First of all, we would like to clarify that we perfectly know that many people don’t celebrate Christmas and that this festivity is especially associated to the Christian religion, the birth of Jesus Christ, the three Wise Men etc, but here in Italy Christmas is by now associated to many other things that have nothing to do with the religion, such as:

1. TO GO SHOPPING
Christmas is a festivity that is characterized by conspicuous consumption: in spite of the cold and the low temperatures, many people flood in the streets – rigorously decorated with lights and decorations – to crowd

San Francisco’s 153rd celebration of Italian Heritage came back with a roar, even with Covid-19 restrictions in place. On Friday night, October 8th, the Italian Heritage weekend began with the crowning of Queen Isabella, Grace Ann Cardenas, the knighting of Christopher Columbus as portrayed by Joseph Cervetto, Jr., and the presentation of the Royal Court (Princess, Duchesses, Contessas, Ladies in Waiting, Crown Bearer and Scroll Bearer) at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club in North Beach. This was followed by a public presentation of the Queen and Court in Washington Square Park, and then Sergio Strozzi, Italian Consul General, flipped a light switch that illuminated Saints Peter & Paul’s Italian Cathedral and the Club with the colors of the Italian flag. Even City Hall was aglow with the Green, White, and Red. Beautiful! The next night, there was a lovely reception at the Italian Consulate for the Court, their families, and the Board of DiSunday morning started with a solemn High Mass at Saints Peter and

It’s that time again! We are looking for participants for the upcoming Royal Pageant for the 2022 Grand Lodge Convention in Southern California. The contest officially begins on November 1, 2021. Deadline for participant notification is Sunday, November 14, 2021. We are encouraging not only our young ladies, but also our young men to get involved. Remember this is one of the few opportunities that we have to highlight our youth. So we are hoping that more of our lodges will join in and find someone to represent their lodge. It is important to let me know if you have a candidate as soon as possible. The candidates must be between the ages of 15-26, single or married and a member in good standing of the Grand Lodge of California.

Again, the contest officially starts on November 1. Tickets can be ordered from the Grand Lodge. The more tickets you sell, the more money your lodge will receive back. For the last pageant, more than 50% of the monies received went back to the participating lodges. All participants must have a minimum of $2,000 to qualify. Any tickets sold beyond that will determine their placement of the top five in the Royal Pageant. All monies must be mailed to the Grand Lodge in the registered mail envelope provided by the Grand Lodge. The envelope must be postmarked by Monday, April 25, 2022. Placement of the Royal Pageant will be announced in May. More information will be sent from the Grand Lodge detailing all the rules at a later date.

Remember, we need to know no later than Sunday November 14th, if you will have a participant to represent your lodge. Email me

I would like to introduce myself as the new Chairperson of the Royal Pageant. I am Pamela Ricci, President of the Cristoforo Colombo Lodge #1534 in Reno Nevada. I know many of you from past conventions especially our last one we held live here at the Atlantis Resort. I hope I can count on your support for these next couple of years while keep the tradition of making this a wonderful experience for our youth.

I want to thank President Barbara for appointing me as chairperson of this important committee, but I can’t do it alone. It will be very difficult to follow in Eva Lavezzari’s footsteps

The National Delegates will be voted on by a mailed secret ballot after Convention is over.

The Nominees are: Arlene Nunziati, Mark Vaona, Pauline Richmond and Maria Fassio-Pignati. We will vote for 3.