Mafiosi introduce known members to each other as belonging to cosa nostra ("our thing") or la stessa cosa ("the same thing"), meaning "he is the same thing as you – a mafioso."
Cosa Nostraa is an Italian term that signifies a clan of people who claim sovereignty over a territory. We aim to assert primacy in the men’s accessories segment with originality and magnificent craftsmanship.
La Cosa Nostra evolved from the Sicilian Mafia and is one of the foremost organized criminal threats to American society. Translated into English it means “this thing of ours.”
Also called: Cosa Nostra (Italian: Our Thing) or black hand Areas Of Involvement: What Is the Origin of the Word Mafia? Riina’s designated successor, Bernardo Provenzano, consolidated control of the Mafia by 1995 and ran the organization until his own arrest in 2006.
Maranzano eventually emerged as the most powerful, and effectively became the leader of the organisation now known as La Cosa Nostra, establishing a code of conduct, the business’ structure (including the various families) and laying out procedures for settling disputes.
By the 1950s, the Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra, Italian for “Our Thing”) had become the preeminent organized-crime network in the United States and was involved in a range of underworld ...
Explore the roots and transformation of the Italian Mafia, Cosa Nostra, from Sicily's history to global organized crime. Discover key figures and events.
Members often introduce other members to each other as belonging to cosa nostra or la stessa cosa, meaning “the same thing.” The term Cosa Nostra was first used publicly in the early 1960s during the U.S. McClellan Commission by Joseph Valachi, a former member of the Mafia turned state witness.