S a l u t i !

Welcome to the GRECI CUGINI Home Page

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"GRECI CUGINI" means "GRECI CUZZINS" and that means everyone with family origins in the Arberesh Town of Greci, Avellino Province, Italy.

ALL CUGINI WELCOME

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WHY A GRECI CUGINI HOME PAGE? -
Learn why we've posted this Home Page.

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If you'd like to get together with some of your GRECI CUZZINS or leave a message,
come on over to "La Cantina alla Piazza"...
..It's a sunny spot with a glorious view of the mountains...
Maybe we can drink some wine or play a little tambola..
 

La Cantina

Ciao!...Have a seat and MEET YOUR GRECI CUGINI....
If you see a * we have our own PERSONAL NOTE PAGE...
Just click to find out more...

Louise Gliatta Barrier*
Gerard (Jerry) Boscia*
Bill Boscia*
Florindo Cirigna*
Beth Biechele De Witt*
Robert J. De Sesa
Marjorie Norcia Gallagher*
Alessandra Norcia Gesualdi*
Mark (Morena) Marino*
John Mazzarella*
Sisina Meola*
Claudia Meola Miller*
Paul Norcia*
Lou Scrima*
Nick Scrima*
Dick Vara*

If you have family origins in Greci and would like to have your name listed here please let us know.

If you have suggestions for the GRECI CUGINI Home Page, or if you have information you'd like to post, just click Dick Vara to send EMAIL

If you'd just like to take a look around town and learn more about Greci..
Click on one of our Links below.......

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If you have family roots in Greci you're a Cugino / Cuzzin / Cousin
and probably have a Family Nickname from Greci.

When we look at the ancient records and see the same surnames used for generation after generation - often with the same or similar given names - we see why families had to use nicknames to identify branches of the same family name. In the early days most people had no written records to keep track of such things. They depended on memory and nicknames were a handy way to keep relationships clear as generations passed.

For example - the nickname "Scarmoziello" today identifies my Vara family line in Greci.
It means "Little Man" and there is a story to tell how we got it:

Nicola Vara, my great-great grandfather, was born in 1807 and married Carmina Gliatta of Greci. He was twenty-six and she was eighteen. Both were listed as peasants on their marriage record. Michelangelo, their only child, was born a year and a half later but , unfortunately, his father Nicola died less than two years later at age thirty. Carmina was left a widow at twenty, but by the Grace of God, she and baby Michelangelo survived the deadly plague of 1837.

Donato Vara, Nicola's father, helped raise his grandson Michelangelo and often took care of him. One day out walking they met one of Donato's cousins, a parish priest. Donato proudly showed off his grandson who was three or four years old. The cousin noticed how much Michelangelo had grown and said to Donato (as the story goes)  "He looks just like a scarmoziello (a little man)." They laughed but the name stuck. And forever after Michelangelo was known by that name even though he grew to normal size - and my Vara family got its Nickname.

Do you know what your family Nickname from Greci is?

Most of us have one and in a recent email exchange with Cugino Mark (Morena) Marino we got to thinking it might be interesting to post as many Nicknames as we can here on the Greci Cugini website. After all, Nicknames are an important part of our heritage and traditions and what better place to record and preserve them than right here in our Grecesi Cyberspace.

So..if you know your family Nickname would you let me know so we can share it with all Greci Cugini. If you have the story to go with it so much the better - we can post that too. If not.. just let me know the Nickname for now and take a little time to search out the story. In the process you might even gain a better understanding of your own Greci family roots.

"GRECI NICKNAMES LIST" ...
(As you see it's just a beginning....  But maybe we'll add to it??)

Mark (Morena) Marino says that when he was growing up the family Nickname for Morena was:
- "Pepprenola"(sp?) = Quick temper

Paul Norcia says the closest he has been able to come on a family Nickname is:
- "Pecorale" = Sheep Herder

Dick Vara's old Greci family Nickname:
- "Scarmoziello" = Little Man

If you'd like to post your Nickname just click GRECI NICKNAMES and send an E-Mail

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GRECI TODAY
Commune of Greci
Resident Families in 1996
Plan of the Town - Pianta di Greci
Ancient Land Markers
Road Map
Greci Album

GENEALOGY RESOURCES 
L.D.S. Microfilm List for Greci
Greci Birth Records Format
I Catasti Onciari di Greci for 1750
Conti della Universita' - 1714 and 1718

To meet Greci Cousins and find Greci Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online
Join John Mazzarella's "Greci Cousins"
Email John Mazzarella for information

HISTORY
Our Ancient Dialect
A Summary History of Greci, 1997
APPUNTI di STORIA CRONOLOGICA
by Sac. Gerardo Conforti, 1922
Relics and Artifacts

SCUOLA ELEMENTARE
Giornalino della Scuola Elementare
Traditional Dance

SONGS AND MUSIC
"Moush mousheil"
"O Maria"
"I Went to San Vito"
"Listen to Me Carmela"

MANGIAMO!
Recipe for Zeppole
Traditional Christmas Recipes
Easter Food and the Public Oven
Traditional Food and the Family Pig
Traditional Greci Pasta

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
Carnival Traditions in Greci
Old Greci Proverbs and Sayings - Part 1
Old Greci Proverbs and Sayings - Part 2
Official Seals of Greci
Traditional Greci Dress
Cugini Contributions Needed

TALES AND STORIES
The Unfaithful Wives
A Farmer, a Pig and Twelve Monks
Cugini Contributions Needed

MEMORIES AND RECOLLECTIONS
"CONNECTIONS", by John Mazzarella
"Communing with Grandpa Leonardo"
"Memories of Dad and Grandpa Mazzarella"
Cugini Contributions Needed

COMING TO AMERICA
Castle Garden Immigrant Depot

GRECESI IN AMERICA
Grecesi Community in Lodi, New Jersey
Grecesi Community in Canton, Ohio
Marion Mazzarella, Sons of Italy, Canton, Ohio

MORE ABOUT GRECI
GRECI - UN CENTRO DAVVERO SUGGESTIVO -
STORIA, TRADIZIONI E GASTRONOMIA
Associazioni Turistica Pro-Loco
'ARBERESHE'
lulio 2000

THE ARBERESH/ALBRESH HOME PAGE -
Learn the ancient Arberesh language spoken in Greci.

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Quando troppo galli cantano non sorge il sole.
When too many roosters crow the sun does not rise.


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Latest Revision: 9/21/04:

..people have visited our Greci Cugini Page

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