VOL. 115 - NO. 51 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 23, 2011 $.30 A COPY A Very Merry Christmas Story of the Christmas Crèche to our Readers and Advertisers by Bennett Molinari and Richard Molinari from the staff of the Post-Gazette Pam Donnaruma Claude Marsilia Nicola Ben Doherty Hilda Morrill Orichuia Prof./Cav. Phillip J. DiNovo Freeway Mrs. Murphy Frances Fitzgerald Joan Smith James DiPrima Reinaldo Oliveira, Jr. Mary DiZazzo Bob Morello Ed Campochiaro Shallow Dom BarronRay David Trumbull Rosario Scabin Karel Samantha JosephineSimboli Ed Turiello Bennett Christmas is far and away sional representation of the Siena. The Council of Trent, John Christoforo Molinari Yolanda the most nostalgic and sen- birth of Jesus Christ, com- which closed in 1563, issued Sal Giarratani Lisa Orazio timental season of the year. posed of mobile figures artis- precise norms for devotion to Buttafuoco Richard Cappuccio There are traditions we as- tically arranged as well as the saints and relics and Molinari Girard Plante sociate with Christmas, ob- realistic elements such as encouraged the diffusion of Richard Preiss servances that we faithfully houses, rocks, plants, etc. the Presepio or Nativity Vita Sinopoli David Saliba Andre Urdi perform every year that The earliest representa- scene as an expression of speak of family and friends tion of the Nativity can be popular piety. often no longer with us. seen in a fresco found in the The Jesuits added to the There are certain foods that catacombs of Saint Priscilla, representation ornamental are prepared only at Christ- 2nd century AD, portraying profusion and distanced it mas or special ornaments the Mother and Child, increasingly from its origi- News Briefs that appear every year to the Three Wise Men, Saint nal Franciscan simplicity. take their place on the Joseph, and above a star The 17th century saw the by Sal Giarratani Christmas tree, most every with eight points. appearance and develop- family has traditions associ- In the year 1223, three ment of scenic effects. Gingrich and Romney Top Guys ated with Christmas that years before his passing, Nativity scenes became a The Republican Party has a problem this year extend back into the mist of Saint Francis was visiting mirror for the culture which time. Grecio, a small town in the produced them, reflecting with two top front runners, both damaged goods. Of all the traditions we lov- hills of Tuscany, to celebrate the society of the day incor- President Obama has stunk big time since be- coming our president but the way the GOP is ingly perform at Christmas, Christmas. Francis realiz- porating aspects of daily life none is more meaningful ing that the chapel of the with traits of intense real- headed, he could get another four year lease at than arranging the Crèche Franciscan hermitage would ism — they were enriched 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue which would mean four more years of Vice President Joe Biden who under the Christmas tree. be too small to hold the con- with unusual and exotic Each piece occupies a spe- gregation for Midnight Mass elements and scenery. At everyday makes the legacy of Spiro T. Agnew look cial place with a family story found a niche in the rocks this time the Presepio began better all the time. I still think Chris Christie would have made a great GOP nominee and attached that enlivens it, near the town square and set to step out of churches to be giving it a special meaning up an altar. He took a man- displayed in the home, large someone who could send Obama packing for known only to our loved ones. ger and filled it with hay, statues were replaced with Chicago, Hawaii, Cape Cod, Indonesia, wherever. With or without his birth certificate, OUCH! Newt The origin of the Christ- tied a donkey and an ox near wooden figures sometimes mas crèche (from the Latin it and with a crowd of people partly of straw with head and Gingrich and Mitt Romney? There’s no clothes- cripia meaning crib) is re- from the neighboring coun- limbs in terracotta, wax or pin big enough for me to vote for either of them. markable in itself for it re- tryside, attended the cel- wood adorned with sumptu- Meanwhile ... sides with St. Francis of ebration of Mass in front of ous clothing. Ron Paul is talking about possibly running as Assisi, the Saint who called the crib. The Nativity Scene as we a third party candidate in ’12 if he loses the himself, “A fool for God.” The It was from this simple know it today, whether Republican nomination. This sounds like more story has come down to us beginning that the Nativity simple or elaborate is the snack, crackle and pop from Paul. That could only through the writings Saint scene, as we know it to- representation of the birth bring a smile to Obama’s face. I loved it recently Bonaventure in his “Life of day evolved. The earliest of Jesus, the Son of God, when his son, US Sen. Rand Paul, (R-KY) held a Saint Francis” and through Presepio or Nativity Scenes Who came into the world to press conference to diss Gingrich. Rand’s not tradition, Francis is attrib- in Italy date to the 14th cen- redeem mankind; it is the exactly an objective observer of the GOP race, is uted with the introduction of tury. Ambrogio della Robbia most monumental event in he? Like we don’t know who he’s backing, huh? the Presepio to the many created the first multicol- human history, represented Do the math, when you put Ron and Rand customs associated with ored Nativity Scene in in tiny figures beneath our together, don’t you get zero? More OUCH! Christmas. The Presepio is terracotta, found at the Christmas trees inspired by (Continued on Page 10) described as a three dimen- church of the Holy Spirit in Saint Francis. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PMPM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, DECEMBER 23, 2011 Res Publica by David Trumbull 6% of Voters Pick Senator in Special Election, Republican Voters Disenfranchised AURELIAN YARD SALE On Tuesday Massachusetts will represent all voters in the During his civic adminis- from evil and urging them to Verus, Marcus Aurelius Representative William district was restricted to vot- tration, Marcus instituted do good. He was generous in Antoninus now became the Brownsberger won the spe- ers who were Democrats or many reforms. Most note- his rewards and always was sole ruler of the empire and cial election for Senator to not enrolled in any party. worthy are those which eager to forgive. It was said his conduct became even replace Democrat Stephen Republicans were effec- Tolman. The district, Second required names and regis- that his nature helped to more noble and virtuous tively disenfranchised when Suffolk and Middlesex is the Republican Party failed tration of all free-born chil- make bad men good, and than in the past. He showed made up of the towns of to run any candidate. Green dren, rewriting laws dealing good men better. more concern for those in Belmont and Watertown and Party voters, likewise, were with money-lenders and Once again the tranquility the provinces, and waged a parts of the cities of Cam- excluded due to that party’s public sales, investing more of the State was disturbed successful war against the bridge and Boston. failure to run a candidate. The judicial power in the Senate, by the Marcomannic war Germanic tribes. The cost of Representative (soon to be final election will be in Jan- and setting a statute of limi- (Germanic border tribes). prosecuting this war in Senator) Brownsberger won uary, but, by law, Mr. Browns- tations in investigations They originally occupied Germany was very high and with about one-third of the berger’s name is the only one concerning the deceased. the territory between the it drained his treasury; but total votes in the four-man permitted on the ballot. He enhanced the prestige of Elbe and Oder Rivers. A pact even then he could not bear race. Since turnout, overall, Congratulations to Mr. Wil- the Senate by granting them was signed with Tiberius the thought of imposing new was about 18 percent that liam Brownsberger. You won the power to settle civil dis- in 6 A.D. but in later years taxes. He chose to gain new means that about 6 percent, in a hotly contested race and putes, appointed only men of they began to invade Roman revenue by holding a public a little under 5,000 of the my analysis is not intended high caliber and integrity to territory, and were attacked sale in Trajan’s Forum, the approximately 84,000 regis- to in any way diminish the the Senate, and always at- by Domitian. Hostilities likes of which will never be tered voters in the district, significance of your victory. tended Senate meetings ceased during the reigns of seen again. The sale lasted voted for the man who will However, an election in whenever he was in Rome. Trajan and Hadrian but for two months and included be their senator. Given the which 5,000 voters decide for He extended court calendars flared up again under gold goblets, flagons, crystals, history in Massachusetts, 84,000 who will be the sena- to a maximum of 230 court- Marcus and Verus.