2020 Epiphany Celebration
VICA traditionally celebrates the feast of the Epiphany (L’Epifania) with a luncheon and a visit from La Befana. This year was no exception: the celebration was held on Sunday, January 5 at 12:30 PM at the Elks Club on North Avenue in Burlington. 36 adults and six (6) children attended the festivities. Once again, Chef Paul provided a delightful buffet of delicious antipasto items, fresh baked breads, chicken parmesan, penne pasta with roasted garlic, olive oil and parmesan and more! A dessert of flourless chocolate brownies was the perfect end of a fabulous meal, but not before a short presentation of the history of L’Epifania and a special guest arrived – just for the children!
Betty Jo Morwood gathered the children present and told them the story of La Befana. She began by describing the Wise Men, who stopped at the humble dwelling of a very old woman (La Befana) to ask for directions to find the stable where the Christ Child lay. When they invited her to join them in their search, she replied, “No, grazie,” because she had to keep working at her chores. A shepherd later asked to join him and again she declined. She had too many chores! Later that night she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd. Gathering the toys that had belonged to her own baby who had died, she ran after the Wise Men and the shepherd. It was very sad indeed for she could not find them nor could she find the stable. Since that time, La Befana continues to see the Christ Child in vain and, when doing so, leaves gifts for the good children of Italy. Since the children at our VICA luncheon had not yet met LaBefana, she made a very special guest appearance! Out of the blue, La Befana (aka Marianne McNamara) appeared, bringing gifts of candy for the children and leading them on a short dance in celebration.
VICA traditionally celebrates the feast of the Epiphany (L’Epifania) with a luncheon and a visit from La Befana. This year was no exception: the celebration was held on Sunday, January 5 at 12:30 PM at the Elks Club on North Avenue in Burlington. 36 adults and six (6) children attended the festivities. Once again, Chef Paul provided a delightful buffet of delicious antipasto items, fresh baked breads, chicken parmesan, penne pasta with roasted garlic, olive oil and parmesan and more! A dessert of flourless chocolate brownies was the perfect end of a fabulous meal, but not before a short presentation of the history of L’Epifania and a special guest arrived – just for the children!
Betty Jo Morwood gathered the children present and told them the story of La Befana. She began by describing the Wise Men, who stopped at the humble dwelling of a very old woman (La Befana) to ask for directions to find the stable where the Christ Child lay. When they invited her to join them in their search, she replied, “No, grazie,” because she had to keep working at her chores. A shepherd later asked to join him and again she declined. She had too many chores! Later that night she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd. Gathering the toys that had belonged to her own baby who had died, she ran after the Wise Men and the shepherd. It was very sad indeed for she could not find them nor could she find the stable. Since that time, La Befana continues to see the Christ Child in vain and, when doing so, leaves gifts for the good children of Italy. Since the children at our VICA luncheon had not yet met LaBefana, she made a very special guest appearance! Out of the blue, La Befana (aka Marianne McNamara) appeared, bringing gifts of candy for the children and leading them on a short dance in celebration.
2019 Epiphany Celebration
On January 6th about 50 members and guests celebrated Epifania (Epiphany) at the Elks Club in Burlington. Dinner was delicious and included lots of good Italian food - assorted antipasti, entree, salad, and dessert. Italian wine was available for purchase. Betty Jo Morwood told the story of La Befana who comes on her broom with candy for good children and coal for those who haven't been good. Children listened with rapt attention wondering if La Befana would show up. ?When La Befana showed up with her broom she had treats for the adults as well as the children. Each year La Befana brings an orange to the celebration for a VICA member who had been especially good during the year. This year's orange went to Adrienne Donohue, our retiring Il Messaggio editor/publisher.
On January 6th about 50 members and guests celebrated Epifania (Epiphany) at the Elks Club in Burlington. Dinner was delicious and included lots of good Italian food - assorted antipasti, entree, salad, and dessert. Italian wine was available for purchase. Betty Jo Morwood told the story of La Befana who comes on her broom with candy for good children and coal for those who haven't been good. Children listened with rapt attention wondering if La Befana would show up. ?When La Befana showed up with her broom she had treats for the adults as well as the children. Each year La Befana brings an orange to the celebration for a VICA member who had been especially good during the year. This year's orange went to Adrienne Donohue, our retiring Il Messaggio editor/publisher.
2018 Epiphany Celebration
On January 7th about 45 members and guests braved the frigid weather to celebrate Epifany (Epifania) at La Villa Restaurant in Shelburne. Dinner was a delicious buffet with La Villa's homemade gelato for dessert. Betty Jo Morwood told the story of La Befana to a rapt audience of kids who were anxious to see if LaBefana would visit us. She did - all the way from Italy on her broom. Since she's Italian and only speaks Italian we needed to translate everything she said. She gave treats to those kids who were good (all of them) and coal to the adults who weren't (all of them). But wait - that coal tasted a lot like chocolate. La Befana had an orange for someone who was especially good in 2017 and that went to Peggy Citarella.
2017 Epiphany Celebration
On January 8th our annual Epipany (Epifania) Celebration took place at La Villa Restaurant in Shelburne. About 50 members and guests enjoyed good food, good company, and a visit from La Befana. Nicole Librandi told the story of La Befana who subsequently paid us a visit, delighting children and adults alike. The children all received a gift from La Befana and those adults who had been good in 2016 also received a small gift.
La Villa presented us with a delicious buffet ending with a selection of their own homemade gelato.
On January 8th our annual Epipany (Epifania) Celebration took place at La Villa Restaurant in Shelburne. About 50 members and guests enjoyed good food, good company, and a visit from La Befana. Nicole Librandi told the story of La Befana who subsequently paid us a visit, delighting children and adults alike. The children all received a gift from La Befana and those adults who had been good in 2016 also received a small gift.
La Villa presented us with a delicious buffet ending with a selection of their own homemade gelato.
2016 Epiphany Celebration
On January 10th our annual Epiphany (Epifania) Celebration took place at Mimmo's Restaurant in Essex Junction. About 50 members enjoyed a respite from the rainy, dreary day to enjoy good food, good company, and Italian songs from Michele Spano. Nicole Librandi told the story of La Befana, followed by a visit from La Befana herself who distributed candy to all those who had been good during the year (and vegetables! to those who hadn't!)
On January 10th our annual Epiphany (Epifania) Celebration took place at Mimmo's Restaurant in Essex Junction. About 50 members enjoyed a respite from the rainy, dreary day to enjoy good food, good company, and Italian songs from Michele Spano. Nicole Librandi told the story of La Befana, followed by a visit from La Befana herself who distributed candy to all those who had been good during the year (and vegetables! to those who hadn't!)
2015 Epiphany Celebration
January is the month of our annual Epifania celebration and this year was no exception. About 45 members and guests enjoyed a meal at Mimmo's Restaurant in Essex Junction on Sunday, January 11. Nicole Librandi told the story of La Befana, Michele Spano enterained us with Italian songs, and La Befana along with her helpers distributed delicious homemade cookies and candies created by Julia Ely and Steve Baietti. (Those who hadn't been good during 2014 received coal!)
January is the month of our annual Epifania celebration and this year was no exception. About 45 members and guests enjoyed a meal at Mimmo's Restaurant in Essex Junction on Sunday, January 11. Nicole Librandi told the story of La Befana, Michele Spano enterained us with Italian songs, and La Befana along with her helpers distributed delicious homemade cookies and candies created by Julia Ely and Steve Baietti. (Those who hadn't been good during 2014 received coal!)
2014 Epiphany Celebration
VIC celebrated Epiphany at Pizzeria Verita' on Sunday January 5 from 3:30 to 5:00pm.
The following poster described the event.
The following poster described the event.
(Scroll down using the right side scroll bar and/or use the magnifier tools at bottom right of the flyer)
2013 Epiphany Celebration
More than 50 VIC members and guests celebrated Epifania at Pizzeria Verita' on Sunday, January 6, 2013. La Befana, of course, made her appearance with gifts for all. John Rao and his energetic staff provided wonderful antipasti, salad and pizza and super good dolci.
See the photo slideshow below.
See the photo slideshow below.
2012 Epiphany Celebration
(Click on the photo to see more pictures)
A well-attended and successful celebration of Epiphany (Epifania) in the Italian tradition was held at Pulcinella's Restaurant in South Burlington on January 8th, 2012. It followed the date of January 6th that Epiphany is celebrated on most liturgical church calendars, acknowledging the manifestation of the Christ Child to the Magi in Bethlehem.
Chef-owner Sam Palmisano produced a colorful buffet had an array of salads and antipasti, primi dishes of pastas, a secondo of stuffed pork, and last, but never least in the Italian mind, the dolci of cannoli, cream puffs and fresh strawberries.
Sixty members and guests celebrated the end of the Italian Christmas. The guitar and accordion of Janice Russotti and Albert Joy and the sing-alongs created the lively Italian atmosphere necessary for an Italian celebration. To everyone's delight, la Befana (a.k.a. Peggy Citarella) showed up as la vecchia who gives gifts to children on the eve of Epifania. All the guests got a gift for being good. No one got a piece of coal as a naughty one. Senator Patrick Leahy, however, was the only one that got a kiss from la Befana as his wife Marcelle looked on with a big smile!
Door prizes were raffled, a couple of which were the donated hand-work of VIC members Wilma Gatti and Carol Usher. The flowers which served as centerpieces were donated by Chappel's Flower Shop's Recycled Flowers program and were sent home with those whose birthdays were closest to January 6th. The success of the event can be attributed to Ann Arms, who coordinated the Amici luncheons for years and pulled all the details together for this one with the help of Carol Usher.
Chef-owner Sam Palmisano produced a colorful buffet had an array of salads and antipasti, primi dishes of pastas, a secondo of stuffed pork, and last, but never least in the Italian mind, the dolci of cannoli, cream puffs and fresh strawberries.
Sixty members and guests celebrated the end of the Italian Christmas. The guitar and accordion of Janice Russotti and Albert Joy and the sing-alongs created the lively Italian atmosphere necessary for an Italian celebration. To everyone's delight, la Befana (a.k.a. Peggy Citarella) showed up as la vecchia who gives gifts to children on the eve of Epifania. All the guests got a gift for being good. No one got a piece of coal as a naughty one. Senator Patrick Leahy, however, was the only one that got a kiss from la Befana as his wife Marcelle looked on with a big smile!
Door prizes were raffled, a couple of which were the donated hand-work of VIC members Wilma Gatti and Carol Usher. The flowers which served as centerpieces were donated by Chappel's Flower Shop's Recycled Flowers program and were sent home with those whose birthdays were closest to January 6th. The success of the event can be attributed to Ann Arms, who coordinated the Amici luncheons for years and pulled all the details together for this one with the help of Carol Usher.