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Essay / Overview of the main characteristics of Italian culture
My cultural informant was born in Italy and raised by her parents. She moved to the United States when she was 10, but continues to travel to Italy whenever her family can. She is now in her third year of university and still talks to her friends and family who live in Italy. She tells me how Italians are known for their expressiveness, liveliness and sociability. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Italians have a motto that family is extremely important, their family harmony is focused on the extended family rather than the nuclear family. Italians hold frequent family reunions and enjoy spending time with their family members. Children are raised to remain close to family as adults and integrate their future family into the larger network. They celebrate most Christian holidays. For example, the celebration of Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, is very similar to Christmas. According to legend, Belfana, an old lady who flies on her broom, delivers gifts and sweets to good children. Pasquetta, the Monday after Easter, usually involves family picnics to mark the start of spring. November 1 commemorates Saints' Day, a religious holiday during which Italians typically decorate the graves of their deceased loved ones with flowers. Many Italian towns and villages celebrate the feast of their patron saint. September 19, for example, is the feast of San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples. April 25 is Liberation Day, marking the end of World War II in Italy in 1945. Italians love being surrounded by those they love and carry on traditions for future generations. The “culture” of Italy is beautiful and unique. A clear difference between foreign and Italian culture is the way Italians greet each other. The most common way to greet someone and accompany them is to give them a light kiss on each cheek. This practice usually seems strange to a foreigner and Italians expect it and most Italians usually stick to the typical handshake to make the foreigner feel more comfortable. Another aspect of this culture that may seem strange to foreigners is the way Italians dress. A foreigner will obviously stand out if they don't dress similarly and fashionably to the rest of the culture. Italians of all ages generally dress the same way, following the latest trends and fashion codes. The only real clothing restrictions come when you enter a church or sometimes even a museum. There will usually be written rules for appropriate dress. Italians believe that their food is important to their culture. For example, dishes like pizza and staples like spaghetti have become well-known around the world, but the table etiquette adopted by Italian culture is very different from today's fashionable practices. It is in their culture that Italians always try to prepare their meals to perfection, then gather the family around a table and eat heartily. This time of day is special for them because they talk about what might have happened or possible problems they might have encountered during the day at work, school, or in their relationships. They discuss and help with solutions or simply listen and provide emotional support. Family comes first to them, which means they will do anything to make sure you..