Cultural Diffusion: Relocation Joe Naumann – UMSL Geography

Relocation Diffusion Definition The actual movement of individuals, who have already adopted the idea or innovation, who carry it to a new locale, where they proceed to disseminate it. Religion frequently spreads this way. For example, the migration of Christianity with European settlers who came to America.

S. European Religious Display The decoration within churches, more so in small towns, might be described as exubrent. This religious exhubrence found its way into people's homes in the form of home altars – sometimes being quite elaborate. These particularly expressed the piety of the women in the family. –Might resemble a church altar –Display of religious statues or pictures –Lighted votive candles – often many –Vases of flowers

Home altars in the USA Many immigrants brought this custom with them, establishing home altars in their new American homes. My Sicilian grandmother didn't have one in her home, but many of her friends did: –I particularly remember Dona Settefina (Mrs. Settefina) – spelled phonetically as best I remember it 60 years later Hers had all the characteristics given on the previous slide.

Italian Exuberance Religious procession in Castelvetrano and Syracuse, Sicily

Sicilian Churches Main altar in the Duomo (cathedral) in Syracuse, Sicily

Trecastagni, Sicily Main altar of a small town church in Sicily.

Trecastagni, Sicily Elaborate, exuberent reliquaries

Campobello di Mazara Main altar and shrine in this small Sicilian town between Castelvetrano and Mazara del Vallo

Roman Church Jesuit church of St. Ignatius in Rome just off the Via del Corso.

RELOCATION DIFFUSION Ethnic Churches in St. Louis, Missouri

THE HILL IN ST. LOUIS

LOCATING THE HILL IN ST. LOUIS The approximate location of Little Italy

Little Italy The last vestiges of Little Italy, north of "Downtown" St. Louis were torn down to make way for the Americas Convention Center, including Our Lady of Christians Church. Our Lady of Christians was built as a Methodist church, then served as a Jewish synagogue, and ended its years of service as a Roman Catholic church for the Sicilian community in Little Italy.

Shrine of St. Joseph

In a part of downtown St. Louis, Mo. that is in a former immigrant settlement area.

St. Ambrose Church Modeled after Sant Ambrogio in Milan, Italy

St. Ambrose Showing the bell tower modeled after the one in Milan, Italy

Sant Ambrogio in Milan Model for St. Ambrose, particularly the bell tower.

St. Ambrose Church Located in the still predominately Italian part of St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Ambrose Church Main altar

St. Ambrose Stations of the Cross

St. Ambrose Church Side walls lined with religious statues – dozens of Saints are represented.

RELIGIOUS EXUBERANCE IN THE HOME Home Altars

Rather Elaborate Altars Set up to resemble a church side altar. One dedicated to St. Joseph is on the left.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, are frequent themes for home altars.

The run the gammot from formal to informal.

Smaller and less elaborate Votive candles see to be very important

A small and simple home shrine.

Votive candle exubrance!

SYNCRETISM – CULTURAL BLENDING Outdoor Christmas displays on the Hill, seem to be a blending of Italian religious exuberance and the American tradition of outdoor displays at Christmas time.

Residential The homes tend to be small with very small front yards – this one is quite full.

Residential A message from the angel

commercial Religious theme in a commercial display.

My Favorites This is a year-round display on Shaw Avenue.

My Favorites More of the year-round dislpay on shaw Avenue

My Favorites Next door to the year-round display.

My Favorites More of the previous one

My Favorites More of the same house – the religious side of the decorations.

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