Italian culture in spotlight as 'carnevale' comes to town Italian culture in spotlight as 'carnevale' comes to town (February 11, 2004)

By Renee Batti
Almanac News Editor

It's not just an empty stereotype: Italians really are passionate about many of life's most vital dimensions: art, food, love and friendship, and, not the least, having a good time.

So when members of the local Italian, Italian-American and italophile community decided last year to form an educational organization to promote and celebrate Italian language and culture, it was natural for them to combine their serious desire to educate with a natural flair for having fun.

As a result, la festa di carnevale is coming to town -- albeit with a theme several centuries removed from the original. Rather than the costumes and masks of Pulcinella and Pantalone, revelers will don the attire of Al Capone, flapper dancers and other characters of the Roaring 20s.

The nonprofit Italian Educational Institute -- otherwise known as the IEI or Istituto Educazione Italiana -- is sponsoring the festivities on Saturday, February 21, at Menlo College, which houses the organization's language school. The event will be not only one big Italian-style party, but also an occasion for learning.

"Carnevale , its rituals and feasts are indicative of the culture of Italy," says Mario Fusco, a co-founder of IEI and chairman of its board. Through such events, he notes, participants can learn more about the history and character of his native country.

To deepen the experience, IEI is conducting a free program on "the meaning behind the mask" of carnevale on Thursday, February 19, at Menlo College. IEI co-founder Annamaria Napolitano, a poet and Stanford University professor, will give a presentation on the rich and sometimes ribald history of the pre-Lenten festival.

An oft-quoted motto for the festival declares, "A carnevale, ogni scherzo vale," which loosely translates: "During carnevale, anything goes." Ms. Napolitano, a native of Naples, will explain how that concept plays out as revelers engage in pranks, merry-making and role-playing.

Rooted in mythology, religion and agrarian culture, the festival "is the last hurrah before Lent," she explains, referring to the 40-day period observed by the Catholic religion that involves fasting or other personal sacrifice before Easter.

Ms. Napolitano says the "huge dinner" that will be served during carnevale will include the traditional lasagne with meat, among many other festive foods.

IEI co-founder Carla Priola Anisman, who is president of the organization's board, notes that at Italy's most famous carnevale, in Venice, participants spend thousands of dollars on masks and costumes -- one reason the IEI event will have a Roaring 20s theme. By doing so, "people would not feel they would have to spend so much" on elaborate clothes and masks, she explains.

In addition to dinner, the event will include dancing to live music. Prizes will be given for the best, most original, and ugliest costumes. The cost is $80 per person, general; and $70 for IEI members. Reservations are required by February 14.

Illuminating Italian culture

The Istituto Educazione Italiana, or IEI, celebrated its first anniversary last month. During its first year, it launched a language school for young people and adults, and hosted a number of lectures and other cultural programs, including a program on Italian ceramics known as maiolica and a lecture on the life and work of Dante.

With a membership of about 75 and class enrollment of about 45, "We are doing very well for as young as we are," says IEI chairman Mario Fusco.

The founders launched IEI as a closer-to-home alternative to Italian-culture organizations based in San Francisco, chief among them the Istituto Italiano di Cultura , which hosts numerous events and film-screenings at its Washington Street facilities.

The goal, says Mr. Fusco, is to work with the San Francisco institute to "extend some of their events down to the Peninsula." He says officials of that organization have agreed in principle to do so -- its director, Annamaria Lelli, even sits on the IEI advisory board.

In addition to trying furthering that goal and continuing the IEI's language program, board members are also planning a number of cultural events for 2004, including a program in April on the famous white truffles of Italy, and later in the spring, an encore fundraising event at Ristorante Riace in Palo Alto.

Mr. Fusco says they also are planning an opera event at Stanford, and next month will host a presentation by Francesco Cavalli-Sforza on the Etruscan culture that shaped modern-day Tuscany and other areas of Italy. The program will include the screening of a short documentary, "Un Cuore Etrusco ," directed by Mr. Cavalli-Sforza.

For more information about the Italian Educational Institute, call 543-3946, or log on at www.ItalyByTheBay.org.

INFORMATION

The IEI will host carnevale on Saturday, February 21, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Menlo College, 1000 El Camino Real, in Atherton. Tickets are $80, general; $70, IEI members. Reservation deadline is February 14. Call 543-3946, or log on at www.ItalyByTheBay.org for more information or to reserve tickets. A free program on the history behind carnevale will be presented by Stanford professor Annamaria Napolitano on Thursday, February 19, at 7 p.m. at Menlo College.

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