All Posts

On the day of her sister's baptism, did Basilia know she would soon be playing a central role in strengthening the connection between the Pintabona and Casella families?

There was one less rooster crowing in the mornings and strutting around the yard demanding attention - that was because Francesca had used him for something very special!

From the 1930s to the 1950s, Salvatore, Concetta, and their eight children could not have survived life in Siderno without either FIRE or WATER, no matter how much food they had.

When Cecilia entered her aunt's home, the ‘focularu’ (hearth) was already lit and a welcoming warmth infused with the aromas of burning firewood filled the kitchen.

On rainy days, when outdoor chores couldn't be completed, and during the evenings by the glow of a kerosene lamp, women worked with their needle and thread.

In 1863 Carmela was an aging 31-year-old spinster living in the Sicilian town of Piraino and facing a terrifying predicament.

Girolama grew up among grandparents, aunties, uncles and a massive number of cousins, all living within walking distance or a short donkey ride from one another.

The tradition of 'Cummari' and 'Cumpari' was something children were familiar with from a young age, incorporating it into their games and rhymes.

Girolama writes a message on the back of a photo, which is sent to her father, Salvatore, and brother, Giovanni, who are living and working in Australia.

On the day baby Girolama was baptised, her mother Concetta wrapped her up in a white, silk swaddling cloth known as a 'fascia'.

Following the birth of their first child, Antonino and Rosaria broke a significant and long-standing tradition when they named their daughter "Basilia" - after someone other than a grandparent.

Basilia Pintabona's father, Antonino, was born on a Tuesday morning in 1872 in Sant'Angelo di Brolo, at the family home on Contrada Miceli.

Basilia Pintabona was born on 17 October, 1897 in the Sant'Angelo di Brolo region of Sicily.

Over time, the significance of chilli peppers as a popular vegetable extended beyond the kitchen to become a cultural symbol representing Calabria.

Wild quails were not particularly meaty, but this seasonal game added variety and flavour to Moschilla meals - supplementing a basic diet of vegetables, pasta and bread.

In a race against time, a whirlwind of drama unfolds as Concetta sprints across the countryside, praying to reach home before she gives birth.

Giuseppe, Angela, Andrea and Cecilia are linked in a single family tree, with branches centred on Salvatore Moschilla and Concetta Trimboli.

A family of ten: Salvatore and Concetta and their children - Giovanni, Angela, Maria, Cecilia, Girolama, Rosa, Andrea and Giuseppina.

Carmelo and Francesca lived in Sant'Angelo di Brolo with their large family of nine children born between 1889 to 1908 (inclusive).

Carmelo was born in 1860 in Sant'Angelo di Brolo. Casella photographs of his generation are rare, yet two group images have been discovered.