Italian American Heritage and Culture Month
The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans invites you to participate in our celebration of Italian American Heritage and Culture Month!
Why Celebrate Italian American Heritage and Culture Month?
By Ron Onesti
What began as a response to a tragic injustice involving eleven Sicilian men wrongly lynched in 1891, has evolved into a celebration of culture filled with food, family and innovation. It was President Benjamin Harrison who established a day in the name of Christopher Columbus on the 400th Anniversary of the explorer’s maiden voyage to the New World as a gesture of reparation to the Italians. It was eighty years later in 1971 when Columbus Day became a federal holiday, which led to a Congressional and Presidential Proclamation of October as being Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month in 1989.
But it wasn’t until July 28, 2023, that the State of Illinois finally recognized October as a time to recognize and to celebrate the traditions and achievements of Italians and Italian Americans. And it came as a result of tireless efforts of Illinois State Representative, Anthony DeLuca.
So here we are, this is an HISTORIC Italian American Heritage and Culture Month! There are festivities and events happening all over the map! Of course, the crowning glory will be the 73rd Annual Columbus Day Parade on October 13th, but almost every day there is some way of celebrating the wonderous culture of Italy.
But really, why celebrate Italian culture? This country has become such an ethnic mosaic of food, music, fashion, arts and innovation stemming from so many other countries, what makes Italy so special? As the universe becomes more challenging, complicated and blanketed by unsurety, what gives me the strength to face these hurdles is thinking about the past, and those who came before me. Those who left their hometowns, their families and their generations of traditions. They ventured off to a new world, with little or no funds, no command of the English language, and no secure future.
But they believed in themselves, they faced adversity, looked it right in the eye and stared it down. They were intimidated, beat down physically and emotionally, and stereotyped against, even deemed “enemy aliens during WWII. Hundreds of thousands suffered curfews, confiscations, and mass surveillance, even sent to internment camps. Something you just don’t hear about.
But yet, they continued to foster their traditions, were proud of who they were, and emerged from the sludge society attempted to keep them in. It was their faith, pride and inner strength that got us all to where we are today. So, when I am faced with my everyday challenges, I step back and take a moment to think about their struggle. They did not give up, they did not give in. It was those very traditions, the same ones we celebrate today, that gave them the strength to go on. And if it was good enough for them.
The month of October shouldn’t be as much about “proclaiming” who we are as much as it should be “sharing who we are. What began in a country that could fit into one of our larger states has contributed much to this great country. So please, come celebrate with us!
All Upcoming Events
View all of the upcoming events from the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and our Affiliate Organizations during October Heritage Month!
Italian American Heritage and Culture Month
Ways to Spread the Word and Celebrate!
Discover all of the different ways you can help spread the word and celebrate Italian American Heritage and Culture Month!
Posters
Imagine colorful expressions of Italian pride in the windows of thousands of businesses and homes across the area. You can help turn that vision into a reality by obtaining 11×17 posters from the JCCIA and distributing them to friends, family members, neighbors, and local businesses. Stop by the JCCIA Office to pick up a poster or download and print them!
Social Media
Join the JCCIA in celebrating Italian American Heritage Month on social media! Follow our accounts and stay connected with daily posts throughout October. Celebrate your heritage with the world by reposting our content or using our special hashtags to share your stories and favorite Italian traditions!
IAHM Events
Join the celebration by attending Italian American Heritage Month events! From the Chicago Columbus Day Parade to Italian festivals, there is a wide variety of events to attend during the month of October! Don’t miss out on the wonderful opportunity to connect with the Italian American community to honor our Italian heritage and culture!