Regarding Michael Barnes’ article about Santa Barbara (T.N.M., Dec. 14/92), I would like to point out that Italian and Belgium communities that were, in the past, deeply affected by mining activity still celebrate her special day.
Prior to the First World War, a large number of northeastern Italians, predominantly from the province of Udine, migrated to Belgium, Canada and the U.S. to work in the large underground coal mines. After the Second World War, a massive migration of northeastern Italian miners to the Belgian coal mines took place.
During this period, the northeastern Italian region became fully aware of the economic benefit that the migrant miner brought to the region. A monument commemorating the Migrant Miner’s contribution to the region’s development was erected in the city of San Pietro al Natisone, province of Udine, and a Santa Barbara statue was built in the town of Clodic.
In 1948-49, during my underground coal mining days in Belgium, Santa Barbara Day was celebrated by all miners and townsfolk. The day was a paid holiday for all coal miners, and the mining companies would foot the bill for the day’s celebrations at the community halls, which included dancing and drinking all the beer that the participants could consume.
Although the Belgian underground coal mines are now closed and totally reclaimed, Santa Barbara Day is still celebrated by former Italian and Belgian miners and their families.
Various Belgian and Italian communities still exchange yearly trips to a Belgian or Italian host city to mark Santa Barbara Day. Today, most activities centre around the family and include cultural and sporting events. Dancing and drinking still take place later in the evening, but not for free. Efrem Specogna
Nanaimo, B.C.
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