125th Celebration! April 29, 2018: Tour of the Past. Spend a Sunday afternoon strolling through many buildings and homes of Valdese that were built by the Waldenses in the early 1900’s. This fundraising event will include transportation to each site with a tour guide and will conclude with a reception at the Waldensian Winery. Tickets will be available to purchase on February 1, 2018 at the Waldensian Heritage Museum. Tickets will be $40 per person or VIP for $60. Event is limited to 100 tickets. Beginning at 2pm at the Old Rock School. ************
As of the this posting date kicks off the start of the 125th anniversary festivities of the town of Valdese, North Carolina. If you needed a good excuse for a Southern vacation, or even just a weekend, this might be it. Particularly if you are of Piedmontese ancestry. The Piedmontese Waldensians were openly persecuted by Italian and Papal authorities in the 19th century, and they migrated out. The town of Valdese is a direct result of this migration. At that time, America was the hope of persecuted people who needed no special coddling and pampering; but achieved a living by hard work and self-determination. "Valdese" were among the Voortrekkers in South Africa who headed north into the unknown to form farming communities in the 1830s. When blood-crazed Zulus from the northern tropical zone (what is now South Africa was uninhabited then) attacked and began killing every settler that they could find; a young Piedmontese Waldensian woman named Theresa Viglione took off on horseback and rode through very dangerous territory, risking her life to warn others of what was happening. She no doubt saved the lives of thousands of settlers, any which way you see it. The Valdese Carolinians were the same people as the Valdese Voortrekkers, and part of our people. ************************* Visit Valdese NC
mwalker1028 Tour the Town of Valdese with our Attractions, Events & our Available Tours! .
Basically, a "Padanist" is a person who believes in "Padanism"--the concept that the Cisalpine region, people, history, and culture are unique, great, and worth protecting. I would amend that the "Cisalpine culture" is a "group of related cultures." This idea of a clear "cultural grouping" isn't much different than what we have seen with German, modern-Celtic, Slavic, or Greek cultures since the middle of the nineteenth century. We use the word "Cisalpine" for discussion because "Padanian" is a politically-charged word.. at least for now. "Pan-Padanism" is something related, but different. It's the concept of acknowledging a diaspora, and getting in touch with manifestations of a root-culture in different parts of the world. Here in northern California, we are at least fifty years removed from even a small degree of immigration from the Cisalpine ancestral homeland... which was chiefly from the northwest region. However, there was a type of chain-migration which existed for about a century. Still, fifty years--and it's really more like seventy years--is a long time. We've collectively lost touch. If we wish to get back in touch, then wouldn't it be best to do it globally? Regions and flag ideas Europe Naturally we would look to the Lega Nord political party for inspiration. The proposed flag (see above) is an ancient green rosette/sun of the alps symbol on white background. They used green as it's a Celtic color; however, sometimes blue or red have been associated with the Celts/Gauls. I think "Gaulish"--or "Celto-Gaulish"--is more the term to describe that part of Cisalpine history. The flag's alternative would be white rosette on green background; as would any Cisalpine flag discussed below. South America Argentina is the largest "Cisalpine colony" outside of the ancestral homeland. A significant (one-third?) percentage of the Argentine population is of Cisalpine ancestry. More generally, the "cone of South America" was a region of great settlement of Lombardians, Ligurians, Piedmontese, etc. Argentina clearly stands out, and it's flag is bacially light blue and white. A light blue rosette on white background would seem to be a natural flag for the South American colony in general. North America Northern California stands out as the chief area of past settlement of the Cisalpine peoples on this continent. The California flag is mainly red and white. The largest country, Canada, has a red and white flag, Even the old "red ensign" flag of pre-1965 Canada was red. The flag of the United States is largely red and white. Even the Mexican flag is two-thirds "red and white." Yes, some of our people settled in Mexico along with some other non-Hispanic European immigrants. Even beyond that, red and white seems to be the natural colors in Cisalpine history. The flags of Lombardy and Milano are red cross on white background, and sometimes the opposite, as well as historical Genoese flags. Also the flag of Piedmont is white cross on dark red background; and historical flags of Venice and Tuscany are red. The Lombardian Crusaders painted the red cross on white background on the walls of Jerusalem, and this symbol represents "the religion of our people" (the primary religion, not the only one--or lack thereof). I would propose the red rosette on white background as the natural flag of the Cisalpines on this continent. The white rosette on red background may tend to look strange to others, but the red on white seems to emit positive energy. In general, the rosette/sun of the Alps symbol is now "the symbol of our people" in the same way that the ancient symbol of Saturn was adopted as the symbol of the Jewish people worldwide.. not just in Israel. Ironically, the Alpine-rosette shares some of the same mathematical dimentions as the Saturnian-hexagram. South Africa/Zimbabwe The small Cisalpine population in what was Rhodesia, which included farming communities who fed the nation, has basically been dismantled permanently. Still, in South Africa there are Cisalpine communities, and the Cisalpines have been a part of the country for a long time. The old flag of South Africa was an orange-white-blue, top-to-bottom tricolor. The orange bar on top stood out, and could be used as the Cisalpine flag of the region. Orange rosette on white background--two-thirds of the old Afrikaner flag--but not the blue.... so it's not an "Afrikaner flag," but a mild reminder of the Cisalpine history in the region. Australia/New Zealand Both the flag of Australia, and the flag of New Zealand are blue with some white. Therefore, this darker shade of blue on a rosette on white background would seem to clearly be the colors of the Cisalpines of the region.
Alternate symbols
Many concerns adopt "alternate symbols" to use. I think any symbol, arms, or flags which are clearly part of our ancestral history are fair game. However, as sort've a second symbol, the Gothic-style Catholic cross is one which can be seen above-right; and as perhaps a third symbol, the solar cross seen above-right, symbolizing the various ancient spiritual traditions of the Cisalpine hearth which go back deep in our history. However, generally, Roman Catholicism is "the religion of our people."
Theresa Viglione Theresa Viglione was an Italian and South African woman famous for saving the lives of many Voortrekkers in 1836 when she warned a group of them of an impending attack initiated by Zulu king Dingane. She is immortalized on a frieze in a Voortrekker monument in Pretoria, South Africa.
Biography
Born to an Italian family originally from Piedmont, Theresa Viglione moved to South Africa with her family in the early 19th century. Her family is believed to have belonged to the Valdese congregation, a Protestant church in western Piedmont, whose members were forced to flee Piedmont—then part of the Sardinian Kingdom —because of discrimination against Protestants by the local authorities.
Background
On February 6, 1838, a group of Voortrekkers and their servants went to negotiate with the Zulu king Dingane. The party was led by Piet Retief, an Afrikaner leader. The king received Retief and his group at his cattle-kraal, and they began to discuss a treaty amending a previous treaty signed in January 1836. Initially he was obstructive about drawing up the treaty, but eventually he signed it. He invited the Voortrekkers to share some sourgbeer with him. The trekkers left their muskets outside, entered the kraal and sat at the King’s feet. While beer was served the surrounding warriors began to dance and shout. The King leapt to his feet and yelled ”buladani abatagati!” (“Kill the wizards!”). The Voortrekkers were taken to be executed. They were impaled and their bodies left on a hillside to be eaten by wild animals, as was Dingane's custom with his enemies. Piet Retief was the last to be killed. Dingane gave orders for the Voortrekker laagers to be attacked, which would have plunged the migrant movement into disarray.
The Zulus headed towards Natal to annihilate the rest of the Voortrekkers, who were encamped in the countryside watered by the rivers Bloukrans, Bushman and Mooi streams. Gerrit Maritz, the acting commander in Retief’s absence, was near Bushmans River. The Zulus, with a total strength of about three regiments, almost killed all of the Lieberberg, Prinsloo, Botha, and Bezuidenhouts laagers. A band of Italian traders were encamped not far from the laagers, where many women and children were killed. Theresa Viglione was one of them. When she saw what was happening, she jumped on a horse and rode off to Bushmans River to Maritz' camp and warned everyone there, allowing them to defend themselves.
Sources
References - A Short History of South Africa, by John Selby, pages 91–96: Classic in Post-Colonial Worlds, by Lorna Hardwick and Carol Gillespie, page 153. .
The 'History of Italians in South Africa', which was posted here in 2008, was written by Janice Winters for 'Icon' magazine of South Africa in 2003. It has been one of the most read entries on this blog. It did reflect the history of a very self-determinist people. Many were of Piedmontese origin. For some reason, I decided to take a peek at it, I think in part because one item there stuck in my mind. It was the story of a Piedmontese woman named Teresa Viglione. From the article link above: Italians have been part of our military history from as far back as the Battle of Bloukrans during the Great Trek. When the Zulus attacked the Voortrekkers, an Italian woman, Teresa Viglione, rode down to the Bushman’s River, courageously risking her life to warn the Boer laagers and tend to the wounded. A carved marble tablet in the Voortrekker Monument honours her valour. During the next major conflict, the Anglo-Boer War of 1899, over 200 Italians formed the most renowned foreign legion to support the Boer cause, under the leadership of Italian cavalry officer Camillo Ricchiardi. This distinguished officer earned the status of hero as well as gentleman, writing condolence letters to the families of slain enemies and including any personal belongings found on the deceased. I think it's safe to say that those "Italians" were Cisalpines who, as Afrikaners, were enthusiastically behind the Boer cause. I recall looking up her name and finding some more substantial information about her on a couple of Piemontesi nel Mondo blogs written in Italian, but I wasn't able to find them on a search and I have misplaced any links that I found then. Teresa's heroic ride on horseback--assuming that anyone who risked their life in the face of danger was heroic, regardless of which geo-political side they may or may not have been on--sort've reminds me of Caesar Rodney's heroic ride on horseback, while riddled with cancer, in order to arrive in time to vote for American independence. I did find a 2008 newsletter, written in Italian, by Piemontesi nel Mondo. One item on there was about the Piedmontese history of South Africa, and a movie or documentary about the subject. I tried, but was unable to translate it properly. Teresa Viglione is mentioned, and the reality of her situation is presented in a much more blunt fashion, as the Zulus were exterminating the Boers. I only mention that because I would like the situation, from her individual perspective, to be known. The Zulus were killing off Boer villages, and this brave woman rode--presumably a long distance through dangerous Zulu territory--to warn people, presumably in the larger settlement.
Could she have looked like Kristin Cavallari, galloping along on a white horse, with flowing blonde hair? Maybe... probably not, but for whatever it's worth here in 2012 (the incident took place sometime in the late 1800s I think), I salute her courage. She's a Cisalpine to remember. I think it is a documentary, and it was directed by Antonio Varaldi, who is a Piedmontese-Afrikaner from Johannesburg. Apparently, the story begins in 1688 to 1700 when a couple of hundred Piedmontese-Waldensians were forced to emigrate due to religious persecution. If anyone out there can look at the link perhaps, and give us some information about this 2007 movie or documentary, please leave a comment. Thanks.
[Note: It appears that her name is, historically-speaking, referred to as "Theresa Viglione." Although, some seem to think that "Teresa" was her actual name. This is what led me off track, and there is, in fact, much about her; which, of course, changes everything. But, it's a pleasant error; but one which makes this entry a bit out-of-place now. There will be more to post, but after her chief entry (the next one), I think I'll give it a rest for awhile.] .
