Too Few Know This AMAZING Story!

These Sentiments Are Valid And MUST Be Heard!

NYC 'Little Italy' To Be Back On Map, But . . .

The Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), the anti-defamation and positive image arm of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), today recognizes the decision by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) to include Manhattan’s historic Little Italy neighborhood on its Immigrant Enclaves map following strong advocacy and concern expressed by Italian American communities and organizations.

“We are grateful that Mayor Mamdani and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs listened to the concerns of the Italian American community and corrected the omission of Little Italy from the Immigrant Enclaves map,” said CSJ President John A. Fratta. “Little Italy is a historic and enduring symbol of the Italian immigrant experience in New York City, and its inclusion ensures that the contributions of generations of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans are properly recognized.”

“However, we remain disappointed that this correction came only after significant pushback and that other historic and thriving Italian American communities continue to be excluded from the map,” Fratta continued. “Neighborhoods such as Arthur Avenue in the Bronx represent vibrant Italian American enclaves with deep cultural, economic, and historical significance. These communities continue to preserve Italian heritage, support local businesses, and contribute immensely to the diverse fabric of New York City.”

The CSJ believes that maps and public representations of New York City’s immigrant communities should accurately reflect the full scope of the neighborhoods that have been shaped by generations of immigrants. Recognizing one community while overlooking others diminishes the important role these enclaves have played in building and enriching the city.

“The Italian American community appreciates the Mayor’s willingness to address this concern, but our work is not complete,” Fratta said. “We encourage Mayor Mamdani and MOIA to continue engaging with community leaders and to ensure that all significant immigrant enclaves—including those that represent the Italian American experience—receive appropriate recognition.”

The CSJ remains committed to advocating for accurate representation of Italian American history, culture, and contributions, and will continue working with community organizations and government leaders to promote a more complete and inclusive understanding of New York City’s diverse immigrant communities.

Little Italy To Mamdani: 'Te Ne Pentirai!'

From The Free Press:

Mayor Zohran Mamdani released his map of New York City’s “immigrant enclaves.” Except, he forgot a few spots.

Little Italy—one of the oldest immigrant communities in New York City—didn’t make the cut.

Here’s what the Italian-Americans whose families have been a part of Little Italy's history had to say about it.

Mamadani's 'Empty Pan' New York City!

 

Revealed: The Italian Hand In America's Founding!

Before America had a Constitution, it needed words, ideas, and a vision of what a republic could look like. 

These Italians gave it all three.

Filippo Mazzei lived next door to Thomas Jefferson in Virginia, and the two men spent years exchanging ideas about liberty and government. Mazzei's own writing, "all men are by nature equally free and independent," is widely credited as the inspiration behind Jefferson's "all men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence.

While Mazzei gave the founders their words, Gaetano Filangieri gave them a framework. His major work, "The Science of Legislation," reached Benjamin Franklin directly, and his ideas on law and government shaped political thought during the founding era.

Andrea Palladio never set foot in America. He lived two centuries before the Revolution. But his classical architectural style became the visual language of the young republic. Jefferson studied his work closely, and that influence can still be seen in Monticello, the University of Virginia, and the federal buildings that define American government today.

Words, ideas, and vision. Italians and Italian Americans helped shape this nation from its very first chapter.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a proud Supporting Partner of America250 honoring the generations of Italians and Italian Americans who have shaped our nation.

Yeah, We Discovered, LOVE and Treasure America!

Celebrate 250 years of America with the Italians who discovered it.

Cristoforo Colombo was born in Genoa in 1451. His 1492 voyage across the Atlantic opened sustained contact between Europe and the Americas and changed the course of human history forever.

Giovanni Caboto called Venice home. Sailing under the English flag in 1497, he reached the shores of North America and laid the groundwork for English colonization of the continent we now call home.

Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence in 1454. His voyages to the New World made him the first to recognize that the lands Columbus had reached were not Asia but an entirely new continent. The world named it after him.

Giovanni da Verrazzano was born in Tuscany around 1485. In 1524 he mapped the Atlantic coastline of North America and sailed into the harbor that would one day become New York, the gateway to the American dream for millions.

NIAF is a proud Supporting Partner of America250, honoring the Italian explorers whose curiosity, courage, and vision made the American story possible.

And, Most Of All, They Did It LEGALLY!

 

A Little-Known Chapter From 1776

From the Italian Sons and Daughters of America:

Ciro Poppiti, founder of the Delaware Italian American Foundation, has completed a sprawling 80-mile reenactment of Caesar Rodney's historic 1776 journey that sealed American independence.

On July 1, 1776, the Delaware delegation to the Continental Congress was deadlocked on the question of independence. One delegate supported breaking from Great Britain, another opposed it, and the fate of Delaware’s vote hung in the balance.

About 80 miles away in Dover, Caesar Rodney — a Founding Father, lawyer and politician with English and Italian roots — received word of the impasse and set out on a grueling overnight ride to Philadelphia.

Arriving just in time on July 2 to the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), Rodney cast the tie-breaking vote that delivered Delaware’s support for independence, clearing the way for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and forever securing his place in American history.

A Rich Italian American Tradition: Great Food, Too!

Philadelphia's Italian Market Festival held today in Philly's original "Little Italy" neighborhood was an astounding success, drawing huge crowds amidst bright, sunny weather.

As always, the highlight of the two-day festival was the beautiful Procession of the Saints. The procession starts at Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church (712 Montrose Street) and pauses at 9th and Washington Avenue for the Blessing of the Market, before concluding at Saint Paul Catholic Church at the corner of South Hutchinson and Christian Streets. 

The pinning of money to ribbons dangling from the statues seems to have origins in the practice of many new immigrants, who, to be remembered and as a declaration of their newfound prosperity, sent money back home to be visibly displayed on the statue of the community’s patron Saint, in the church and in processions. Today, many devotees simply make a prayer and pin money as an offering in support of the religious institution that is fostering their spiritual belief and needs.

The procession pauses from time to time to give blessings by sprinkling Holy Water, a ritual tradition for expiatory and purificatory purposes attributed to the Apostle St. Matthew, which recalls the baptismal rite that spiritually bound the community together.

We hope you enjoy the photos we took during this marvelous procession which winds its way through a neighborhood rich in Italian American history.

Another Amazing Italian American Success Story!

101 years of living proof that the Italian American legacy is built to last.

The National Italian American Foundation's (NIAF) New York Gala was honored to welcome the oldest living former U.S. Representative, the Hon. Frank Guarini, 101!

Born in Jersey City to a family with roots in Molise, Italy, Congressman Guarini went on to serve 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, earn the Navy Commendation Medal as a decorated World War II combat veteran, and become one of the most dedicated champions of Italian American culture and education this country has ever known.

Back in the 80's and 90's, he served as NIAF's President, Chairman, and on its Board of Directors, working tirelessly to preserve the Italian language, fund scholarships, and remind the world of what our community has contributed to this nation.

Congressman Guarini, thank you for a lifetime of service to this community and this country!

In So Many Ways, WE Built This Country!

BRAVO! This Is A Battle Worth Winning!

From the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations:

Columbus, Ohio faces a joint lawsuit filed to restore the Christopher Columbus statue removed in 2020 by Mayor Andrew Ginther during civil unrest. Italian American organizations have filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Columbus, seeking the reinstallation of the Christopher Columbus statue removed from City Hall grounds in 2020 and placed in storage, all without a public or City Council vote. JOIN THE FIGHT: SUPPORT THE LAWSUIT HERE The 28-page suit was filed by attorney George Bochetto on behalf of several plaintiffs, including the Friends of Christopher Columbus Foundation (FOCCF) — a Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit — and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), a nationwide Italian American advocacy coalition. The lawsuit argues the statue’s removal was unlawful, discriminatory and in breach of binding agreements — all carried out without proper authority, due process or required historic protections.

Cast by renowned Italian sculptor Edoardo Alfieri in Genoa, Italy, the 20-foot bronze statue was unveiled in 1955 in Columbus, Ohio, before 100,000 people. The statue was uprooted from City Hall in 2020 by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther amid civil unrest and placed into storage.

“Six years ago, in a rushed and inconsistent response to unrest, city leaders removed the Columbus statue but not the name of the city itself,” said COPOMIAO President Basil Russo. “Columbus Day emerged in the aftermath of the 1891 New Orleans lynching, when 11 Italian immigrants were killed by a mob of thousands, an event that prompted a national effort to promote the acceptance of Italian Americans. That legacy continues to shape the meaning and importance of these monuments today.” Read about the historical origins of Columbus Day here. Cast by renowned Italian sculptor Edoardo Alfieri in Genoa, Italy, the 20-foot bronze statue was unveiled in 1955 before 100,000 people. Its dedication marked the beginning of a formal sister-city relationship between Genoa and Columbus, Ohio, rooted in cultural and commercial exchange. COPOMIAO’s Pro-Columbus Legal Momentum COPOMIAO won back-to-back unanimous rulings in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court, blocking the removal of Pittsburgh’s Columbus statue in 2024 and restoring Columbus Day as a citywide holiday in Philadelphia in 2025. As part of its ongoing bipartisan advocacy efforts, COPOMIAO worked with the Trump Administration this past March to install Baltimore’s toppled Columbus statue on White House grounds — a collaboration that made international headlines. “Public monuments cannot be removed at the unilateral discretion of elected officials, without process, authority or regard for binding agreements. Courts exist to check that kind of overreach,” said Bochetto.

Formed in NYC in 1975, the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) — a national coalition of 74 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups — seeks to promote our history and traditions for today’s generations, and tomorrow’s.

JOIN COPOMIAO AND ELEVATE YOUR ITALIAN AMERICAN GROUP.  APPLY TODAY AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH!

And Now, Buona Pasqua E Tutti!

 

   

Buona Pasqua, the beautiful Italian Easter greeting proclaims "Happy Easter" to all.

May your day be filled with peace, joy, la famiglia and the blessings of this season of renewal and rejoicing.

This is a day to proclaim salvation and to give thanks for our faith; regaling in the hope of eternal life, the promise of the Trinity.

In Italy, Easter remains a day that celebrates life. And no group of people celebrates life as well as the Italians.

Although Italians do not decorate hard–boiled eggs nor have chocolate bunnies or pastel marshmallow chicks, the biggest Easter displays in bars, pastry shops, supermarkets, and especially at chocolatiers are brightly wrapped uova di Pasqua—chocolate Easter eggs—in sizes that range from 10 grams (1/3 ounce) to 8 kilos (nearly 18 pounds). 

Most of them are made of milk chocolate in a mid–range, 10–ounce size by industrial chocolate makers.

Some producers distinguish between their chocolate eggs for children (sales numbers are a closely guarded secret, but the market for these standard quality eggs is said to be shrinking with Italy's birthrate) and expensive "adult" versions. All except the tiniest eggs contain a surprise. Grown–ups often find their eggs contain little silver picture frames or gold–dipped costume jewelry.

The very best eggs are handmade by artisans of chocolate, who offer the service of inserting a surprise supplied by the purchaser. Car keys, engagement rings, and watches are some of the high–end gifts that have been tucked into Italian chocolate eggs in Italy.

Our favorite Easter treats: chocolate coconut cream eggs (sinfully sweet), chocolate covered marshmallows, jelly beans of every color and flavor, sweet Italian Easter bread, hot cross buns and Peeps. Well, they used to be out favorite Easter treats but since we went low carb they are consumed in moderation if at all. Oh, well . . . . 

Is This Italian Food Mecca Headed Our Way?

This festival of Italian food has one all-pervading moto: Mangia bene, which simply means eat good!

And if you're at Uncle Giuseppi's, you're eating good from the moment you walk into one of its capacious Italian supermarkets. Yes, we did say supermarkets, because Giuseppi's stores now encompass up to 55,000 square feet and they are filled with every sumptuous Italian dish, delicacy and dolcé you could possibly think of and you'll be sampling the food as soon as you arrive.

In 2001, Giuseppi's opened in East Meadow, Long Island, NY, and they've been growing ever since. Now, 25 years later, they have a dozen stores (known as Marketplaces) with several more on the way. And here's the most intriguing part: scuttlebutt has it that Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace may have plans to open in the Cherry Hill area, which would be the company's first foray into the South Jersey/Philadelphia region.

Well, we're so excited by all this that we took a ride up to the Giusepp'is location nearest us in Tinton Falls, NJ and were absolutely delighted with what we found. In fact, in every department and every aspect of the store, Uncle Giuseppi's exceeded our expectations -- and we're very discriminating customers.

The shopping experience at Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace is designed to mirror the way our grandparents used to shop—but on a much bigger scale, of course. Giuseppi's makes many of their products from scratch—their own pasta, mozzarella, lasagna, sausage, baked goods, pastries, and lots more. And the store is divided into shops where you can watch the food being prepared. Then, you can purchase a prepared food item, take it home, heat it up and—dinner's ready! Plus, Giuseppi's has combined this with a full-service supermarket to give you a total food shopping experience at the best value, where you can buy all of your weekly groceries at competitive prices.

And Giuseppi's staff is large, knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. The whole idea is that food shopping should be a pleasant experience.

Enjoy these photos from our visit and take a look at the marvelous culinary creations in Giuseppi's various departments including pastas, cheeses, pizza, breads, pastries, sandwiches 

and prepared foods. The place is gastronomic heaven. Pray that it's headed our way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Those St. Joseph's Day Treats . . .

 

You'd Be Wise Not To Mess With Us . . .

 

A Beautiful Story from A World Apart: Such LOVE!

ONLY In Italy: The Mirth And Magic Of La Befana!

From our friends at Tutto Italiano:

In Italy, the holidays don’t truly end on December 25. They end when La Befana arrives.

On the night of January 5, she “flies” in for L’Epifania (January 6)—a folk figure who feels like part grandmother, part fairytale, part old-world winter magic. The most loved story says the Wise Men once stopped and asked her for directions on their way to the Christ child. She helped them, but didn’t join. Later, filled with regret, she set out to find them—and ever since, she travels from home to home, leaving gifts for children as she goes. Yes…she brings gifts. Just with a little more attitude than Babbo Natale.

She’s usually portrayed in a way that’s unmistakably Italian: practical, weathered, and warm. A layered skirt, patched clothes, a shawl, an apron, a headscarf, and a sack or basket over her shoulder—plus the signature broom, often said to be used to “sweep away” the old year’s dust. Sometimes she’s drawn a little soot-smudged, because she’s linked to chimneys in popular imagery.

In homes across Italy, children hang stockings (le calze), and La Befana fills them with sweets and small treats. The famous twist is that naughty kids get “coal”—but in the sweetest Italian way possible, it’s often carbone dolce, a black candy that looks like coal but tastes like sugar and mischief. It’s playful, not scary—La Befana is more “stern nonna with a soft heart” than anything dark.

And because Italy is Italy, the celebration is also delicious—especially in regional specialties. Here’s how Epiphany tastes in different corners of the country:

Veneto keeps it rustic and wintry, with homemade sweets that feel like they were born in a farmhouse kitchen. A classic Epiphany treat is pinza (or pinsa veneta)—a dense, comforting cake often made with cornmeal and dried fruit, served in slices with coffee or a little grappa energy. Tables also lean into winter staples: nuts, citrus, dried fruit, and whatever family dessert is “the one” every year.

Tuscany has one of the most perfectly named traditions: befanini—little Epiphany cookies, often simple and buttery, sometimes topped with colorful sprinkles. They’re the kind of sweet that looks humble but disappears fast, especially with espresso. In many homes, January 6 still feels like the last sweet day before the year gets serious again.

Lazio (Rome) celebrates in a very Roman way: lively, communal, and centered around the “closing of the season.” You’ll find stockings everywhere—in shops and markets—and families lean into classic holiday sweets still on the table: torrone, chocolate, nuts, citrus, and bakery treats that carry over from Christmas through Epiphany. The vibe is: one last indulgent moment before routine returns.

Sicily turns Epiphany into a miniature candy festival. Alongside the calze, Sicilian celebrations often feature pupi di zucchero—bright, ornate sugar figurines—and traditional sweets that feel ancient: sesame brittle (giuggiulena/cubbaita), marzipan-style treats, and the island’s beloved holiday cookies that linger through the season. It’s colorful, theatrical, and joyfully extra—very Sicily.

And then comes the line Italians say like a gentle sigh:

“L’Epifania tutte le feste porta via.”

Epiphany takes all the holidays away.

So if you’re still craving holiday magic, Italy is here to remind you: there’s one last night of tradition left—stockings, sweets, and a broom sweeping the season closed.