My Italian heritage is a large part of who I am as a person. Anyone who grew up in an Italian family like me knows certain things to be true that are exclusive to the way that we were raised. With my cousins visiting from Italy, I have spent every weekend with family absorbed in the culture that I was brought up in. After seeing all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins so often in the past two weeks, I have come to realize that it is our shared values that keep us so close together. All families have their own way of doing things and interacting with each other, and Italians are no exception!
These are The Ten Commandments of Italian families.
1. Family Is Everything
You would do anything for your family because they do so much for you. They are your biggest supporters and you know you can turn to them for help with any situation. Whenever you need something, you can rely on any one of your countless cousins to be there for you. You have been taught from a young age to never go against the family — friends will come and go, but family is forever. Loyalty is our most essential virtue, and you know that any family member would go to battle on your behalf.
2. Keep Tradition
Nonna's amazing cooking stems from the original recipes of your ancestors. Those specialty dishes that you enjoy at every holiday have been passed down through the generations, and it is your responsibility to make sure you keep the traditions alive! Learn from the best and spend time cooking with Nonna so your family recipes can always be remembered.
3. Never Forget Where You Came From
At some point in your lineage, a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent sacrificed everything to come to America for a better life. Never forget about the hard work of your ancestors that allowed you to live the life you do today. Be grateful for the life you have because of them, and thank them for their courage to leave everything they had ever known to settle in a new world.
4. Sundays Are Spent At Nonna's
The "Sunday scaries" do not exist in Italian families — we are too busy screaming over each other at the dinner table and eating pasta at Nonna's house to think about what Monday has in store. Ever since you were little, you always looked forward to Sunday dinners so you could see all of your cousins and eat amazing food. There is truly no better way to end a long week than by catching up with family and enjoying Nonna's delicious cooking.
5. Learn To Cook At A Young Age
Since early childhood, you have helped your Mom, Aunt, and Nonna cook for the family. They guided your small hands to roll dough, stir the pot of sauce, and chop garlic. Being given a task to help make dinner made you feel so special, so you developed a love for cooking at a young age. Because of them, you have never had to rely on a recipe!
6. Respect Your Elders
Respect is a crucial component of the Italian family dynamic. You would never dare to speak poorly of your elders in front of other people because you would not want to embarrass your family. As a child, you always had an aunt, uncle, or cousin to look up to as a role model. Being taught respect from a young age has shaped you into the person that you are today.
7. Celebrate The Good Times
It's no surprise that Italians love to party. We celebrate everything — from birthdays and saint's feast days, to larger gatherings like Christmas and Easter. Food is always at the center of these celebrations, and we always enjoy each other's company.
8. Have Passion For What You Do
Italians are passionate people. When we pour our souls into what we do, no one can stop us. You are fueled to achieve your goals and driven by your family to make something of yourself because you have passion for what you do in life. Pursue your future endeavors fiercely and with passion.
9. Work Hard To Achieve Success
We come from a long line of world-renowned artists, builders, and writers. Italians share one of the most historically rich cultures, so working hard to achieve success is practically ingrained in our DNA! Our ancestors that immigrated to America truly embody what it means to work hard, because they took on the most strenuous jobs to provide for their families. Because of their struggles, we are able to find success in what we do today.
10. Take Pride In Being Italian!
Growing up in an Italian family is something I am extremely proud of and grateful for. As I have gone through life, I have realized that not many other people can say that they are as closely connected to their cultural roots as I am. The family experiences that I have shared are memories that I will cherish forever and hope to pass down to my children someday.
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