Celebrate the Patron of Geraci At last year’s St. Joseph’s Day celebration: Father Brando of St. Anthony of Padua of Passaic, Frances DiFresco, Frances Giordano, Frank and Nina Corradino, Barto and Alsa Giaconia and Sarena Scancarello. This year’s event is on March 19 at The Brownstone.
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he Geraci Citizens League was first organized in 1930 by Passaic residents who emigrated from the Sicilian village of Geraci, located in the province of Palermo, Italy. As new Americans of Italian descent, not only did the Geraci Citizens League members want to embrace their new culture, but they also wanted to continue to celebrate the traditions of their heritage and to especially honor St. Joseph, the patron saint of their village. For generations before them on St. Joseph’s Saint Day, the Geraci people would honor their patron. Leading up to the day, the women of Geraci would spend days preparing a special sauce made with sardines and fennel. On the feast day, the ladies of the village would spend many hours cooking this special pasta and serving it to family members, friends, fellow members and guests. The women of the village would also prepare a special Sicilian bread, formed in a variety of shapes and sizes, by following ancient recipes
from their mothers before them. In addition to the homemade breads and pasta, fresh fish was also carefully selected, prepared and fried, as was the tradition that was followed from past generations. Today, some eight decades later, Geraci Citizen League members continue to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day but now they celebrate this special day at a local restaurant. However, the same traditions that were followed since its origins are still followed today. It is with the guidance and supervision of several members of the Geraci Citizens League that chefs at The Brownstone carefully prepare this ancient menu. The St. Joseph Dinner is a time to come together to celebrate a patron saint and honor the traditions and heritage of the past. Not only does this night celebrate with ancient recipes, but it also shares both American and
Sicilian music and dancing. And to open the celebration to the community, all are invited to attend. It has become an evening of exquisite food, exciting music and the welcome camaraderie of relatives and friends. Today, numerous generations join together to celebrate, which this year is the 81st anniversary of this wonderful feast. The Geraci Citizen League and the St. Joseph’s Day Feast Committee, headed by Nina and Frank Corradino, Club President Bart Giaconia and Honorary CoChair Michael Corradino, will host this annual dinner on March 19 at 6:30 pm at The Brownstone, Paterson. For those who would like to join the celebration, tickets are $90, which includes open bar. To purchase tickets or for details, call Nina Corradino at 973-278-0356 or 973-470-8982. February 2011 • Clifton Merchant
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