Wedding portrait, Capponi Family, Hamilton, ON, 1925 - solo in inglese

Wedding portrait, Capponi Family, Hamilton, ON, 1925.

Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. As a result, it has always been an important occassion for a Catholic Italian-Canadian family. In recent years, it has also proved an occassion for extended celebrations, with family, friends, and colleagues all invited. A event ladden with symbolism and status, the wedding has also turned into somewhat of a small business venture. Guests often bring a "busta" -- literally the envelope. Originally these envelopes with cards and cash were meant to provide a small start-up fund to help young newlyweds begin their life together.

In this portrait, we see a wedding in the 1920s. The groom, Girolamo (George) Capponi, had immigrated from Italy to Canada, where he met his Canadian-born bride Irene. The family would settle in Hamilton and the Capponis had 3 children.

Capponi was arrested and interned as a threat to the Canadian state on July 18, 1940.