Have you ever wondered what it's like to be part of one of those big, crazy, Italian families? If so, look no further.
And if you're lucky enough to be a part of one, here are things you'll surely understand.
1. Your extended family is big enough to populate a small country.
Family reunions have to be held in banquet halls.
2. It takes 20 minutes to say goodbye to all your family.
So you get used to planning accordingly.
3. You have an uncanny amount of relatives with the same name.
Wait, which Tony are we talking about again?
4. You spent a good deal of your childhood wondering what exactly a "stunata" was.
And why are there so many?
5. Sundays are for spending time with the family.
Sunday dinners > every other dinner.
6. You have relatives who aren't really relatives.
But you never question it.
7. You recognize this man immediately.
A.k.a the one and only Padre Pio.
8. None of your family believes you if you make the mistake of telling them that you are not actually hungry.
Because there’s always room for more. Now mangia!
9. There are only two volumes that exist: loud and louder.
No, it’s not a shouting match, just a normal conversation.
10. Nutella was a staple in your life long before people started to like it.
Now hop off the Nutella bandwagon.
11. Need tomatoes? Basil? Don't bother going to the store, it's already ripe in the backyard garden.
No Italian house is complete without one.
12. There is never an occasion where meatballs are not appropriate.
These two were on to something.
13. Pasta is a way of life.
And it’s eaten for all occasions, including holidays such as the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.
14. Pastina, on the other hand, is the cure for everything.
Sick? Pastina. Tired? Pastina. Cold? Pastina.
15. You love your cousin Vino.
As soon as you could stand, you stomped the grapes. And you know nothing compares to some homemade vino.
16. You are a sauce snob.
If it’s not homemade, I don’t want it.
17. Your family’s idea of a serving size is completely off kilter.
Ask for "little bit of pasta” and you get served enough spaghetti and meatballs to end world hunger.
18. Because your mouth was full of food all the time, you had to learn talk with your hands.
And now you can’t talk without using them.
19. The ultimate struggle: trying to get your Nonni to actually join the table and eat.
Because God forbid she eat the food she just spent hours cooking.
20. You never go to or leave a relative’s house empty-handed.
It’s an unspoken rule.
21. Nothing beats the parties. What’s better than an excuse to get together with the family, pop some upon bottles of homemade wine, and eat too much?
This includes graduations, birthdays, holidays and of course, weddings.
22. Speaking of weddings, we all know the tarantella is one of the best moments.
You were born with the tarantella in your veins.
23. You love being Italian, and love telling people you are even more.
And of course, you love meeting other Italians.
24. But most of all, you love being a part of a big, crazy, Italian family.
And wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
