Sicilian-Louisiana Reflections

Being born into a loving Sicilian-Louisiana family, nurtured within the heart of New Orleans’ multicultural mélange of fabulous food, music, art and celebrations, gave me a perspective that I now acknowledge as truly extraordinary!
Earliest memories are sensuous–fresh-baked schicciata, earthy pan bread pressed to perfection by loving hands, pungent tastes of cuccidati, fig-filled pastries seasoned with honey, zest of Plaquamine Parish oranges with the subtle Arabesque bite of black pepper, or, awakening to the sizzling smells of salsiccia, anise-flavored Italian sausage made fresh for grocery sales and home use, all accompanied in background with piano roll Jazz.

My paternal grandmother, Virginia Maturana Scalise passed away when I was only four years old, yet I so clearly remember her coming in from their garden, and tucked within the folds of her starched white apron was the largest, perfectly ripe fig, which she rinsed, then cut into equal portions for my two brothers and me to share. That luscious taste lingers in my memory, along with family lore of Virginia and Pietro’s story. It wasn’t until I visited their home town of Piana degli Albanesi that I understood Pietro’s stubborn independence. Protected on all sides from Sicilian mountains and originally called Piana dei Greci, this was where fifteenth-century Albanians had taken refuge, and maintained in isolation their Greek-Albanian mores with their ancient Arbëreshë language.

Pietro, the “rock,” embodied a tenacious spirit, the foundation for his family’s success. Recruited to work in the sweltering heat of Louisiana’s cane fields, he left behind his young bride, with the promise of sending for her after his two-year indenture. Already pregnant with their first child, Virginia survived the stinging comments from village women who cautioned, “You’ll never see him again!” Not only did Pietro bring over Virginia and their young son, they began as tenant farmers in Louisiana’s fertile “River Parishes,” had seven more children, established their grocery business in New Orleans, and eventually sent for her parents, siblings and cousins who lived in the Scalise home until they established their own independence. Pietro relished each day working from before sun-up until
past midnight, proud, but never stopping to enjoy his success. Virginia once remarked, “Pietro is stubborn as the mules who pull the wagons in New Orleans!”

When my maternal grandmother, Angelina, came with her father, Antonio Caronna, to live in New Orleans, she left behind in her beloved Sicilian village of Poggioreale, her mother, Micaela Tridico Caronna and four younger sisters. At only sixteen, Angelina already excelled with many creative gifts–exquisite hand embroidery and lacemaking, a mastery of centuries-old culinary traditions, a clear head for decision making, and an innate sense of leadership. It took three years for Antonio to establish his small oyster-bar restaurant, then the family was finally reunited in their new home. With four younger daughters to consider, Micaela and Antonio decided it was time to find a good “match” for Angelina. On a Sunday afternoon, the interview was set, to introduce Giuseppe Accardo, originally from Gibillina in the Sicilian province of Trapani. With the screeching stop of the streetcar, her younger sisters exclaimed, “He is so handsome in his all-white suit!” as Angelina whispered a silent prayer to Saint Anne, “Please let him be as gentle and kind as my Dear Poppa.” The contract was set for a year-long betrothal, and little did her sisters know, Giuseppe’s all-white suit was his only one, his uniform as Concierge’s Assistant at Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter! Described as a “Marriage made in Heaven,” their success was a testament to their Faith, and dedication to each other. They had nine children and were acclaimed as leaders within their church and business community.

As teenagers in love, my parents had to overcome prejudice from both families. When my dad, James Scalise announced his intention to marry Madelyn Accardo, his father, Pietro said, “No, James, you need to find a nice Arbëreshë girl.” Asserting their independence, my parents then did the unthinkable–they drove to Mississippi and were married by a Justice of the Peace. At their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, my dad, with his wry humor said, “And we were the couple LEAST likely to succeed!”

It was during the mid-1940’s war years when Angelina selected and purchased, from maps, several lots from the proposed suburban haven, Lake Vista. When Giuseppe complained, “Angelina, what do we need with all those lots?
There isn’t even a streetcar going all the way out there!” she replied, “Just you wait. When the boys come home from the war, they will need a place to build new homes for their family.” From their new home they walked to daily Mass, and Angelina and Giuseppe lived to attend Christenings and Weddings of grandchildren in Lake Vista’s parish church, St. Pius X.  Being in Mommie Accardo’s kitchen, learning by watching, as her hands magically stirred bits of fried dough into caramelized sugar to form my favorite Sicilian confection, pine-cone shaped mounds called Pignolati, or, savoring a luscious salad, fresh-picked from Poppa’s kitchen-side garden, was for me, the closest I have felt to being in heavenly grace.

As a writer, I know I have a wellspring of cultural treasures to draw from, and I feel my guiding spirit in the continuity of my ancestry–their vision, tenacity, trials and triumphs, all blessings that connect us, as women of Italian American heritage.

Above:  1920s Wedding of Virginia Scalise; the neighborhood band for the reception included a young cornet player–Louis Armstrong!  Below, the author’s mother, Madelyn Accardo Scalise and grandmother, Angelina Caronna Accardo, standing before a St. Joseph’s Day altar in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1965. Photos courtesy of the author.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandra Scalise Juneau‘s book, Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars, The History, Recipes and Symbols of a New Orleans Tradition, is scheduled for publication launch on March 10^th, 2021 by Louisiana State University Press, and is available now for pre-orders through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other sites.  The author states, “I am particularly gratified to have the book available in time for the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19th, since this year our sacred traditions are being celebrated in alternate ways due to this ongoing pandemic.”  You can read the author’s complete biography here, as well, as a new member of NOIAW.  Cover image of the forthcoming book, below, was provided courtesy of the author.