Celebrating Italian culture and heritage, the Italian American Club of the CSRA hosted its 40th annual, all-day Pasta Festival on Friday, Oct. 6.
Hosted at the Immaculate Conception Catholic School, found at 811 Telfair St., participants could enjoy lunch or dinner for $12 a plate, which included traditional spaghetti with meatballs or sausage, a tossed salad, a bread roll and a drink choice of tea or water.
For an extra donation, one could also enjoy homemade, authentic Italian desserts and imported wine, or participate in a raffle with various gift baskets donated by members of the club.
Starting with lunch at 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and then opening again from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for dinner, the Pasta Festival is the club’s only major fundraiser which funds the rest of the club’s activities and functions.
“October is Italian heritage month and we give a portion of our proceeds to a local charity,” said lead organizer of the festival and IAC president, Regina Weitz. “Every year we choose a different one, and this year we chose Habitat for Humanity.”
With days of preparation following a passed down club recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, all members play a part in the fundraiser.
“The men actually do all the cooking in the kitchen while the women take care of the baking,” said longtime member Maria Crane. “It’s all a labor of love. I mean these women have been cooking for days, as a way of sharing our culture.”
In reference to the “Sopranos,” a popular crime series from the late 1990s, Crane said many people frame stereotypes around Italians and close themselves off to the various other cultural aspects the country has to offer.
“When you hear the word ‘Italian,’ the first thing people think of is ‘mafia,’ when in fact Italians have brought music, art, fashion, food, wine and so much more,” said Crane. “The mafia is such a small part of Italy, and when you grow up in an Italian family this is what you see – the chaos, the loud voices, the hugs and kisses.”
To Crane, the event is all about showing off different aspects of Italian hospitality and culture, which means there are no strangers or empty bellies leaving from a household.
“You walk in a stranger, you walk out family,” she said. “You’re always leaving with meals to-go, because that’s what we do, and I think it’s important we continue the idea of a good, healthy family, and to understand where all that comes from.”
For members like Crane, who moved to the U.S. from Italy, Weitz said the club offered a friendly environment for those new to the area with Italian ties.
“We’re just family. A lot of the members are transplants from other states, so this club is like their family,” said Weitz. “It’s important for our generation, and we’re trying to keep up the same values and heritage with the younger generations … that family is important.”
According to Crane, such values and language were slightly lost over time because of concerns of fitting in and avoiding ridicule.
“Many Italian immigrants, when they first came to the States, would not speak Italian at home because they wanted their children not to be ostracized and bullied – especially in New York and Jersey,” said Crane. “Italians were known to be from the poorer sections and seen as second class citizens, so that second generation grew up not speaking Italian, besides knowing the bad words, of course.”
Longtime Aiken attendee and Italian Tony Distefano and his friends always look forward to the annual festival – a community tradition for his close knit circle.
“I really enjoy it, and we’ve come every year for the past 10 years at least,” he said. “It’s so nice to have us all get together. To see the kids and the families and everyone having a good time, and it makes you feel good.”
Echoing Crane and Weitz familial focus, Distefano said the festival showcased and highlighted the importance of family, something he deems most people view as obsolete and insignificant today.
“You really just don’t see it anymore,” he said. “But it’s important, and it’s nice to be together with other people from a similar background and feel the same about culture, religion and society.”
Raised by an American father and Italian mother, Crane said she felt blessed to be able to share her heritage with others and educate them on Italian traditions and mannerisms.
“We want to share the healthy stuff,” she said. “I want people leaving with a feeling of warmth, because we welcome everyone and love everyone. Italian women are nurturers and we embrace you.”
As children smiled with plates full of pasta and delicious cannolis, many adults were seen laughing together with glasses of sweet tea and wine, as pasta sauce was continually stirred in the kitchen for more hungry attendees.
For those interested in joining the Italian American Club of the CSRA, please visit: https://iacaugusta.org/
