Page 26 - Italian-American Herald - October 2023

26 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | OCTOBER2023 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD ITALIAN MADE FUN & SIMPLE
As in past October issues, the Herald dedicates this issue’s lesson to Halloween. Halloween has become a big celebration in Italy, although some Italians regard it as another invasion
of American culture. The holiday’s origins are traced back to Europe and the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming spirits. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain.
The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. In modern times the holiday has morphed into a more secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. It has also become popular for both children and adults to have Halloween-themed parties. This lesson is for those of you who celebrate Halloween and want to throw some Italian into the mix!
Here are some common seasonal expressions in Italian. Buon divertimento! (Enjoy!)
Halloween-among non-celebrants
(La Vigilia d’Ogni Santo)
Zucca*
Pumpkin
Festeggiamo!
Let’s party!
Intagliamo la zucca!
Let’s carve the pumpkin!
Indossiamo un costume. We dress up in costume.
Il gatto nero
Black cat
Lo scheletro
Skeleton
Il fantasma
Ghost
Il pipistrello
Bat
Il ragno
Spider
La ragnatela
Spiderweb
Autunno
Autumn
La maschera
Mask
Lupo mannaro
Werewolf
La crostata di zucca**
Pumpkin pie
Il Vampiro
Vampire
La caramella
Candy
La mela caramellata**
Candied apple
Il sidro di mela
Apple cider
La strega***
Witch
Ossa di morte****
Bones of the dead
This month we look at surnames beginning with the letter T.
TACCONELLI – This surname is thought to derive from the Italian word "taccone," meaning patch, derived from a job such as patching a roof. This theory is based on the medieval gothic first name Takko, derived from thaka, which meant roof or protection. The Italian word "tacco" means heel, block, chock. Therefore, most ethnologists believe that the families that have these surnames have cobblers on their family tree. This surname has a presence
in 10 regions. The highest number is in Abruzzi and the least in Veneto. Variations: TACCONE, TACCONI, TACCHINI, TECCHETTO, TACCARELLI, TACCHELLA, TACCHELLI, TACCHIA, TACCO, TACCO.
TADDEI – This surname derives
from the Italian first name Taddeo and
is a very prevalent surname. It is present
in all 20 regions. It is mostly found in Toscana and least in Molise. Variations: TADDEO, TADDIA, TADDEINI, TADINI, TADOLINI, TADDEUCCI, TADDUNI.
TAGLIACOZZI –Thissurnamederives from the name of the town of Tagliacozzo
in the Abruzzese province of L'Aquila. It is hard to explain, but the surname no longer appears in any present-day vital statistics in Abruzzi. It’sactuallymostprevalentinLazio and in small numbers in three other regions.
TAGLIERI – This surname derives
from the Italian word "tagliere," meaning
a wooden cutting board. The evolution as
a surname is attributed to ancestors who worked in public kitchens such as osterie, inns, pasta manufacture, etc. It is present in 16 of Italy’s 20 regions. This surname is most prevalent in Abruzzo.
TARQUINI – This surname originally
derives from the first name Tarquinio; it goes back to the Latin word "Tarquinius," meaning someone who was from Tarquinia. The modern-day families with this surname most likely descend from ancestors from Tarquinia. Variations: TARQUINIO, TARQUINIA.
TARTAGLIA – This surname derives from the Italian word “Tartaglia,” meaning stutterer, it was used as a nickname. As was the case with nicknames given to those in a certain trade or with some sort of affliction, these nicknames would evolve into surnames and pass on to descendants. Obviously the very vast majority of present-day descendants with this surname don’t have a stutter, but the surname is very widespread in Italy. It
is most prevalent in Campania and least registered with Vital statistics in Val d’Aosta. Variations: TARTAGLIONE.
TASSANI – This surname derives from the Italian word "tasso," which has different meanings. It means badger in the animal world, a kind of tree, interest in banking terms, and in its diminutive form it means plug. Therefore, modern-day families have quite a bit of research to do to determine how they inherited their surname. It is present in only nine regions, mostly in Emilia- Romagna. Variations: TASSONI, TASSI, TESSELLI, TASSINO, TASINI, TASSOTTO, TASSONE, TASSONI, TASSARINI, TASIANO.
TAVIANI – This surname derives
from the first name Ottavio, and can be traced from the Roman noble family name "Octavia,” or from an ancestor who was the eighth child born into a family. It is present in 13 regions. It is the most prevalent Tuscany and least in Trentino-Alto Adige. Variations: TAVIANO, TAVIANINI.
You can research your surname on these two websites:
• surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/italian/ • cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani.
*Zucca derives from the Italian word “zucchina” (squash or courgette) used to best define our American pumpkin associated with the fall season. In its purest form “zucca” as in the phrase “testa di zucca,” refers to a person who lacks intelligence and/or common sense. However,
for the purpose of describing the pumpkin, removing the “hin” from “zucchina,” gives the meaning of a large squash, which is what a pumpkin really is.
**These fall dessert delicacies haven’t caught on yet in the “old country,” but given the path to acceptance hot dogs, fries, and hamburgers have taken, it won’t be long before these items, too, will be available at the neighborhood “supermercato.”
***Unfortunately, the use of witch symbolism at Halloween has also been included in Italian celebrations. Unfortunate in that the famous witch, La Befana, the good Epiphany witch is slowly taking a back seat to Santa Claus as the gift giver of the Christmas holiday season. Equating witches to the spooky mystique of Halloween might be another step away from the beautiful Italian celebration of Epiphany.
****These are Italian seasonal cookies. Kids as well as adults who prefer the religious “Day of the Dead” over Halloween find their sweet treat in this traditional Italian favorite.
This month’s proverb
It is from Naples:
Napulitano: 'A meglia parola è chella ca nun se dice.
Italiano: La migliore parola è quella che non si dice.
English translation: The best word is the one that goes unspoken.
This month’s falso amico
It is sale, but it does not mean sale as in English. It means salt. In Italian the word for sale (as in back to school “sale”) is saldi.
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE
Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating Specialist www.reflectiondetail.com
NICK LOMBARDI
President
610-455-0145
nick@reflectiondetail.com
MICHAEL PISANO HOURS TUES-FRI 8AM TO 5:30PM
SAT 8AM TO 2PM
PISANO & SON
SHOE AND ORTHOPEDIC SERVICE
5 CHANNING AVE., tel. (610) 647-4583
“
Stone Patio Work
n’t even look at anyone else because h
“H
Italo Pavone
Tile, Marble & Masonry Contractor Serving the Tri-State Area for 35 years
HI
Marble Bricklaying
Ceramic Cement
Angie’s List Review
IRE I
I
IT
A
A
AL
LO
O!
You will not b
” 610.329.3152
.
!
!
D D
D
on
n
h h h h he e
e
is
s A
A-M
ll
li
i
MA
on
io
A
AZ
n....”
Z
Z-
-
-I
IN
NG
G
.
be disappointed because he is one in a
a
a
a b
bi
il
MALVERN, PA 19355
pisanoandsonshoerepair.net