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Oral history recording with Antonio Di Giacomo. Recorded as part of the Italian Memories in Wales project (2008-10), delivered by ACLI-ENAIP and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Part 4 of 5 (AV 11394-11398)

00:00:25 Interviewer asks about childhood, particularly schooling in Italy which was obligatory unless children had to work to feed their families. Antonio went to school until the fourth year, then emigrated to Wales. If he had he stayed his parents may well not have been able to afford to fund further education. Most people went to work the land or in various trades- cobbler, ironmonger etc. His mother taken on to work in her aunt’s house doing housework and looking after children; he describes that house which was more elaborate than their own. In Wales his mother continued sewing. He describes games they would play; they made their own fun.

00:11:14 Most people were Roman Catholic. The family always went to church on a Sunday and he recalls becoming an altar boy and getting sweets and biscuits in return. The priests were well off in Italy; though he is Catholic now he thinks that in Italy at the time religion was ruled by fear. The family would eat simply, meat once a week or for family celebrations. They were proud so always made an effort when relatives and friends visited.

00:15:24 He describes the Easter celebrations. A lamb would be made out of marzipan instead of Easter eggs. He continues to talk of religion, church and religious processions in detail and compares British and Italian church. Carriers of saints during processions would be very important. As an altar boy Antonio wore a white Cossack, embroidered at the bottom he talks of the duties they had. There was a sacerdote, who was someone in their early stages of being a priest.

00:26:15 The community was very close and would help one another; all work was done by hand. He goes on to say that knowing the right people or having the right family name was very important. Class distinctions were very evident which he describes.

00:35:00 The Mayor in the village would give permission for building houses, buying land etc. Because his father had a connection with the mayor he would only have to go into the Commune, town hall, to get something done and he would be recognised by name. There wasn’t much time for leisure. His father would come back to the town at weekends after working on the land. On a Saturday or Sunday he would dress up and meet on the piazza after church. He describes the scene; there would be no women. His father would meet his friends there, they would talk till early the hours, often about business. He talks about the sensale who were go betweens who would find workers for landowners and would take a percentage on the payment from the landowner. They are still in use today.