Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

Christina Marracini, 17, of Harrison (Westchester County), New York, has been crowned Miss Italia USA 2009.

Christina, after winning the State competition held January 31, 2009, has represented the New York State in the MISS ITALIA USA 2009 final held March 21-28, 2009 on a MSC Orchestra cruise.
She will travel to Italy on June 2009 to compete against forty-nine young ladies from other nations for the title of “Miss Italia nel Mondo“.

Miss Italia nel Mondo is a contest celebrating annually the beauty of women of Italian heritage from around the world. The final pageant will be held in Jesolo, surroundings of Venice.

(Details of Miss Italia USA contest at missitaliausa.com)

A few tips on rituals worth attending while visiting Italy during Easter Season.

In Rome: Good Friday Procession
On Good Friday the Pope leads a solemn torchlit procession, from the Colosseum up the Monte Palatino, reenacting the 14 Stations of the Cross, from Jesus’ death sentence to the placement of his body in the tomb. Tens of thousands of the faithful gather with torches and lights to follow this solemn procession.

In Florence: Explosion of the Cart (Scoppio del Carro)
On Easter Sunday, people gather in Piazza del Duomo to watch a dove-shaped rocket, — called “Colombina“, fly out of the Duomo and ignite a huge wooden cart-structure in the square outside. The event is scheduled for 11am.

In Sicily: various Easter rituals in Palermo and surroundings
If you are visiting Palermo at Easter, don’t miss the “procession of the Cocchieri” on Good Friday as well as the impressive re-enactments of the Last Supper at major churches throughout Palermo.

Singular Easter celebrations and rituals are taking place throughout the Holy week in the towns located in the surroundings of Palermo. Among them we suggest an Easter archaic festival of medieval origins, the “Dance of the Devils“.
The re-enactments of this ancient ritual, with local residents performing the Dance of the Devils by wearing large and terrifying iron masks, is taking place in the town of Prizzi. It represents the cosmic struggle between good and evil.

“Notte Futurista” — Futurist Night — is a night of of Italian Futurism with music, painting, sculpture, manifestoes and words unleashed, taking place in Salt Lake City, UT.

Sponsored by The Italian Center of the West and partially funded by the ZAP tax program Salt Lake County, the event will be held Wednesday, April 15th, 2009.

“Notte Futurista” will be featuring Alex Caldiero & the Futurist Performing Ensemble of UVU.

Where: St.Mark’s Episcopal Church Annex, (North Big Conference room)
231 East 100 South, SLC (use the North Entrance)
When: Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 – 7:00 PM
Public is welcome, no admission fee
RSVP ph 801-364-8259 .