Yesterday, Dom and I went to Festa Italiana at the Seattle Center.
It is held annually at the end of September and celebrates the Italian community in the Greater Seattle area. There are a variety of activities and exhibits including cooking demonstrations, a grape stomp competition, a bocce tournament, an Italian car show, children’s activities, booths selling Italian food (pizza, pasta, sausages, Italian sodas, gelato, coffee, etc.), and Italian products for sale (food, Venetian masks, ceramics, baked goods, olive trees, paintings, tours, Festa memorabilia, etc.). There are also a variety of Italian heritage and cultural groups with information booths. These include the Sons of Italy, the Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society, the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association and the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington. Dom and I have been members of “Dante” for a long time (Dom at least 10 years longer than me!) so we volunteered at the booth for an hour or so. Above is a picture of us working the booth.
One of the most interesting exhibits at Festa was a photo and artifact display that detailed the internment of Italian immigrants during World War II. While the interment of the Japanese immigrants is well known, this is a little known chapter in our history. Some people know that Italian merchant seaman and others were interned but few people know that many long time Italian immigrants were also sent away. All were subject to registration with the government and heavy travel restrictions. For a time, most areas of the West Coast were off limits to these people and this forced many families to move inland. It was a well-done, informative show that we both enjoyed.
It had been nine years since we attended Festa and it was great to be back. We saw a number of people that we had rarely seen in the intervening time. Before buying our place in Italy we worked the “Dante” booth every year. For many years Dom ran the children’s bocce pit which consisted of teaching bocce to youngsters and their parents and organizing practice games. We were usually there from set-up Friday afternoon until cleanup on Sunday evening. This year we purposely delayed our departure for Italy so we could be there once again.
We really love the “Dante” group and even though it is a long haul from Whidbey Island we still attend a number of meetings when we are in the U.S. There are “Dante” groups, or similar organizations, throughout the country. They celebrate all things Italian and help Italians or Italian aficionados keep in touch with the language and culture. Our “Dante” group has meetings twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesdays. Both include presentations with the first being in English and the second in Italian. The topics range from Italian art and literature to raising bilingual children to Italian food and wine to members’ travelogues. Before the English meetings, there is a communally prepared dinner of pasta, salad and bread. Antipasto is served before the Italian meetings. The members are a fun, diverse group of people. Some are immigrants, some have Italian heritage and some just love Italy. The “Dante” also sponsors an Italian language program that holds classes on campus at Seattle University.
The next meeting on October 8th is a demonstration of making your own fresh mozzarella. I am really sorry to be missing it as mozzarella is one of my favorite foods. For more information on the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington visit the website at http://das.danteseattle.org/index.html.
Tomorrow we are finally on our way to Italy. Our plane does not leave until 9:25 p.m. so we have a rather leisurely day in which to prepare. I am curious to see if I sleep any better on the flight since we will actually be flying during our normal sleep time.
I will be posting nearly every day while we are “at home” in Italy. Make this page a favorite and check back often.
It is held annually at the end of September and celebrates the Italian community in the Greater Seattle area. There are a variety of activities and exhibits including cooking demonstrations, a grape stomp competition, a bocce tournament, an Italian car show, children’s activities, booths selling Italian food (pizza, pasta, sausages, Italian sodas, gelato, coffee, etc.), and Italian products for sale (food, Venetian masks, ceramics, baked goods, olive trees, paintings, tours, Festa memorabilia, etc.). There are also a variety of Italian heritage and cultural groups with information booths. These include the Sons of Italy, the Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society, the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association and the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington. Dom and I have been members of “Dante” for a long time (Dom at least 10 years longer than me!) so we volunteered at the booth for an hour or so. Above is a picture of us working the booth.
One of the most interesting exhibits at Festa was a photo and artifact display that detailed the internment of Italian immigrants during World War II. While the interment of the Japanese immigrants is well known, this is a little known chapter in our history. Some people know that Italian merchant seaman and others were interned but few people know that many long time Italian immigrants were also sent away. All were subject to registration with the government and heavy travel restrictions. For a time, most areas of the West Coast were off limits to these people and this forced many families to move inland. It was a well-done, informative show that we both enjoyed.
It had been nine years since we attended Festa and it was great to be back. We saw a number of people that we had rarely seen in the intervening time. Before buying our place in Italy we worked the “Dante” booth every year. For many years Dom ran the children’s bocce pit which consisted of teaching bocce to youngsters and their parents and organizing practice games. We were usually there from set-up Friday afternoon until cleanup on Sunday evening. This year we purposely delayed our departure for Italy so we could be there once again.
We really love the “Dante” group and even though it is a long haul from Whidbey Island we still attend a number of meetings when we are in the U.S. There are “Dante” groups, or similar organizations, throughout the country. They celebrate all things Italian and help Italians or Italian aficionados keep in touch with the language and culture. Our “Dante” group has meetings twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesdays. Both include presentations with the first being in English and the second in Italian. The topics range from Italian art and literature to raising bilingual children to Italian food and wine to members’ travelogues. Before the English meetings, there is a communally prepared dinner of pasta, salad and bread. Antipasto is served before the Italian meetings. The members are a fun, diverse group of people. Some are immigrants, some have Italian heritage and some just love Italy. The “Dante” also sponsors an Italian language program that holds classes on campus at Seattle University.
The next meeting on October 8th is a demonstration of making your own fresh mozzarella. I am really sorry to be missing it as mozzarella is one of my favorite foods. For more information on the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington visit the website at http://das.danteseattle.org/index.html.
Tomorrow we are finally on our way to Italy. Our plane does not leave until 9:25 p.m. so we have a rather leisurely day in which to prepare. I am curious to see if I sleep any better on the flight since we will actually be flying during our normal sleep time.
I will be posting nearly every day while we are “at home” in Italy. Make this page a favorite and check back often.
1 comment:
Very cool Louise! I'll be a regular visitor!
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