American community march in the Swallow’s Day Parade. When the swallows take flight again in October, San Juan’s Italian- American community hosts the Feast of St. Giovanni festival. Italian language classes are given at Vito’s, an Italian restaurant, on Monday and Wednesday eves. If the founding fathers of San Juan’s Italian community — ac-
tive members of the Catholic church — were alive today, they’d be beaming with pride at the “passing of the torch” so skillfully into modern day.
THE RANCHING COMMUNITY The Mexican Independence of 1821 brought a new era to San
Juan Capistrano. The Secularization Act that was passed in 1833 — to divest Mission lands — made land grants available to powerful, wealthy families. Thus began the Rancho system of large ranches. The largest cattle ranch stretched 52,000 acres. By 1882, however, land taxes were so high, large spreads —
owned by the Forster, O’Neill and McGee families — were forced to downsize. When the railroad came to town in 1887, Capist- rano Valley developed into an agricultural center with an orange processing and produce packing plant. In modern times, the traditions of the ranchers remain the same. Every spring plays host to the annual roundup and brand- ing season. Rancho Mission Viejo, now 23,000 acres, holds the rodeo as a tribute to the ranching lifestyle of 1882. “The ranch family is proud of its ranching heritage and holds dear the authentic and honest values embraced by the American cowboy,” said Tony Moiso, CEO and president of Rancho Mis- sion Viejo.
Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. Photo: Scott Schmitt/San Juan Photo & Digital
to express themselves and steer clear of bad influences. Chang- ing communities by changing families through music benefits San Juan in many ways. “Our aim is to make our community proud to be Hispanic
through these traditions in music and art in the years ahead,” Ceja said.
THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY Vicki Carabini has the kind of exuberance that towns thrive on.
Named ambassador of San Juan Capistrano’s Italian-American community in 2007, she shares Italian traditions with flair. “Every first Thursday of the month for the last two years, we
partner with our local theater (Regency Theatre) bringing Italian films to the screen.” Carabini said. San Juan’s ties with Italy go as far back as 1776, when Fran- ciscan padre Junipero Serra named the Mission after his favorite saint San Giovanni da Capestrano. Today, their descendants still carry on their ancestors’ traditions, adding flavor to the cultural diversity of the community. In 2010, Carabini visited San Juan’s sister city, Capestrano, bearing gifts of hand-painted rosary beads made by the students at the Mission Parish School. In ex- change, Capestrano students honored San Juan Capistrano with an ancient roof tile - hand-painted with an image of St. Giovanni. Every March marks the return of the swallows to the city. In celebration, Carabini and 150 members of San Juan’s Italian-
24 San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce | Business Directory & Visitor Guide
A popular event every August, the rodeo has a positive effect on San Juan Capistrano’s shops, restaurants, hotels and other service businesses. It also helps local charities. The Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo has donated more than $1 million to causes with particular focus on the Camino Health Clinic and Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding.
CHANGE AND TRADITION At the turn of the century, San Juan Capistrano and Orange
County were defined more by their vast open space than by their people. In 1900, only 19,696 residents called the county’s 950 square miles home. Fast forward 50 years, and the landscape begins to transform to make way for the 216,224 people who live across the sun-kissed stretch between Los Angeles and San Diego.
San Juan Capistrano incorporated in 1961, and once the U.S.
Census considers the 14.3 square miles as one, the numbers tell the story of rapid growth. In 1970, the city had 3,781 residents. Just 40 years later,
34,593 have settled in the hills and valleys of San Juan and 3,010,232 overall in Orange County. Yet the city has managed to maintain its charm, in part be- cause its earliest inhabitants and the wave of peoples since have loved and cared for its land and sought to preserve its history and character for subsequent generations. Today, the people, with their rich traditions and diverse cul-
tures, are a vital part of the city’s identity. They have come — in large and small groups — to settle and raise families, to enjoy a life in a unique community setting and to pass on a bit of their heritage to the next generation. That’s what makes the place special for everyone who comes to live, play and work in San Juan Capistrano.
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