Italian American Heritage Month
An October Celebration of Italian Heritage, Culture, and History
Oct 1, 2009
In 1792, the Society of Tammany or Columbian Order in the City of New York celebrated the first Columbus Day. In preparing for the event in 1791, John Pintard, Secretary of the Tammany Society in New York, wrote “Our society proposes celebrating the completion of the third century of the discovery of America, on the 12th of October, 1792, with some peculiar mark of respect to the memory of Columbus, who is our patron.”
The History of Columbus Day
As the Society of Tammany became more involved in politics, the celebration of Columbus waned; but in October 1866, it was renewed by the Italian community in New York City, and on the west coast in 1869, when Italian immigrants in San Francisco celebrated Columbus Day.
The four hundredth anniversary celebration of Columbus was a nationwide event, supported by a proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison and connected to a public school program sponsored by the National Education Association. Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for school children to recite during the flag-raising ceremony for the Columbus celebration. The National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day program was the first public reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
The first state to observe Columbus Day was Colorado in 1905. Other states followed and in 1937, October 12th was proclaimed a national holiday by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1971, a declaration by Congress moved Columbus Day to the second Monday in October.
October is Italian American Heritage Month
Honoring Columbus in the first October celebration over two hundred years ago was the prelude to a month-long commemoration to honor Italian heritage, but it wasn’t until 1985 that the celebrations would require a month and be held in October.
In 1976, Abraham Beame, Mayor of New York City, declared May 17th to the 23rd Italian Culture Week. Dr. Angelo Gimondo, an educator and administrator, was the guiding force initiating the week-long celebration. He collaborated with other Italian and Italian American educators to promote the language and culture of Italy; but soon after, future celebrations focused on a specific person or theme.
Nine years later, the celebration was moved to October to coincide with Columbus Day and with so many cultural events scheduled—films, concerts, lectures, symposiums, exhibits, dinners, festivals, street fairs, tours, Italian language classes, food and wine shows, culinary demonstrations, poetry and book readings, bocce tournaments, and fashion shows—the week of celebrations expanded to a month. Over time, the governors of many states with large populations of Italian Americans and the President of the United States signed proclamations recognizing the annual celebration of Italian heritage.
Italian American Heritage Month has Many Names
Italian Americans throughout the nation join together to celebrate their heritage during the month of October, but the name of the month is as varied as those who celebrate. Depending on the organization and region, October may be Italian American Heritage Month, Italian American History Month, Italian Heritage Month, Italian Culture Month, Italian Heritage and Culture Month, or Italian History Month. It is recognized as National Italian American Heritage Month in the annual proclamation signed by the President of the United States.
Although the month of festivities may be identified by many names, the purpose of celebrating is the same—to honor those of Italian heritage who have so richly contributed to America … and the world.
Learn About Italian American Culture
Numerous books provide insight and understanding to Italian American culture. Recent publications include The Journey of the Italians in America by Vincenza Scarpaci, a pictorial that chronicles the passage of Italian immigrants to Italian Americans; Heritage–Italian American Style by Leon J. Radomile provides over 1,500 facts about Italian and Italian American heritage, culture, and history, in a question and answer format; and The Scattered Italians by Thomas Gambino, which offers a brief overview of the history of Italy and its effect on Italian Americans.
Read about Giovanni da Verrazzano, take a virtual tour of the Italian American Museum in New York City, and learn how to teach children about their Italian heritage.
Sources
Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York
American Holidays, USA.gov
The American Flag Foundation
The Pledge of Allegiance: A Short History by Dr. John W. Baer
Saint Tammany and the Origin of the Society of Tammany or Columbian Order in the City of New York by Edwin P. Kilroe
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