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black madonna
Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: The Madonna di Loreto is one of the many "black Madonnas" Italians revere. According to scholars there are over a hundred images of the Blessed Mother in Italy that portray her with dark skin. The Madonna di Loreto is possibly the most famous. The popularity of "La Madonna Nera" has been ascribed to the fact that Italians link black-skinned individuals to Africa, a continent where "strong women" once ruled. Also, prior to World War II, Italians from the South (whose skin is often a shade darker than those from the North) were generally looked down up by the ruling elite and thought of as "white niggers." Other theories as to why Italians (especially the poor) might be inspired by a "Black Madonna" have been postulated. For further information visit: www.darkmother.net.
      The photo of the Madonna of Loreto was taken by the contributor.
Contributed by: Mary Melfi

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: MAJOR FEAST DAYS -- Italy (National)
     
      JANUARY
      Capao D'Anno/ New Year's Day
      La Vigilia Delll' Epifania, Epiphany Eve, January 5
      Epifania, Epiphany, January 6th
      Feast day of San Antonio Abate, January 17th
      Carnevale, Carnival, January 17th to Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter (Date changes)
     
      FEBRUARY
      Santa Agata, Saint Agatha, Feb. 3-5
      Carnevale, Carnival, 40 days before Easter (Date changes)
     
      MARCH
      San Giovanni Giuseppe della Croce, St. John-Joseph of The Cross, March 5
      Madonna di Costantinopol, March 8th
      San Giuseppe, Saint St. Joseph, March 19th
     
      MARCH OR APRIL
      Domenica Delle Palme, Palm Sunday
      Giovedi Santo, Holy Thursday
      Venerdi Santo, Holy Friday
      Sabato Santo, Holy Saturday
      La Pasqua, Easter
     
      APRIL
      Madonna della Stella, April 22
      St. George, April 23
      Saint Leo, April 30th
     
      MAY
      San Nicola, Saint Nicholas, May 7-8
      Madonna del Monte, May 20
      San Pardo, Saint Pardo, May 25th-27
     
      Corpus Domini, Corpus Christi, Thursday following Trinity Sunday [Date changes]
     
      JUNE
      St. Anthony of Padua, June 13
      St. John the Baptist, June 24
      St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29
     
      JULY
      St. Rosalia, July 15
      Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16
      San Basso, July 26th
      Santa Anna di Cantalupo
      San Vittoriano, last Sunday in July
     
      AUGUST
      Saint Basso, August 3
      Madonna of the Snow, August 12
     
      SEPTEMBER
      Saint Rosalia, September 4
      Feast in honor of the Sacred Heart, Sept. 16
      La Madonna della Difesa, last Sunday in Sept. [in Molise, in Montreal, Canada the day is celebrated the 3rd Sunday in August]
      San Gennaro, September 19th
     
      OCTOBER
      Saint Teresa, October 15
     
      NOVEMBER
      La Festa dei Morti, All Souls' Day or Feast Day of the Dead, Nov. 2
      2nd Feast of Madonna di Costantinopoli, Nov. 8
      San Trifone, Saint Trifone Nov. 10
      St. Frances Cabrini, Nov. 13
      St. Martin, November 11
     
      DECEMBER
      San Nicole, Saint Nicolas, Dec. 6
      Santa Lucia, St. Lucy, Dec. 13
      La Vigilia, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th
      Natale, Christmas Day, Dec. 25th
      Santo Stefano, St. Stephen, Dec. 26
     
      *Dates of actual celebrations for the Feast Days may vary from region to region in Italy, as they do in North America
     
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1580623

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