the strega and the dreamer

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

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 what life was like at the time he was alive, which for me matched closely the dates of my great-grandparents lives that my historical novel, The Strega and the Dreamer, is based on. Michetti is another great resource for anyone interested in the Abruzzo of this time. Read my most recent piece in Pollinate Magazine: The...

Through the Apennines and the Lands of the Abruzzi

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 anthropology that deals with the description of specific human culture, using methods such as close observation and interviews. 2. A text produced using such methods. I feel that these types of books have gone somewhat out of style. They are travel journals which include collected stories, folklore and local customs as well as...

Join me for this online event: Ancestral Herbs and Tree Medicine of My Italian Great-Grandmother, the Strega

I am having a great time putting together this talk. It has inspired me to reflect and review the past nine years since I published The Strega and the Dreamer and put together new material about what this journey has been and how it continues to unfold. April 28th 6-8pm PST $10-$30 Donation Sign up and get tickets here A benefit for the Sonoma County Herb Association/Exchange Join Theresa C. Dintino in a live conversation about her great-grandmother’s teachings from the Strega tradition of Italy, including her favorite herbal allies, the meaning of the Cimaruta, (adorned branch of rue) the...

The Strega and Befana: The Italian Good Witch of Epiphany

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 nuts coming out on that day and candles lit to the names of little elemental being friends to be remembered. Catholics see the Epiphany as the day that the Three Magi arrive to the baby Jesus and offer him gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. But in Italy, the celebration among the village folk is a celebration to and in...