Italian folk art

By: Marianna Gatto, ISDA Contributing Editor Folk dances tell stories and reflect a group’s diverse history and culture. While the tarantella — arguably Italy’s most famous folk dance — is best known today as a dance performed at weddings, its origins are as ancient as they are peculiar. The tarantella traces its origins to Taranto, a … Continued

We crossed the intersection probably twenty times in recent years- a somewhat isolated location at the tip of one of the smaller Finger Lakes in New York State, not really ‘on the way’ to anything. A phone call from a friend alerted us to the most pristine untouched period stenciled walls we have ever documented!

Book,1898 by Dolmesh,H--courtesy-OhioStateUniversityLibrary

I learned that our tradition is very rich, and that it contains magical and religious rituals and prayers for the outward expression of our inner spirituality for every phase and condition of our lives. The practices of witchcraft, folk medicine, blessing rituals, cooking, and crafting are inextricably woven into the fabric of Italian culture—no matter where Italians are geographically located.

Blood-spiked espresso love potions, and plenty of ways to fight the evil eye.

Twenty-seven tales, a selection from Calvino's larger collection; translated by Sylvia Mulcahy and illustrated by Emanuele Luzzati.