© PC Senior All Rights reserved
ABRUZZO4U
Web Site For English Speaking Tourists
Italian Culture
First of all, what do we mean by Culture? …. The best definition I found was as follows, if it helps:
Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down
from generation to generation. Culture has been called “The way of life for an entire society” and as such, it includes codes
of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals and art.
Like most countries, the Culture is probably less prominent in Rome and other large cities than it is in the Village!
Italian National Anthem
"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
Words by Goffredo Mameli, Music composed by Novaro and adopted as the National Anthem in 1947, it has become deeply
rooted in Italy's sense of national identity. It is not so much because of the words themselves, which , as in the anthems of
other nations, reflect the culture of the era in which they were written, as their lyricism taken as a whole and their perfect fit
with the music. Passed on from one generation to the next, the anthem has now become part of the Italian DNA …. to be
honest, you may want to think twice about singing it out loud, especially if your children are present. Like most national
anthems, it’s an ode to war and dying for one’s country! Still, enjoy the rousing anthem tune by clicking the player below
to listen:
Hand Guestures and facial expressions
Italians are famous for punctuating their speech with animated gestures and facial expressions to assist your comprehension
E.g. Flicking the underside of your chin means "I don't give a damn!"
Che Puzza!
English Translation: What a smell! .... Used when our little Fiat 500’s Clutch started to smoke going up the narrow/steep hill
up to our Apartment!
Can’t stand it!
Come here
Crazy!
Forgotten!
Give me a ride!
How annoying!
Hungry
OK
Remember!
Silence!
One moment!
Perfect!
Sleep!
Undecided
What?
Italian Family
Italians are extremely family-oriented, and it is common to live with extended family such as grandparents, aunts/uncles,
and cousins. And if you do not live directly in the same household as your extended family, then they are no more than a
walking distance from you or a 5 minute drive away. The family (la famiglia) is the most important aspect of an Italian's life.
It provides emotional and economic support to the individual and often forms the basis of their social circles.
I don’t give
a Damn!
Dolce Far Niente (“The Sweetness Of Doing Nothing”)
The Italian Language has many interesting Idioms/Sayings which are just as amusing as ours in English. My favourite is
“Dolce Far Niente” - Literally: The Sweetness Of Doing Nothing! That’s not to be lazy, but to take enjoyment/relaxation out
of slowing down and allowing yourself to enjoy or share it with others. We all know about taking a Siesta in the afternoon
but my funniest example of Dolce Far Niente is when two men invited me to join them which, not knowing where they
were going, I said yes. They strolled chatting as they left the Piazza, walked slowly to the end of the street, then just
turned round and walked back again! Leaving me to tell Sandra where I had been!
I have since learned to recognise it as a “Picola Passegiata”
© PC Senior All Rights reserved
ABRUZZO4U
Web Site For English Speaking Tourists
Italian Culture
First of all, what do we mean by Culture? …. The best definition I found was as follows:
Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a
population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called
“The way of life for an entire society” and as such, it includes codes of manners, dress,
language, religion, rituals and art.
Like most countries, the Culture is probably less prominent in Rome and other large cities than
it is in the Village!
Italian National Anthem
"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
Words by Goffredo Mameli, Music composed by Novaro and adopted as the National Anthem in
1947, it has become deeply rooted in Italy's sense of national identity. It is not so much because
of the words themselves, which , as in the anthems of other nations, reflect the culture of the
era in which they were written, as their lyricism taken as a whole and their perfect fit with the
music. Passed on from one generation to the next, the anthem has now become part of the
Italian DNA …. to be honest, you may want to think twice about singing it out loud, especially if
your children are present. Like most national anthems, it’s an ode to war and dying for one’s
country! Still, enjoy the rousing anthem tune by clicking the player below to listen:
Hand Guestures and facial expressions
Italians are famous for punctuating their speech with animated gestures and facial expressions to assist your
comprehension E.g. Flicking the underside of your chin means "I don't give a damn!"
Che Puzza!
English Translation: What a smell! .... Used when our little Fiat 500’s Clutch started to smoke
going up the narrow/steep hill up to our Apartment!
Can’t stand it!
Come here
Crazy!
Forgotten!
How annoying!
Hungry
OK
Silence!
One moment!
Perfect!
Dolce Far Niente (“The Sweetness Of Doing Nothing”)
The Italian Language has many interesting Idioms/Sayings which are just as amusing as ours in
English. My favourite is “Dolce Far Niente” - Literally: The Sweetness Of Doing Nothing! That’s
not to be lazy, but to take enjoyment/relaxation out of slowing down and allowing yourself to
enjoy or share it with others. We all know about taking a Siesta in the afternoon but my funniest
example of Dolce Far Niente is when two men invited me to join them which, not knowing where
they were going, I said yes. They strolled chatting as they left the Piazza, walked slowly to the
end of the street, then just turned round and walked back again! Leaving me to tell Sandra
where I had been! I have since learned to recognise it as a “Picola Passegiata”
Italian Family
Italians are extremely family-oriented, and it is common to live with extended family such as
grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. And if you do not live directly in the same household
as your extended family, then they are no more than a walking distance from you or a 5 minute
drive away. The family (la famiglia) is the most important aspect of an Italian's life. It provides
emotional and economic support to the individual and often forms the basis of their social circles.
Remember!
Sleep!
Undecided
What?
I don’t give
a Damn!
ABRUZZO4U
Web Site For English Speaking Tourists
Italian Culture
Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts,
beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down
from generation to generation. Culture has been called “The
way of life for an entire society” and as such, it includes codes
of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals and art.
Like most countries, the Culture is probably less prominent in
Rome and other large cities than it is in the Village!
Italian National Anthem
"Il Canto degli Italiani"
Words by Goffredo Mameli, Music composed by Novaro and
adopted as the National Anthem in 1947, it has become deeply
rooted in Italy's sense of national identity. It is not so much
because of the words themselves, which , as in the anthems of
other nations, reflect the culture of the era in which they were
written, as their lyricism taken as a whole and their perfect fit
with the music. Passed on from one generation to the next, the
anthem has now become part of the Italian DNA …. to be
honest, you may want to think twice about singing it out loud,
especially if your children are present. Like most national
anthems, it’s an ode to war and dying for one’s country! Still,
enjoy the rousing anthem tune by clicking the player below
to listen:
Hand Guestures and facial expressions
Italians are famous for punctuating their speech with animated gestures
and facial expressions to assist your comprehension.
E.g. Flicking the underside of your chin means "I don't give a damn!"
Che Puzza!
English Translation: What a smell! .... Used when our little
Fiat 500’s Clutch started to smoke going up the steep
narrow hill up to our Apartment!
Can’t stand it!
Come here
Crazy!
Forgotten!
How annoying!
Hungry
OK
Silence!
One moment!
Perfect!
Dolce Far Niente
(“The Sweetness Of Doing Nothing”)
The Italian Language has many interesting Idioms/Sayings
which are just as amusing as ours in English. My favourite is
“Dolce Far Niente” - Literally, The Sweetness Of Doing
Nothing! That’s not to be lazy, but to take enjoyment and
relaxation out of slowing down and allowing yourself to enjoy
or share it with others. We all know about taking a Siesta in
the afternoon but my funniest example of Dolce Far Niente is
when two men invited me to join them which, not knowing
where they were going, I said yes. They strolled chatting as
they left the Piazza, walked slowly to the end of the street,
then just turned round and walked back again! Leaving me to
tell Sandra where I had been!
I have since learned to recognise it as a “Picola Passegiata”
Italian Family
Italians are extremely family-oriented, and it is common to
live with extended family such as grandparents, aunts/uncles,
and cousins. And if you do not live directly in the same
household as your extended family, then they are no more
than a walking distance from you or a 5 minute drive away.
The family (la famiglia) is the most important aspect of an
Italian's life. It provides emotional and economic support to
the individual and often forms the basis of their social circles.
Remember!
Sleep!
Undecided
What?
I don’t give
a Damn!