Christopher Columbus
Columbus Day remains the most important institutionalized Italian American celebration, although there have been signs of erosion in the past decades as the figure of Columbus has become increasingly problematic, especially to Native Americans (and others). Columbus remains an important symbol to organizations such as the Federated Italo-Americans (including: Unico, NIAF, Order of the Sons of Italy in America). Columbus Day is viewed as an opportunity to publicly focus on the positive contributions Italians have made to American society.
 Portrait of Columbus |
Columbian Award. The Federated Italo-Americans bestow an annual "Columbian Award" for a Man/Woman of the year. Nominees "must have been born in America, of Italian extraction, recognized for his/her achievements in the business world and given luster to Italy and to the Italo-American community. The second nominee must have served honorably, on behalf of our community and promoted goodwill, through his/her efforts." (http://www.fediasocal.org/)
Of related interest: Who was Columbus? For an overview of the history and positive perspective on Columbus Day, see Order of the Sons of Italy in America: "Columbus: Fact vs. Fiction" http://www.osia.org/public/culture/columbus.asp
Repertorium Columbianum. The UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies has just completed a 13-volume collection of international materials related to Columbus and his voyages of discovery, with English translations: Repertorium Columbianum, under the general editorship of UCLA professor of History, Geoffrey Symcox. "The Repertorium Columbianum is a collection of contemporary sources relating to Columbus's four voyages and the interpenetration of the hitherto separate worlds that resulted from them." Repertorium Colombianum website at http://www.cmrs.ucla.edu/Publications/rc.html
Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
302 Royce Hall Box 951485
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1485.
E-mail: cmrs@humnet.ucla.edu
http://www.cmrs.ucla.edu/index.html
National Italian Festa della Repubblica
La Festa della Repubblica commemorates June 2,1946, the day a national referendum in Italy was held to choose between a monarchy and a republic. Italians chose the latter. As a national holiday it became the symbol of the new state. In Italy, the President of the Republic and the Ministry of Defense preside over ceremonies. Abroad, it is Consuls and Ambassadors who organize appropriate celebrations (frequently gala receptions, by invitation only) for Italians and the Italian American leadership in their jurisdictions.
The Republic Man/Woman of the Year Award. The local community, under the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California, also celebrates the founding of the Italian Republic by honoring "the Italian born among us who have lent their lives to give luster to Italy and the Italo-American community," with The Republic Man/Woman of the Year Award. "The first nominee must be Italian born and recognized for his /her achievements in the business world at large. The second nominee, through his or her efforts, must have served, contributed and promoted goodwill to the Italo-American community." (http://www.itfederatedsocal.org/)
Of related interest: The Italian national anthem:
Fratelli d'Italia (Canto degli Italiani, or líInno di Mameli
Text by Goffredo Mameli, music by Michele Novaro
Fratelli d'Italia, l'Italia s'Ë desta;
dell'elmo di Scipio s'Ë cinta la testa.
Dov'Ë la vittoria? Le porga la chioma
chÈ schiava di Roma Iddio la creÚ.
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamÚ.
Noi fummo da secoli calpesti, derisi
perchÈ non siam popolo, perchÈ siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme gi‡ l'ora suonÚ.
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamÚ.
Uniamoci, amiamoci; l'unione e l'amore
rivelano ai popoli le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero il suolo natio
uniti, per Dio, chi vincer ci puÚ?
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamÚ
Dall'Alpe a Sicilia dovunque Ë Legnano;
ogn'uom di Ferruccio ha il core e la mano;
I bimbi d'Italia si chiaman Balilla;
il suon d'ogni squilla i Vespri suonÚ.
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamÚ.
Son giunchi che piegano le spade vendute;
gi‡ l'aquila d'Austria le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d'Italia e il sangue Polacco
bevË col Cosacco, ma il cor le bruciÚ.
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamÚ.
Listen to the anthem: http://www.governo.it/Presidenza/cerimoniale/varie/inno_italia.mp3