Italian Food Importance

One such tradition is not socializing with neighbors but only talking to her sisters or other family members. Both of my great-grandparents came from a large family and so the Sunday was always considered family day. It was nothing to see a yard off of kids playing or see the men playing a game of horseshoes as the women would set out the dinner. However, it was the winter time that holds the most memories for my mother. It was then that the families would all gather at the family pond and go ice skating and the men would build a big fire and everyone would stand around and drink hot chocolate. One such tradition in the winter time was right after the first snow fall of the season. We would take a big mixing bowl and go out and fill that bowl as full as we could. Then she would go in and make a big bowl of snow ice cream (Food in Every County). One bright sunny day, our family was going to Lake Pomme De Terre for a family picnic. Like Shteyngart, I was all set for some grilled hamburgers or hot dogs or even some fried chicken. However, that was not meant to be. Like Shteyngart, is aw food being set out that was I saw food that was familiar to my great-grandmother’s culture. Instead of grilling hamburgers, she set out chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans and for dessert a shoofly pie, sugar cookies, and schnitz pie, which is made with dried apples (Food in Every County). My mother laughed when she saw my face because later my

It is important for me to maintain my cultural roots because I come from long line of hard-working Italian immigrants who faced discrimination and who sacrificed to make things better for future generations. I maintain my Italian heritage my maintaining close ties with my family and my parish. I am extremely close with my family and making time for each other is a priority. We attend mass together as a family and have Sunday dinner at my grandmother’s house. Nearly every Sunday for the last twenty-two years of my life, we have had homemade sauce, meatballs, and lasagna. Food is a huge part of my Italian-American heritage. At Christmas, we have the traditional Christmas Eve Feast of the seven fishes and attend midnight mass as a family. During Easter, we make Easter bread and tarallies. My grandmother and mother have passed many recipes down to me over the years. Another aspect of our Italian-American culture which has been passed down to me was to respect and care for my elders. We have cared for my great-grandmother and grandfather at home until they passed. God-willing I plan on carrying on this tradition of caring for loved ones with my grandmother

The Italian culture has been developed into a staple of American life, especially with a preexisting history ingrained into communities across the United States.

The Italians’ holiday culture helped to make America a more diverse nation. Their family-centered culture and regional affiliations resulted in highly concentrated settlements called, Little Italies. Entire villages in Italy would travel over to America to form these settlements. Many were heavily clustered in cities in the mid-atlantic and midwest states. The immigrants typically viewed themselves as residents of a particular region or village, not as “Italians.” Their daily habits and life reflected this, as they usually only associated with fellow kin or villagers called paesani. The Italians were working on becoming a member of American society while still trying to maintain their old customs. During holidays, Italian immigrants still utilized traditional customs such as folk songs, folklore, and dances for special events. However, like so many of the Italian aspects of life, they were so regionally specific that they defied easy characterization.

Italians take great pride in social interactions. Humor, agreeability, reliability, and success in business and in social life are valued over assertiveness, and health, family, serenity, and financial security are the highest valued attributes to Italians.

Chapter 3 discusses the background of the Italians who came to the United States. Italy had free elections in the South, but the corruption from criminal organizations and nobles influenced politics. Southern Italy had a large part of the population until the late twentieth century and peasants worked in agriculture. The central government was weak and ineffective. Italians had strong family bonds and children started working in fields at very young ages. Family is one of the key defining aspects of the Italians with household that usually had a father or husband. When they came to the United States they migrated largely within New York and a large percentage were men. Typically residing in Little Italy neighborhoods, and having low

There are Indians, Mexicans, Asians and many others diverse businesses established in Little Italy. Chicago is known for its diversity. In Chicago all sorts of food, clothing, and music reflect numerous cultures. There are numerous ethnic enclaves that have put Chicago on the map for its diversity. However, not every ethnic enclave is what it seems. Compared to most ethnic enclaves in Chicago, Little Italy is no longer what it was 115 years ago. You will not find a Chinatown or a Paseo Boricua atmosphere - you will not see Italians – you will not hear the language – and you will not have much access to authentic Italian foods. Little Italy is Italian in name only as it no longer fits the definition of an ethnic enclave. Italians, like other immigrants living in enclaves, feel the need to celebrate their culture and history. Although they no longer live in the area, many return in August to celebrate their roots. Even though Little Italy is a mix of ethnic diversity, Italian-Americans still share the sense of cultural pride shared by other ethnic

Before the American Revolution the Dutch, English, Scots and Germans were the primary settlers; they were followed in the first half of the 19th century by New Englanders spreading across developing Parts of upstate New York and into Westchester and northern long Island. The influx of European immigrants came first from Northern and Central part of Europe and later from southern countries. While often not educated, they came in large numbers; Italians came by the millions, next were Jews who came from Russia, Poland and Romania. This

The things that brought the Italians to the United States were job opportunities, freedom, safety, and the hope to build a better life. Southern Italy was very poor, with little job opportunities. When the Italians came to America they could work in different areas that fit them best. Some found work on the coast working as fishermen and stevedores. In the mountain regions, the Italians went to work in mines and pits digging for coal and ore. The skilled stonemasons could work in the quarries of New England and Indiana. During and after the fall of Italy’s first prime minister Giovanni Giolitti, the Italians did not feel safe and free in their country. It was said that Giolitti bribed and manipulated government officials. Corruption was a big problem, even before Giolitti came into power. Many Italians left the country and came to America for the democracy and the organized government

The Italians had many different reasons for wanting to come to America, poverty being the biggest reason. Most Italian

Many of the first immigrants were from northern and western Europe. A third of these immigrants came from Ireland. In the 19th century, America received 5 million Germans who arrived to buy farms. There were numerous other immigrants with a different ethnicity who arrived later on.

Italians immigrated to the United States for many reasons. That could include being refugees, gaining freedom, because of war, later on the great depression, ect. That all contributes in the beginning of the 1800’s where the immigrants came by boat and was welcomed to the U.S. in Ellis Island. Overall it is who made their journey here, where part of Italy are they coming from.

Few things identify Italians as well as food, “the cross-cultural consumption of Italian cuisine is a significant marker of the way in which others see and imagine Italy and the Italians.” Food is cultural artifact. The Italian culture lives to eat. Where as, the American culture eats to live. Food is a way of life in Italy, not just a way to survive.

Eating brings people closer together everyday, and for everyone, there are important memories that have been created because of food. Whether it’s a formal dinner, or an informal picnic, there will always be special bonds between people because food was involved. We need to have traditions with food because they form and strengthen the bonds between us.