When you hear "Italian" you think of a lot of things: pasta, bread, yelling, hand gestures, eating, family. Growing up in an Italian family is like no other. If you haven't grown up in one, you wish you had and if you have, you can't imagine life any other way. Here are some signs you know you're Italiano *insert hand gesture here*.

1. You can't leave your nana's house without a goody bag full of snacks from her cabinet.

2. Very normal, calm conversations turn into contests of who can be the loudest while using the most hand gestures.

3. You call pasta "macaroni" and sauce "gravy."

4. Did someone say macaroni? Meatballs too, please.

5. You know how to pronounce "manicotti," "prosciutto," and "escargot" correctly.

6. Thanksgiving doesn't call for macaroni but what's a big meal without pairing it with some pasta?

7. You get death stares if you don't finish all the food on your plate.

8. Even when you're full, nana still tries to get you to eat more because you can never say no to an Italian grandmother.

9. Your cousins are like your siblings.

10. Sunday dinner might as well be considered a holiday.

11. Nana will still be preparing the second course while you're still eating the first.

12. Biscottis and/or pizelles are a part of every dessert.

13. Nana always slips you some money on the way out.

14. You is actually pronounced "yous" and "salud" is used instead of bless you.

15. You meet new extended family you never even knew about when there's a big family gathering.

16. It takes about an hour long to hug and kiss everyone goodbye.

17. You're closer with your family than most people and wouldn't trade their loud craziness for anything else in the world.