Review of italian folk magic by marygrace fahrun thavma. Review of italian folk magic by marygrace fahrun posted on may 2, 2018 by agostino should this book be a musthave if youre interested in italian or italianamerican magical practices. In her debut title italian folk magic, marygrace fahrun doesnt make the mistake. Benedicaria the blessing way of southern italian folk medicine, part 2 by gail faith edwards. Oct 30, 2016 a rosary for the dead on all souls day nov 2 this rosary is typically prayed every day during the octave of the festa dei morti feast of the dead, known more officially in italian as the commemorazione di tutti i fideli defunti commemoration of all deceased faithful, and among englishspeaking countries as all souls day. Jun 11, 2019 american folk magic is a melting pot of practices stemming from irish, scottish, german, italian, and other european sources as well as african and native american sources. When medigani talk about italian folk magic, theyre talking about something that goes by more names than there are regions in italy and exists as an amorphous mass of folk religion, superstition, and empirical observation, and defies the attempt at being neatly defined or categorized. Ruth sanderson is the renowned illustrator and author of over 80 books for children. The latins were an italian tribe who spread their language and culture throughout europe. This announcement of an exhibition in palermo where my sicilian grandfather came from brought a smile to my face. It lasts roughly 7 days with the moons illumination growing smaller each day until the moon becomes a last quarter moon with a illumination of 50%.
The capital of italy and the roman empire, romes history span over two and a half centuries. Many practices are rooted in a syncretic blend of folklore, traditional herbalism, and catholicism. Benedicaria the blessing way of southern italian folk. Stregheria is italian meaning religion of witches, in general, and specifically refers to sorcery or magical practices of witches that oppose their religion. Citrus bergamia risso et poiteau, also known as bergamot, is a plant belonging to the rutaceae family, defined as a hybrid of bitter orange and lemon. The statement that stregoneria refers to a harmful magical practice is supported by ethnologist. This is the first phase after the full moon occurs. Beo, employed in perfume, cosmetics, food, and confections. By doing so we hope to reduce the misinformation and misrepresentation found on websites and on various internet forums. Still, these reclaimed magical practices bear only a slight resemblance to the folk magic that existed and, in some cases, continues to exist in italianamerican ethnic communities. The reader learns uniquely italian methods of magical protection and divination and spells for love, sex, control, and revenge.
Italian folk magic oldworld solutions to newworld problems. Italian american witchcraft traditions bear a strong resemblance to italian folk magical practice as documented in the ethnographic record of the last 100 years. Illustration by morris meredith williams from the italian fairy book, published 1911. For its antiseptic and antibacterial proprieties, beo has been used as an antimicrobial. One day, a young and brave knight of the noble house of cittadini, tired of witnessing the death of his fellow citizens and the depopulation of terni. Jul 09, 2017 in this episode of the italian american podcast, we talk with mallorie vaudoise, a brooklynbased spiritualist and author of the blog. Blunt, an englishman, tends toward a tone at once condescending and titillated. Mar 27, 2016 vestiges of ancient manners and customs, discoverable in modern italy and sicily 1832 by the rev. These books touch on a variety of topics, from italian and sicilian folklore, to the religions of ancient greece and rome, to official catholic liturgy. Italian folktales fiabe italiane is a collection of 200 italian folktales published in 1956 by italo calvino. Bergamot fruit is primarily used for the extraction of its essential oil bergamot essential oil. San cipriano di antiochia cipriano was a professional magician or mago in antioch, pisidia, who orginally was a native of carthage. Free italian sheet music traditional and classical music.
Stregoneria is the modern word in italian that is commonly translated into english as the word witchcraft. In european especially italian folk magic, as well as in hoodoo, urine is used in womens coffee and tea love spells, as a quick substitute for menstrual blood, when the intention is to tie or bind a lover. A secondary goal is to dispel the erroneous association and conflation of common folk magic elements in popular lore with the authentic forms of italian witchcraft. Matt swanson university child development school, seattle summary. Italian witchcraft is one of the oldest form of european witchcraft, and second only to greek witchcraft, mentioned by homer and hesiod, 8th century bce. Students will contrast styles of southern and northern italy through attentive listening. The practice of brujeria, which is a form of folk magic, usually involves charms, love spells, curses, hexes, and divination.
Italian dinner background cafe music italian music folk music from italy duration. A blog about italian and italianamerican magic, spirituality, and folklore. Jan 24, 2019 the practice of brujeria, which is a form of folk magic, usually involves charms, love spells, curses, hexes, and divination. Salvatore cardill core ngrato catari, catari stanislao gastald musica proibita. Saint rocco is one of the most popular saints among italian americans. Cipriano mastered the art of magic and became known as a great sorcerer. Italian american witchcraft or stregheria traditions differ from italian folk magical practice in several important ways. Mallorie vaudoise is a nycbased spiritualist of italian descent. Based on a real painter, nozzo di perino, his simplemindedness, quaint ways, and strong affinity for all types of folk magic makes him the target of bruno and buffalmaccos jokes. This is particularly common among girls to young or women too old to have menstrual periods, and among pregnant women and those who. This unit is a survey of regional differences in italian folk music. Each of these is a thread in the tapestry of italian folk magic. Brujas, brujos, and brujeria in witchcraft learn religions.
It was said he could produce rain and thunder and call forth spirits from their graves. We talk to vaudoise about italian folk magic, rituals, and dreams and how practice in each can connect you to your heritage. A tour of italian folk music a smithsonian folkways lesson designed by. Weiser books offers an entire spectrum of occult and esoteric subjects. Italian folk magic is a fascinating journey through the magical, folkloric, and healing traditions of italy with an emphasis on the practical. Rues kitchen witchery book, 2018 by marygrace fahrun. May 02, 2018 by contrast, italian folk magic is a different beast entirely. The contemporary folk magic systems in italy reflect strong elements of catholicism, as they have since the late middle ages. In this episode of the italian american podcast, we talk with mallorie vaudoise, a brooklynbased spiritualist and author of the blog. Mar 02, 2015 in italian folk medicine, it has been used primarily for fever and parasitic diseases, in addition to mouth, skin, respiratory and urinary tract infections, gonococcal infections, leucorrhoea, vaginal pruritus, tonsillitis, and sore throats pendino, 1998. Its italian american branch, popularized by author raven grimassi, is reflective of neopaganism, and makes use of much of the magical practices of stregoneria but does not include elements of catholicbased folk magic, which displaced the prechristian enchanted worldview in italian culture. Oct 22, 2015 benedicaria the blessing way of southern italian folk medicine, part 1 gail faith edwards posted on october 22, 2015 by gailfaithedwards in the remote mountain villages of southern italia, like ours, the old ways still thrive. Magic spells with menstrual blood, semen, and urine. Read italian fairy tales from the ancient collection, stories from the pentamerone, as well as from andrew lang and others.
Italian folk magic pdf epub download cause of you download. The texas bluebonnet award was given to her retelling of the golden mare, the firebird, and the magic ring. Today ill be sharing with you twelve books about our traditions which are available online for free. Vestiges of ancient manners and customs italian folk magic. Italian folktales were put down in writing from the middle ages decameron, legends and onwards. In european especially italian folk magic, urine is used in womens coffee and tea love magic spells, but only as a quick substitute for the really heavy item, menstrual blood.
It is an endemic plant of the calabria region italy. Bella ciao solo violin italian folk song sheet music. Italian witchcraft is often called stregheria, and has its roots in old folk traditions of italy. Despite the large number of publications of which but a short list was given above, an opus. One of the most famous italian american feasts, now in its 129th year, is held in new york by the saint rocco society. Another of my mostrequested pieces, this article gives a synthesis of the italian ethnographic record of popular magic, healing and witchcraft in the 20th century. Filled with kings and peasants, saints and ogresas well as some quite extraordinary plants and animalsthese two hundred tales bring to life italys folklore, sometimes with earthy humor, sometimes with noble mystery, and. Many have claimed catholicism is a powerful magical system. The collection of romanic folktales consists of five books with 110 folktales. Like many other kinds of witchcraft that are tied to old cultures, much information has been lost over the years. Drawn to witchcraft and folk magic from a young age, her path has required both careful study and wild abandon.
The latter is a blending of contemporary wiccan and witchcraft elements, which are formed around a. Ways attempted to be more academic, while italian folk magic is both timeless and deeply personal, taking the reader on a journey of what grace experienced in her life and how she came to practice the things she does. Italianamerican witchcraft traditions bear a strong resemblance to italian folk magical practice as documented in the ethnographic record of the last 100 years. Benedicaria the blessing way of southern italian folk medicine, part 1 gail faith edwards posted on october 22, 2015 by gailfaithedwards in the remote mountain villages of southern italia, like ours, the old ways still thrive. National unification came quite late to the italian peninsula, so its many hundreds of separate cultures remained unhomogenized until quite recently compared to many other european countries. One of the new york timess ten best books of the year.
By doing so we hope to reduce the misinformation and misrepresentation found on. Vestiges of ancient manners and customs, discoverable in modern italy and sicily 1832 by the rev. This is the case with many forms of scottish witchcraft as well. Welcome to italian folk magic, a website devoted to the magic, music, and spirituality of italy and italian americawith a special emphasis on southern italy and sicily. Pdf witchcraft, healing and vernacular magic in italy.
A guide to ancestral veneration llewellyn, 2019 and italian folk magic, a blog about devotional practices from southern italy and sicily. Blunts observations on the culture of the mezzogiorno region compared with texts describing that of antiquity. The collection of folktales from italy consists of one book with 30 folktales. In this chapter, i trace the development of stregheria, or italianamerican revival witchcraft, showing how it has been constructed by combining traditional. He did not compile tales from listeners, but made extensive. In this chapter, i trace the development of stregheria, or italian american revival witchcraft, showing how it has been constructed by combining traditional. Pdf magic, divination and demonology 1898 june 14, 2009 currently a book is listed on ebay, the full title of which reads magic, divination and demonology among the hebrews and their neighbours, including an examination of biblical references and of the biblical terms. Traditional italian filastrocche reflect christian tradition many lullabies are about the infant jesus and the holy family, and, more obscurely and symbolically, prechristian rites, the moon, the tarot, magic, the labyrinth, the spirit of corn, the cycle of life birth, marriage and death and of the year seasons, harvest, lent, carnival. One of the most famous dragons of italian folklore, a river dragon that besieged terni in the middle ages. Sicilian and italian folk magic i am interested in learning more about sicilian magic and folk traditions. Because of its extremely rich cultural heritage, the historic centre of rome, the properties of the holy see in that city enjoying extraterritorial rights and san paolo fuori le mura is a part of the unesco world heritage list. In america, and elsewhere, we are seeing the rise of what is commonly called christian witchcraft.
Italianamerican witchcraft or stregheria traditions differ from italian folk magical practice in several important ways. For centuries rome, the capital of the roman empire, was the centre of politics and religion of the western civilisation. Her beautiful and ornate version of the classic fable goldilocks is the latest addition to the collection. Red wheelweiser imprints include conari press which publishes titles on spirituality, personal growth, relationships to parenting, and social issues. I love this scene from the godfather ii, which shows what the feast was like in years past minus, you know, the assassination bit. Interpreting womens domestic needlework from the italian diaspora. In the italian dictionaryvocabolario della lingua nicola zanichelli, 1970stregoneria is defined as a magical practice intended to produce harm or illness. Calvino began the project in 1954, influenced by vladimir propps morphology of the folktale. I have been doing some research into stregheria but i was wondering if there was any information out there was more specifically sicilian as they are a little bit different culturally than mainland italians.
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