Francesco Paolo Michetti (1852-1929): Famous Artist of the Abruzzo

by Theresa | May 26, 2021 | Strega and Italian-Americana

Francesco Paolo Michetti  (1852-1929) is a famous artist of the Abruzzo region of Italy. Born at Tocco da Casauria near Chieti, a large percentage of his paintings are of his native Abruzzo. His paintings of the Abruzzo also give us a great idea and understanding of...

Through the Apennines and the Lands of the Abruzzi

by Theresa | May 13, 2021 | Strega and Italian-Americana

In my research into the Abruzzo region of Italy that my family is from, for my novel The Strega and the Dreamer, I found the work of women ethnographers, folklorists and travel writers of the early 1900s to be the most helpful.  Ethnography is: 1. The branch of...

The Strega and Befana: The Italian Good Witch of Epiphany

by Theresa | Jan 3, 2021 | Strega and Italian-Americana

Growing up, my Italian Grandmother never considered Christmas to be over until we arrived at Epiphany on January 6, which she called “Little Christmas.” Because she was actively Catholic, she would pray in that tradition. But I remember Italian candies, tangerines and...

What is a Coven?

by Theresa | Jul 1, 2019 | Strega and Italian-Americana

For many years I believed the coven was a group of women that met at certain phases of the moon and carried out sacred work dedicated to women’s medicine. I tried and tried to create a coven. My efforts kept failing. Finally, I learned the Italian word for coven,...

The Goddess Diana: the Tree, the Forest, the Grove

by Theresa | Apr 30, 2019 | Strega and Italian-Americana

I have, for many years, been bothered with my inability to fully connect with the descriptions and definitions of the Goddess Diana of Italian lore. Being of the Italian Strega lineage I felt that of course, it should come automatically to me. But the truth is, until...

The Walnut Tree of Benevento Italy

by Theresa | Feb 25, 2014 | Strega and Italian-Americana

The town of Benevento, Italy is famous for the legends of its ancient walnut tree. The Streghe danced around this tree in ritual celebration until it was deliberately cut down in 662 AD. According to Raven Grimassi’s research, the spiritual power specific to the...