A unique display of Sicilian and Italian culture is on display this month at the Madisonville Museum, 201 Cedar St. in Madisonville.

South Louisiana Catholics have showed their devotion to St. Joseph for generation through the building of altars laden with edible breads, fruits, pastries and other treats. The tribute was originally built in homes as thanks for a favor granted through the year or in remembrance of a loved one.

While altars are still made in some homes, church parishes and even some businesses, such as Anne Dale in Mandeville, now have altars as part of their Lenten, or spring, tradition.

This miniature St. Joseph Altar by Cindy Maher is on display at the Madisonville Museum along with a regular St. Joseph altar by Paul Cimino. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

The altars are not simply built of lavish displays of foods and pastry. They are a symbol of a culture and tradition handed from one generation to another and everything included in an altar has meaning.

It was considered an honor to be included in the family’s preparations of the altar and many children waited impatiently for the day they, too, could roll the dough for cookies and bread.

Everything on the altar is blessed, including food, candles, fava beans, medals and holy cards. Usually the blessing is bestowed in a ceremony the afternoon before an altar is broken.

A fresh green branch is placed over the door of the room where the altar is located to invite people in to share in the altar.

Among the symbols found on altars are a monstrance holding the Sacred Host; a chalice symbolizing the consecration of the bread and wine t the Last Supper; the cross, symbolizes the crucifixion of Christ; the dove is the Holy Spirit; the lamb is Jesus, the Lamb of God; the fish is the Christian symbol of Jesus; a large cake symbolizes the Bible, which is one of the focal points of the altar; hearts symbolize the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; wreath, the crown of thorns and a symbol of eternal love; and palms, cast at the feet of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.

Symbols for St. Joseph include lilies, a staff, sandals, beard, ladder, saw, hammer and nail.

Other symbols on the altar are the mollica, which are the browned and seasoned breadcrumbs sprinkled over the pasta Milanese representing the sawdust of Joseph the carpenter. Pignolatti is fried pastry molded in the shape of pinecones representing the pinecones that Jesus played with as a child. Twelve whole fish represent the apostles and/or the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. Pupaculova is baked bread filled with dyed Easter eggs symbolizing the coming of Easter. Wine symbolizes the wedding at Cana, with grapes the vineyards of Sicily, olive oil and olive salad the olive orchards of Sicily and dried figs the fig orchards.

The fava bean has a history of its own. Also called the “lucky bean” the bean thrived during the worst famine in Sicily, when other crops failed. It was used for fodder for the cattle and animals. Experts disagree whether humans ate the beans or not, but an extensive cooking process is used when preparing the hard beans. Legend has it the person who carries one will never be without coins.

A ceremony, “Tupa-Tupa” when the altar is broken for consumption begins with three children selected to portray Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They knock on a door to the house and say, “Ce’ allogio qui?” or “Is there room here? This is repeated at different entrances. The third time, the response is “Whatever I have is yours. Come and eat at my table.” They are then served several courses, St. Joseph being served first. Before each course, the words, “Mangiate, santos dolce” are said, “Eat, sweet saints.”

At the end of the ceremony, Jesus takes the cross, Joseph the staff or the beard and Mary the heart. The remaining visitors than partake of the altar.

The altar is known for building community and family strength through the baking, building and displaying of the altar. Donations are made by visitors that are then given to charity, as no one is allowed to profit financially from the altar.

Source:

By Debbie Glover
St. Tammany News
Published on Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:08 PM CST

By Debbie Glover
St. Tammany News

Dan Green, author of the now famous “Finish Strong” book, will sign copies of the book at Anne Dale Jewelers in Mandeville Friday from 3-6 p.m.

During the off-season, each member of the New Orleans Saints read the book and some have credited the book’s commitment philosophy and can-do attitude for the team’s historic season.

Green patented the saying in 1996 and Anne Dale has secured the rights from the author for use of the phrase in her jewelry creations. Thus far, dog tags, wrist bands and car magnets are in the store as well as the book.
The Saints “mantra” this year was based on the book Finish Strong by Dan Green. Green will be signing the book at Anne Dale Jewelers Friday from 3-6 p.m. (Photo by Debbie Glover)

Dale said that Green registered the “Finish Strong” phrase in 1996 and they are producing the jewelry with his permission.

Green said the finish strong attitude is about choice.

“Only you have the power to respond to the challenges before you,” he said. “The choice is yours and I challenge you to always choose to finish strong.”

Now legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees said each member of the team received Green’s book at the beginning of the off-season.

“It then became a mantra for our team throughout the off-season program, preseason and regular season,” he said. “We recognized that if we could indeed finish strong in everything we did, we could achieve the lofty goals we had set for ourselves.”

“The finish strong philosophy is not about winning or losing,” Dale said, “but giving it your all.”

The books will be available for purchase Friday for the author to sign.

New FINISH STRONG® Jewelry Collection

Media Contact:
Anne Dale Jeweller
985-626-4266
info@annedale.com

Mandeville, LA,
February 4, 2010

FINISH STRONG®
Inspired a City, a Team and a Jewelry Designer

New Orleans, LA – Feburary 4, 2010 – Anne Dale Jeweller, LLC has teamed up with FINISH STRONG, LLC to design, manufacture and distribute an official FINISH STRONG® jewelry collection.

“This is a very exciting partnership with a powerful message that will be the center piece of the designs,” said Mandeville jeweler Anne Dale. “Thanks to the cause-related collection of jewelry that has been created in recent years, we have developed the capability of exceptional detail and artistry. I am confident that we provide an assortment of jewelry unlike any seen before. The `FINISH STRONG’ mentality has energized all of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. My vision with jewelry design is that it should serve as a conduit to inspire others-that `Finish Strong’ can do the same for you.”

“`Finish Strong’ captures the hope and determination of people in a big way,” said Dan Green, the founder of Finish Strong LLC and executive vice-president of Simple Truths. “It has become a new battle cry that inspires tens of thousands; two words that express the vigorous efforts and boundless courage which inspire an entire city – to FINISH STRONG!”

Green is a former salesman, sales leader, sales trainer, patented inventor, race car driver, author, husband and father.  The finishing strong attitude has been a driving force in his life and a key catalyst for helping him to achieve his goals in business, sports and life, he said.

Green said that he believes that others could benefit from the same attitude.  He received trademark rights to the words “Finish Strong” in 1996 and since that time, he has had the mission of spreading the message of finishing strong to people across the globe.

The `FINISH STRONG’ Collection will offer several styles that incorporate a Fleur de Lis, and which also express New Orleans’ celebration of recent triumphs in overcoming past struggles. Fans of the Anne Dale Collections can expect inspired works that focus on the human spirit and the instinctive nature to expect more and “Finish Strong,” Dale said.

The Anne Dale Collection of original jewelry contains designs that have helped to raise money, awareness and the spirits of people in need. Pieces include The Self-esteem pendant™, the military Star of Hope Collection™, the Love New Orleans Collection, the Facing Autism Collection™ and the Rising Star.  They are available nationwide through a network of charity partners and retail stores and jewelers.

Through the sales of her jewelry collection, The Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Fund has raised and distributed money for many causes that include hurricane recovery, birth defects, self-esteem, soldiers, and cancer prevention.

By Debbie Glover

St. Tammany News

Published on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 11:20 AM CDT

Times are tough for charities, but many are finding the heart of gold at the end of the rainbow in jeweler Anne Dale.

The Gold Charity Event they are conducting in Mandeville this month will benefit the charity of the customer’s choice. Just bring in unwanted, broken or outdated jewelry to the store.

Dale will pay cash to sellers and then donate a portion of the recycling proceeds to a local charity, including Project Graduation, Food Bank, Hospice of the South, Support our War Heroes, Bone Marrow Registry, KidSense playgrounds for special needs children, Easter Seals and the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force. line program which began after hurricane Katrina and continues to raise money from sales

Not only does the recycling gold event give members and friends of an organization a chance to sell old jewelry and receive cash for items that are collecting dust, it recycles precious metals, which helps alleviate the need for further mining and damage to our environment.

It is also a unique way to raise thousands of dollars for great causes.

The Gold Charity Event is part of Anne Dale’s “Know What it Means” fashionable jewelry for charity. Modeled from 1960’s school paper drives, this event gives everyone the chance to be part of a solution while selling their unwanted precious metals and old jewelry for cash.

“Anne Dale is a long time sponsor of our unique special-needs playgrounds that are designed and donated to area public schools,” said LeAnne Cantrell of KidSense.

Dale also sells a KidSense puzzle piece as part of her Jewelry for a Cause line that benefits the building of the playgrounds. The latest sensory playground, built especially for special needs children, is planned for Magnolia Trace Elementary and Lake Harbor Middle Schools in Mandeville. Cantrell said, “Anne Dale is helping make this dream a reality.”

Help your favorite charity and clean out those tangled-beyond-repair gold chains by bringing them to Anne Dale Jewelry this week.

Source:

St. Tammany News

Anne Dale is teaming up with local charities, schools and organizations to provide an exciting opportunity to turn unwanted gold items into cash!

It’s Simple

For a limited time Anne Dale will pay top dollar for unwanted, broken and outdated jewelry on the spot. Then donate a portion of the recycling profits to a participating charity of the customer’s choice.

Sell your unwanted\outdated gold jewelry with confidence and ease to one of New Orleans finest jewelers. Anne Dale known for honesty and fairness in selling fine jewelry for over twenty-five years now is using the same Golden Rule in buying unwanted gold jewelry.

Everybody Wins

• you receive immediate cash
• raise money for your school or charity
• recycling the gold
• in a professional environment
• dealing with a name you can trust – Anne Dale.

Anne Dale evaluates unwanted jewelry items for the scrap gold value with school teacher Dione Yager and LeAnne Cantrell of KidSense Playgrounds.

After paying cash Anne Dale will donate a percentage of the refiner’s proceeds to KidSense benefiting children with autism.

You asked – We listened

Anne Dale a certified jewelry appraiser has been advising people on the value of their jewelry for nearly twenty-five years.

In many cases jewelry items have an intrinsic value (above the scrap value) examples would be vintage or estate jewelry which would most likely receive a higher return at auction.

Receive the most value from your unwanted jewelry items while helping a local charity all in a comfortable professional environment dealing with a name you can trust – Anne Dale.

Calculate the value of your gold

10 Karat gold is 41.7% percent pure gold. 14 Karat gold is 58.3% pure gold. 18k Karat gold is 75% pure gold. 24 Karat is pure gold.

Example:

If pure gold is trading at $900 an ounce and you have one ounce of 14Kt gold you would take $900 then multiply it by 58.5% which gives you a value of $526.50 in pure gold.

While you will not receive the actual market value it is the basis of the jewelry’s scrap value. The amount of cash you receive depends upon the gold buyers cost of doing business (rent, employees, insurances etc.), the operations profit margin and several technical factors including the gold refinery’s fee, burn off, under-karated gold items purchased, as well as other risk and security issues.

Receive immediate cash payment!

* Ask about collecting old jewelry for your church, school or non-profit organization as a charity event.

Call or stop in today for details.

When I was a little girl (on the southshore) my friends and I would often play “tag”… recently I found out about a whole new kind of “tagging“.

I received a noticed that I had been “tagged” in a photo on FaceBook. Upon opening the image it was (not me) but the beautiful and talented Amanda Shaw. At first I thought it was a mistake but still loved the picture of Amanda.

I was surprised when ”Anne Dale Jeweller” appeared in text over the peace sign earring she was wearing – “TAGGED”

I first meet the extraordinary Amanda Shaw shortly after hurricane Katrina when she was featured in a video promoting my New Orleans Collection, I am a huge fan every since.

Over the years Amanda has stopped by the shop to visit and see what’s new and hip that might fit her unique image… like the “peace symbol” earrings.

Amanda is leading a new generation of New Orleans superstars artist… carrying on the regions great tradition of music. You can see Amanda Shaw this weekend at the Gretna Heritage Festival.

So thanks for the “tagging me” Amanda… also I like to ”tag“ Greg Livaudais Photography for taking such a great shot (jewelry is very difficult to photograph) especially during a live performance!

You can see Amanda sporting her “PEACE” earrings from Anne Dale Jeweller in the picture above.

* By the way if you have not seen IMAX’s Hurricane on the Bayou it is a must see staring Amanda Shaw and Tab Benoit.

Two things weather the storms of life – Love and Diamonds

Volumes of stories have been told at my jewelry counter over the years; it is as if the diamonds and gemstones I deal in are recorders of history – my customers’ rites of passage.

Engagements, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, as well as the difficult times such as divorce, death and inheritance often require my expertise as a jeweler. Jewelry is arguably the most spiritual of all physical products in the marketplace this is true for all races, religions, cultures and periods in history.

My job description often falls somewhere between a priest, bartender and party planner, currently writing the final pages of my first book in which I recall many jewelry stories. One story many years ago is of a young man that struggled walking his slurred speech was difficult to understand as he purchased a ring for his girlfriend.

Months later his older sister (a prominent attorney) would find her way into the jewelry store to thank me…she told me his story – a brain injury (automobile accident) and how he had sold his television to purchase the ring for his girlfriend.

I put together a selection of rings for the man to choose from… the sister realized his money would not have covered the cost of the ring chosen and she wanted to pay me the balance. With laughter and tears I embraced his loving sister and explained that I had earned something you can not buy with money.

Another…..Just this week one of my very best customers (friend) surprised me with a bottle of champagne, picking up a long awaited purchase. A stunning diamond necklace definitely not for everyday wear but one of those “special occasions only” jewelry items (50th birthday gift), we popped open the bottle (the cork went flying) we toasted and enjoyed the bubbly.

Later, I reflected on the many events in my customer’s lives, personal\family events that through jewelry I had been a part. Each of the many fine jewelry items over that period represent chapters in their life, as if the diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls and gold were “story keepers” – that is what makes these stones and metals – “precious“.

 Saint Joseph Abbey Retreat

Covington, Louisiana 

June 26 -28th

Immaculée shared her miraculous story of how she survived during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 during a retreat at the Saint Joseph Abbey Monastery.

It’s an amazing story.  Immaculee was 22 years old and home for Easter Break from her second year of college when the Genocide began. She survived by hiding in a Pastor’s tiny bathroom 4′ x 3′ feet for 91 days with seven other starving women.

After reading her book, Left to Tell which is life altering, I was inspired to create a piece of jewelry for her as a reminder of her spirit, mission of love and forgiveness.

The piece is called “Jewel of Africa”, consisting of a silhouette of Africa in gold with a diamond set in Rwanda.

Engraved on the back are the names of her father, mother and two brothers who were killed during the genocide.  I was moved to tears when she turned the piece over and read their names from her heart.

Immaculée shows us how to embrace the power of prayer, forge a profound and lasting relationship with God, and discover the importance of forgiveness and the meaning of truly unconditional love and understanding — through our darkest hours.

The Music Within
by Anne Dale

It is an undeniable truth that children are the conduit that generations use to communicate.

The greatest challenge of one generation is to nurture the next and by doing so cultivate a bridge of hope for all of mankind.

“Education” literally means to draw out from within; an extraordinary education reveals the true gifts these children have to offer.

These gifts are imperative for the most important thing in life, our happiness. 

I believe there is a universe of knowledge within each child.

This includes all children but especially those with Autism and other labeled “disabilities”; whose gifts when we allow ourselves to receive them, are often extra special.

Master diamond cutter Gabi Tolkowsky best known for cutting the Centenary Diamond which in its rough weighed 599 carats and is classified as being the highest color grade.

Gabi told me the Centenary Diamond is known for its excellent quality yet another diamond deserved much attention…

…the largest diamond ever cut he faceted… a stone that did not get as much attention the “Unnamed Brown” or the “Ugly Duckling” became known as “The Golden Jubilee”.

In Gabi’s hands it became “The Magnificent Swan.”