Christmas Day will mark two months since TSAA was formed.
Much has happened in that time and a special thank you to
all of you who have become members. The committee has
been working diligently to develop an exciting program of
projects and events for next year and we’ll tell you more in
our next newsletter in February. We also have a new logo
and have secured some fantastic discounts from local
businesses owned by Sicilian Australians or that sell Sicilian
products. Membership cards will be issued shortly which will
allow you to access those benefits. On Sunday December 12
we held our pre-Christmas members’ picnic in Olinda.
Despite the rain, many members and friends enjoyed an
afternoon of Sicilian bonhomie.
Wishing you an enjoyable read and a safe and happy festive
season.
Rita and Massimo (Editors) and the TSAA Committee
Christmas in Sicily is a religious festival and a family affair. It is usually
celebrated with dinner on Christmas Eve followed by midnight mass.
Presents are exchanged on that night, brought either by Babbo
Natale* (Father Christmas) or il bambino Gesù (baby Jesus) for the
children.
The Epiphany on January 6 is also a day when presents are given to
i picciriddi (children), this time by la befana (the old hag) who arrives
on her broomstick. If children have been good all year they receive
sweets and other small gifts. If they’ve been naughty, she brings
pieces of coal (u carbuni) - a traumatic event for overly-indulged
children these days.
The food at Christmas time differs according to province. In the
villages of the Madonie mountains, (near Palermo) the meat dish is
usually roast kid, preceded by a pasta dish: lasagne, cannelloni,
anelletti al forno etc., followed by a slice of cassata alla Siciliana, a
cake made of sponge, ricotta, marzipan and candied fruit.
Alternatively, panettone, is served or cuddureddi and buccellato
made with almond paste, dried fruit and fig fillings (see our recipe on
page 3).
In Noto (near Siracusa), Christmas Eve dishes include: broccoli or cod
fritters; scacce (pasties) with spinach or with broccoli and sausage;
arancini and eel. For Christmas lunch there is a choice of ravioli with
ricotta or chicken soup followed by such dishes as pork chops,
gelatina (jellied pork), sausages or stuffed chicken. Nougat or struffoli
(fried honey balls) are served for dessert.
Each year parish churches compete for the best presepio (nativity
scene) in town; the overly-ambitious creating works of art with running
water and animated figures which are eagerly visited by all. Baby
Jesus is placed in the crib only after midnight on Christmas Eve. The
town of Custonaci in the province of Trapani has a famous live
presepio enacted by the locals.
Towns in Sicily have Christmas lights in the streets and every shop front
displays pots of red or white poinsettias. The Teatro Massimo in
Palermo features a magnificent staircase covered in hundreds of
poinsettias.
La passeggiata (stroll) on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, is an
opportunity to show off the latest designer fashions. The men wear
their best suits and a few older women wear fur coats, even if the
temperature in Sicily is mild. (“Che bedda sta pelliccia” – “nice fur”.
*Editor’s Note: The word babbo caused such distress as a young child with its two
meanings. Firstly it means “father”, and secondly, “moron” in Sicilian dialect
(scimunitu). A child would interchange the meaning at his own peril!
Marion Watson (Sant’Ambrogio)
www.sicilianexperience.com
Chr i s tmas in S ic i ly
T h e S i c i l i a n A s s o c i a t i o n
o f A u s t r a l i a N e w s l e t t e r
December 2010 Edition Two
Bu n Natale
Teatro Massimo, Palermo
Photo: Galen R Frysinger
1. Favourite Sicilian expression?
Mangia e ingrassa e prega la morte ti
lascia, (Eat and get fat and hope that
death spares you.)
2. First memory of feeling connected to your Sicilian heritage?
It was after spending six months in Italy
as an 18-year-old alone, that I felt truly
connected. My mother is Australian; I
was therefore brought up very much in
two different worlds. The experience
played a large role in making me the
person I am today. I have been back
five more times since.
3. What represents Sicily on a plate?
Pappardelle fatte in casa, con ricotta e
scamuzza. The pappardelle are cooked
in the same water with the broccolini
and some of that water is left in the mix
when you add the fresh ricotta.
4. What would you put on a postcard from Sicily?
A picture of my late grandparents’
house in Ragusa which represents the
history of the Sgarioto family and where
I’ve stayed on all my trips to Sicily.
My second choice is my wedding,
standing on the steps of the cathedral
(San Giovanni Battista) in 2006.
5. Worst thing you could say to a Sicilian?
“Pasta was invented by the Chinese.
Soccer is a terrible sport. Your mother
can’t cook. You look terrible in those
clothes. Motorini are banned. Smoking is
illegal. Let’s walk. We are going to
implement all day retail trading hours.”
6. Funniest thing you’ve heard someone say in Sicily?
“Where is Australia?”
7. One thing you’d change about Sicily?
Sicily is so beautiful and unique.
There’s a lack of regulation, a
questionable political system, limited
opportunities, high unemployment …
but without those hardships Sicily
would not be what it is today. The
constant grind is what has created
our culture and traditions. I wouldn’t
change that for anything. I do wish it
was a little closer though, so I could
go there more often.
8. Best meal you’ve had in Sicily?
For me it’s not about the food itself
but the love and generosity behind
the food. It’s observing the genuine
pleasure behind the preparation of
the food that is so profound. My Zia
Rosa and my eldest cousin Giovanna
from Ragusa, have given me
examples of such love. Whatever
they cook is brilliant, usually
traditional fare made with
tremendous love for their heritage.
9. Most misunderstood thing about Sicily?
It would have to be the Mafia
presence. Sicily, unfortunately,
cannot let go of that stigma. Sure,
they are alive and well and highly active
but unless you go out of your way to get
their attention, you are completely safe.
A close second would be the myth that
there’s nothing to see besides Taormina,
Palermo and Siracusa.
10. Sicily in three words?
Frustrating, passionate, unforgettable.
Sandra Genovesi
T e n q u e s t i o n s o f S i l v i o S g a r i o t o Manager and part-owner, Mezzo Bar and Grill, 35 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Vic.
Page 2
Q u i z : S p o t t h e S i c i l i a n
True or false (don’t cheat and Google it first!).
Answers on the back page of the Newsletter.
1. Actor James Caan (Sonny Corleone in The Godfather) is of Sicilian ancestry.
2. Al Pacino (Michael Corleone in The Godfather) is of Sicilian ancestry.
3. Al Pacino’s maternal grandparents come from Corleone.
4. Marlon Brando (Vito Corleone in The Godfather) has a Sicilian great-grandparent by the surname of Brando.
5. Julia Gillard has a great-grandparent from Lipari.
6. Guy Williams (actor in Zorro, Lost in Space) is of Sicilian ancestry.
7. Steve Tyler (singer with Aerosmith and father of actress, Liv Tyler) is of Sicilian ancestry.
8. Mick Malthouse (coach of the Collingwood football team) has a Sicilian great -grandmother by the
surname of Baccala.
Sebastian Agricola
Silvio Sgarioto, Ragusa
T h e S i c i l i a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a N e w s l e t t e r
500g self-raising flour
200g sugar
300g butter
4 eggs
100mls milk (warm)
10g bicarbonate of soda dissolved in the
milk
pinch of salt
150g mixed chopped hazelnuts and
walnuts
300g dried figs
100g sultanas
50g dark chocolate chips
150g roughly-ground toasted almonds
5g ground cloves
250g peach jam
pinch of ground cinnamon
few drops of vanilla
juice of 1 lemon and rind
juice of 1 orange and rind
½ cup Marsala
Pastry
Combine flour, sugar,
butter, 3 of the eggs, milk,
salt and bicarbonate of
soda in a bowl and mix to
a firm dough. Wrap in cling
wrap and place in fridge
for 90 minutes.
Filling
Roughly chop dried figs in
food processor and place
in a bowl with last egg,
sultanas, cinnamon, nuts,
almonds, orange and
lemon rinds and juices,
jam, ground cloves,
cinnamon, vanilla and
Marsala. Mix well and
place mixture in a
saucepan. Heat and stir
for 10 minutes. Remove
from heat and once
cooled, add chocolate chips.
Roll out pastry to a long rectangular
shape (8cm wide x 1cm thick) and cut
into 10cm strips. Place mixture in the
centre of the strips, fold pastry over
mixture to form a parcel. Score an
opening on top with a knife so that the
filling can be seen. Place on tray lined
with baking paper and make small
diagonal inserts with fork on the sides of
the pastry.
Bake in oven at 180°C for about 20
minutes until golden and base is
cooked.
Once cooled , decorate with icing sugar
or pieces of pistachio nuts.
Makes 15 to 20 biscuits
Recipe and photo:
Carmelina Ricciardello (Sant’Ambrogio)
www.sicilianexperience.com
C u c i n a s i c i l i a n a
B u c c e l l a t i n i ( c u d d u r e d d i ) , T r a d i t i o n a l S i c i l i a n C h r i s t m a s b i s c u i t s
F e a s t o f S a n t a L u c i a , D e c e m b e r 1 3 , S i r a c u s a
Born in 283 AD in Siracusa, Santa Lucia
devoted her life to God by helping
those in her community.
It is believed that when her mother
became gravely ill, Lucia went to
Catania to pray to Sant’Agata, and
fell asleep on her gravestone. The next
morning, she discovered her mother
had been miraculously cured.
Consequently, Santa Lucia vowed to
serve God for the rest of her life in
secrecy; fearing that she would be
persecuted if the pagan government
found out she was Christian.
Santa Lucia sold her jewels and
belongings to help the blind and the
sick, angering her family and her
pagan fiancé, who denounced her for
her Christian beliefs when she left him.
Santa Lucia was martyred in 304 AD. It
is said that the soldiers who tried to
burn Lucia cut her eyes out first, and
because of this, she is often portrayed
holding her own eyes. Santa Lucia is
the patron saint of Siracusa and of the
blind. Her feast day is celebrated this
month.
Giuseppe Guglielmino
For a lovely rendition of the song, Santa Lucia,
check this link: You Tube: Elvis Presley - Santa
Lucia, (uploaded by Anna8elvis)
Page 3
T h e S i c i l i a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a N e w s l e t t e r
When the French were in Ragusa in
1272, fathers were no longer masters of
their daughters, brothers of their sisters or
husbands of their wives, because when
a Frenchman entered a household, he
would banish the men and become the
new master of the house. The poor
husbands despaired but could not
speak for fear of being sent to the tower
and beaten to death.
A certain Giovanni Procida took it upon
himself to put an end to this bullying and
for ten years he went around Ragusa
inciting the Sicilians to fight the
oppressors. To avoid being caught and
arrested, he hid messages in brooms
and everyone agreed to support him.
On Easter Monday, in 1282 at 2100 hours,
the plan was to take the French by
surprise and behead them.
When the time arrived they began to
shout, “Now, now,” and to differentiate
themselves from the French, the Sicilians
carried a chickpea plant (ceci,
pronounced chechee) and would ask,
“What are these?” Those who replied
ciceri, (cheecheree) were spared; those
who replied chicheri, (kikeri) were
obviously French because it was a word
the French could never pronounce. One
blow and that was the end.
Within an hour they cleaned up the
entire town, and then also cut the
Frenchmen’s genitals, pickled them in
barrels and sent them back to
France. The rebellion against the French
quickly spread throughout Sicily. It took a
fortnight for the rebels to gain control
over most of the island, and within six
weeks it was completely subdued.
Since then, if the French hear of a
Sicilian it is like speaking of the devil.
Sicilians are good natured, but they will
not tolerate injustices.
Carmela Corallo
Reference: Mimi Arezzo.
Una Ragusa Da Amare. Cunti e Leggende.
Mimi Arezzo Editore, Ragusa, 2005
S t o r i e s m y f a t h e r t o l d m e : I V e s p r i S i c i l i a n i ( S i c i l i a n V e s p e r s )
M a k e f o o d n o t w a r
Family gatherings - why do they fill us
with dread? Weddings and funerals
always seem good places to meet the
long-lost cousins who were never lost but
just live around the corner, or Zia
Pasqualina who always confuses you
with the daughter of Cummari Pina.
We all put on a brave face and pretend
to enjoy ourselves. When we were
young, family get-togethers were fun.
Music, dancing, games and food were
the epicentre of our existence or was it
because the main pillars of the family,
nonna and nonno were still with us?
The older generations are busy
gossiping. The second generation brag
about their accomplishments and
holidays. Their children, however, are
fine and can’t understand what all the
fuss is about, let alone know anyone
there or understand the language. “A sti
cangaruni!” (Oh these kangaroos!), as
my father would say.
Amusing and sad, yet we are all here to
celebrate. We now help ourselves to Zia
Maria’s caponata competing with
the melenzane ripiene by Cummari
Silvana. Perhaps we should try some
sausages and prosciutto made with
Zio Nino’s pet pig. Who can say no to
everyone’s favourite Sicilian fast food -
arancini con sugo e mozzarella? And of
course there’s Zia Anna’s unique
attempt at Hawaiian pizza (had no
pineapple so used banana), insalata
Australiana and cugina Nina’s lethal
zippoli dripping with oil and sugar. As
usual, there’s Zio Sebastiano in the
corner making lemon granita the
traditional way, yelling for someone to
bring him some salt, “Portati u sale”.
The music starts and Zio Turi fuelled with
too much home-made vino, begins to
dance the tarantella. The ice is broken,
we all start talking, joking, laughing. Even
siblings, Pippina and Carmela make
peace.
We are
all here together,
eating, drinking, dancing
and forgetting about our past
misunderstandings.
Culture, tradition, food; che bella a
Sicilia!
Rosemary Bonacquisto
Photos: Emma la Rosa
Page 4
T h e S i c i l i a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a N e w s l e t t e r
Sortino Social Club New Year’s Eve dinner
dance, 31st December 2010, 6.00pm, 101
Scotchmer St. North Fitzroy, VIC. Club members
and TSAA members $65.00, non-members $75
(all-inclusive). Please contact Frank Mirabilio on
(03) 9306 4942 for further details.
Isole Eolie program, February 2011:
Vi cuntu la Sicilia, performance by Teatro Stabile
CT, Monday 14 February 2011, 5.30pm, Club Five
Dock, 66 Great North Road, Five Dock, NSW /
Sunday 20th February, 3.30pm, Eolian Hall, 836
Lygon St. Carlton, VIC.
International conference on Aeolian migration
to Australia chaired by Nino Randazzo (Senator
of the Italian Republic), Tuesday 15th February,
9.30am, Canada Bay Club, 4 William St. Five
Dock, NSW / Saturday 19th February, 10.00am,
Italian Immigration Museum Co.As.It., 189
Faraday Street, Carlton, VIC.
Museo dell’emigrazione Eoliana exhibition,
Tuesday 15th February, 12.30pm, Canada Bay
Club, 4 William Street, Five Dock, NSW / Saturday
19th February, 12.30pm, Eolian Hall, 836 Lygon St.
Carlton, VIC.
Dinner and tour operators’ workshops with
Aeolian food tasting and photographic
exhibition by Antonio Brundu, Wednesday 16th
February 2011, 11.00am, Mediterranean House,
65 Ramsay Road, Five Dock NSW / Monday 21st
February, 10.00am, Eolian Hall, 836 Lygon St.
Carlton, VIC.
For further information regarding the events of
the delegation of the Aeolian Museum, please
contact Marcello D’Amico on (03)9435 6394.
Sebastiano Pitruzzello, founder, owner
and general manager of Pantalica
Cheese Company Pty. Ltd. and
Pitruzzello Estate Pty. Ltd. born in Sortino
(Siracusa) in 1940, was awarded
L’Ordine al Merito del Lavoro in Rome
by the Italian government for services
to the food industry (Australia) on 2nd
June 2010. Complimenti Sebastiano!
A w a r d
A n n o u n c e m e n t s
Comedy revue, Insieme presented by
Giuseppe Guglielmino of Trinacria Promotions,
featured at Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne
recently. Presented in Sicilian, this hilarious
show, based on a popular TV program in Sicily,
included irreverent stand-up comedy and
musical performances about contemporary
Sicily and provincial life in the past. Salvo La
Rosa presided over a cast including Carlo
Kaneba, Totino and Litterio. We think
opportunities such as these have been infrequent
until now and we therefore encourage you to
enthusiastically support future visits.
R e v i e w – I n s i e m e
I e t t a t e s a n g u –
g i v e b l o o d !
Due to an urgent need
for blood donations, we
encourage our
members to give blood
during this Christmas
period at the Australian
Red Cross Blood
Service. Please check
the website for eligibility
and to locate your
nearest mobile or
permanent donor
centre.
Contact
www.donateblood.com.au
If you wish to give blood
as a group, please
contact TSAA at the
email address on page 6.
From left:
Giuseppe Guglielmino, Carlo
Kaneba, Salvo La Rosa,
Totino and Litterio
Photo: Lucy Guglielmino
T S A A m e m b e r b e n e f i t s a n d d i s c o u n t s
T h e S i c i l i a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a N e w s l e t t e r
We are delighted to announce that a number of businesses selling
Sicilian-style products and/or operated by Sicilian-Australians
have generously offered discounts to our Members. This is a
fantastic way of supporting these "Sicilian" businesses whilst also
enjoying wonderful products at reduced prices.
These offers will be activated as soon as Membership Cards are
ready to distribute (expected by the end of December).
Please sign the back of your card to validate it.
Cards are not transferable and proof of identity may be required.
Conditions apply.
Businesses include:
BRUNETTI - 194-204 Faraday St., Carlton, VIC. 20% off all purchases
(excluding seasonal products). We recommend their new Sicilian
macaroons, brucciolato, cannoli and cassate. Tel: (03) 9347 2801.
AQUILA SHOES AND ACCESSORIES - 13 stores throughout
Melbourne. 20% off all full-priced stock. Tel: (03) 8412 9800.
LA CASA DEL GELATO - 163 Lygon St. Carlton, VIC. Now
celebrating 30 years under artisan gelatiere, Ottorino Pace, 15%
off ice-cream cakes and family take-home packs of wonderful
gelati. Tel: (03) 9347 0220.
ENOTECA SILENO - gastronomia since 1953. 920 Lygon St. North
Carlton, VIC. 12.5% off dining, retail purchases and cooking
classes. This does not apply to functions, special events and
already discounted items such as Bin End wine clearances or
food promotions where the discounted price exceeds the 12.5%
already offered. Tel: (03) 9389 7000.
BAR IDDA - 132 Lygon St., East Brunswick, VIC. Specializing in
delicious home-style Sicilian cuisine, Alfredo and Lisa La Spina
offer cardholders 15% off bottles of Sicilian wine and a
complimentary coffee for all dinner guests with any dinner
purchase. Tel: (03) 9380 5339.
CHURCH STREET ENOTECA - 527 Church St., Richmond, VIC. 10% off
food and wine for lunch or dinner (Monday to Wednesday). Not
to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Tel: (03) 9428 7898.
LA LATTERIA - 104 Elgin St., Carlton, VIC. Mozzarella laboratory, milk
and yoghurt, fresh cheeses made on the premises. 10% off all
products. Tel: (03) 9347 9009.
Over the coming months, we will profile our supporting businesses.
Enjoy!
Page 5
To submit contributions to this newsletter and to receive copy and
content guidelines, please contact the Editorial team: Rita Price or
Massimo Petterlin at the email address below. To announce your events,
activities etc. in this newsletter, please contact the Events co-ordinator at
the email address below.
Contacts
The Sicilian Association of Australia (TSAA)
PO Box 418, Avondale Heights, VIC 3034
E-mail address: [email protected]
Be sure to check our Facebook page for current news, videos and photos
and to find out who our friends are.
Facebook page: The Sicilian Association of Australia
Disclaimer
The Association has accepted and published the material contributed to its newsletter in good faith on the basis that it does not breach any copyright laws.
In the event that a copyright claim arises, please contact the Association and it wi ll take all reasonable action.
Copyright
This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be
reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of
The Sici lian Association of Australia,
PO Box 418, Avondale Heights, VIC 3034, Australia, 2010.
Copyright © The Sicilian Association of Australia 2010.
All Rights Reserved.
C o n t r i b u t i o n s & A n n o u n c e m e n t s
Quiz answers to Spot the Sicilian
1. False, he is the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany.
2. True
3. True
4. False. His family is of German, Dutch, Irish, and English ances-try.
5. False. Not many Sicilian rangas around.
6. True. His real name was Armand Joseph Catalano
7. False. His real name is Steven Victor Tallarico but his grandfa-ther was born in Calabria.
8. False. If you answered “true” then you are the baccala.
T h e S i c i l i a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f A u s t r a l i a N e w s l e t t e r
Page 6
1. Watching a Greek classical play at the Teatro Greco
2. Il Duomo (Cathedral) incorporating the Temple of Minerva
3. Searching for white ducks amongst the papyrus at Fontana Aretusa
4. Listening to the echo of your voice at L’Orecchio di Dionisio
5. The diving and sunbathing platform on the rocks at Ortigia
6. La Grotta dei Cordari (Rope-maker’s Cave)
7. La Festa di Santa Lucia, December 13
8. Historical fish market, Ortigia
9. Ipogeo di Piazza Duomo (tunnels and bomb shelters)
10. Padre Alfio Inserra, (parish priest of Santa Rita and a regular visitor to Melbourne)
Te
n t
hin
gs
we
lo
ve
ab
ou
t S
ira
cu
sa
L’Orecchio di Dionisio
Photo: Thomas Price
Teatro Greco
Photo: Emma La Rosa
TSAA pre-Christmas
picnic, Sunday 12 th
December, 2010, Olinda,
Victoria
Photo: Bruce Thomas