honor which all included much food so perhaps he thought such abundance was a daily occurrence. At any rate, he was feted royally and was always gracious and grateful to his American nieces and nephews for their hospitality.

Standing left to right: Sylvia Rinaldi, Joseph Rinaldi, Phyllis (Rinaldi) Benedetto, Anthony Benedetto, Camille (Galante) Tafonie, Viola Rinaldi, Dominick Rinaldi, Ann Rinaldi, Anthony Rinaldi, Loretta (Rinaldi) McCormack, Charles Rinaldi, Theresa"Tessie" (Rinaldi) Pane, Isabella Rinaldi, Dominick Rinaldi, Theresa (Galante) Bonnono, Vincenza Marie (Rinaldi) Blasi, Albert Blasi, John McCormack, Sal Bonnono, Frank Pane ,and Paul Cefalu. Seated left to right: Nicolette Padavano, Joseph Benedetto, Mildred (Rinaldi) Benedetto, Msgr. Vitantonio Rinaldi, Mildred (Rinaldi) Francavilla, Nicholas Francavilla, and Angela Rose (Cantasano) Rinaldi.

It was a pleasure to meet our Cracotan ‘cugino’, Rocco Spera, who was in Tarrytown, NY to study for a week. Spera was my great-great Cracotan grandmother’s last name, which made this meeting all the more gratifying.

Rocco, who is 18, was unflappable despite the fact that both Hurricane Irene and our mini-earthquake coincided with his visit.

We sat outside near Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building. Rocco was not interested in perusing Eataly, the Batali food mecca, which I’d chosen as our meeting place. Instead, we chatted (in both English and Italian) about our families, while we showed each other photos, and took a few of our own. We also talked about Rocco’s aspirations. He wants to attend university in Milan, and study business. He wants to improve his English (which I think is quite good), just as I hope to improve my Italian!

He also made this pithy observation as he watched pedestrians boldly crossing against the light in the face of oncoming traffic: "New York is the only city I’ve seen where the people stop the cars. You do this in Milano, you die!"

I hope that Rocco realizes all his dreams, and that he comes back to New York soon. Thanks to Lena (and the Craco Society) for the posting that allowed me to meet him -- and I only had to walk 10 blocks to do so!

October in Craco Vecchio and Old New York

The yearly cycle of life in Craco Vecchio was based around the agrarian demands of working the fields. In October this included planting fave and ceci beans for the next season, picking olives, and peppers, staples that could be preserved so they could be consumed during the winter.

The church calendar in Craco Vecchio, also synchronized to life there recognized the fourth Sunday in October as the annual celebration of the Feast of San Vincenzo Martire.

On the Saturday before the feast day the processional statue of San Vincenzo would be carried from St. Peter’s Convent just outside the town to the Church of San Nicola (Chiesa Madre) in the center of Craco. Then there was a full day agricultural fair held in the town’s outdoor market to buy and sell agricultural goods like peppers, apples, walnuts, celery, chestnuts, and farm animals.

San Vincenzo Procession in Craco — shown above is a late 1950’s photograph of the feast day procession entering the piazza.

The celebration changed over time as Crachesi circumstances changed in New York. By 1935 the group was holding a three day event, from Friday to Sunday, similar to the celebration in Craco Vecchio. They were also in position to hold large banquets prior to the feast day. These served to replicate the way the feast was celebrated in Craco but modified to the metropolitan environment and decades of living in America.

From the end of WWII the celebration of the feast day was limited to a Mass said in honor of the saint until 2007 when a new generation of Crachesi began to participate in larger numbers and hold a banquet afterwards.

San Vincenzo Procession in New York — shown below is the 1937 photograph of the feast day procession outside St. Joachim’s Church on Roosevelt St.

Today, San Vincenzo Martire continues to be venerated on his feast day in only two places—Craco and New York.

Copies of the undated woodcut image of relic of San Vincenzo Martire in Craco (shown below) were probably brought by many Crachesi immigrants to New York, maintaining their connection with their patron saint when they immigrated. Although there is no information supporting the use of this image to celebrate the feast day, it is highly likely that it played a role in feast day celebrations in the years before 1901 before the statue was installed at St. Joachim’s Church.