Italian-Jewish Folklore is Topic of Inaugural Professor Lecture

Professor Steve Siporin discussed Italian-Jewish folklore and custom as part of the Inaugural Professor Lecture Series at President Stan Albrecht’s home Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Siporin’s lecture, titled “Gifts and Epiphanies,” described the traditional gift-giving holiday in Italy known as la Befana. While Befana is similar to Christmas in its gift-giving customs as well as its high degree of commercialization, in some areas of Tuscany, very old local celebrations continue today.

 

The celebrations include house-to-house visits by costumed “mummers” who play music, sing, dance and are rewarded with generous amounts of food. Siporin said he became aware of this local tradition in the Maremma region of Tuscany during an extended stay in 1999-2000.

 

“I had gone to the area for other research purposes,” said Siporin. “I did not know at first that I had walked into one of the remaining strongholds of the rural Befana tradition. In fact, I had never heard of it before.”

 

One year later, during a visit with friends in the region, Siporin observed visits from six different Befana “squads” over the course of six hours. He has since examined the traditional Befana song and customs in order to understand how and why the tradition continues to function in a post-peasant, rural, Italian region. 

 

Siporin’s influence stretches far beyond the scope of his research. As a professor in both the English and history departments at Utah State University, he teaches a range of courses, from the freshman level to the graduate level. He has also directed 10 master’s theses, many of them written by the top students in the folklore program.

 

“Only an experienced master teacher can conjure up such an atmosphere — relaxed and supportive yet engaged — and manage the class seemingly without effort,” said USU Professor Fran Titchener in an introduction given by English Department head Jeffrey Smitten. “Dr. Siporin is certainly such a teacher.”

 

His service across the campus at USU is extensive, ranging from membership on the Faculty Senate to serving for many years as a college ombudsperson. Siporin also served on the USU Press Committee and the board of the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, as well as many department committees.