essay
Cult and occult in Italian-American culture: the persistence of a religious heritage
immigrants and religion in urban america • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Published In 1977 • Pages: 25-47
By: Vecoli, Rudolph J..
Abstract
This is a brief study of some of the salient features of Italian American religion as it existed in the mid-1970s. Beginning with a description of the folk religion of the CONTADINI (peasants from southern Italy -- the area from which most Italians migrated --) Vecoli notes both changes and elements of stability in the religion since its first introduction to America in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. Of particular interest is the clash between the American Protestant and Catholic churches and the Italian church. Vecoli also notes various elements of the traditional 'folk religion' still persisting among Italian Americans including belief in witchcraft, the evil eye, and magic.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2000
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Types
- Historian
- Indigenous Person
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 1991
- Field Date
- No date
- Coverage Date
- not specified
- Coverage Place
- United States
- Notes
- [by] Rudolph John Vecoli
- Includes bibliography
- LCCN
- 76062866
- LCSH
- Italian Americans