My "Culture" My "People"

Unlike most early generation Americans, I didn't really think Italians had a 'Culture Culture' like Asian Americans, South Asian Americans or first generation Americans. Italian Americans are typically associated with the food they obsess over or The Sopranos/John Gotti and the Untouchables. I used to hate watching The Sopranos bc it reinforced negative stereotypes. And it never stops driving me crazy just how many similarites my family has to the that 'other' family in North Caldwell, NJ. I come from a family where my elders have worked hard their entire lives. I am now unsure where the stereotype begins and ends. As I now introduce my soon-to-be-husband into the trials and tribulations of being apart of my family, my culture to me has become more important than it ever has, as I show him things I thought everyone knew!!!

I had found some interesting information I wanted to share. I know you will enjoy as well. I also ammended it a bit so it could better reflect my family.

Here goes:
Let's start at the beginning. Come stai? Molto bene. Bueno Norto. Many Italian immigrants know these words and many Italian-Americans should be able to recognize them. But what about the Italian-American speech pattern? These words and phrases (that I grew up with) are a little Italian, a little American, and a little slang. Words every paesano and Bacciagaloop has heard,-words we hear on The Sopranos and throughout our neighborhoods of New York (New York ; meaning Queens, Brooklyn the Bronx and Staten Island, NEVER Manhattan).

This language, the "American-Italiano" has been used for generations. It's not "gangster" slang terms like "whack" or "vig", if that's what you are thinking.

Sometimes we say Mama Mia. Mannaggia. Dad uses a mopeen to wipe his hands in the the kitchen and gets agita from the Sauce (GRAVY to the NJ gang) When Mom drains the pasta we use a Skoolabast and we never serve pasta with a ladle, we serve it with a Gupina. A crazy Aunt can give you the malokya (the evil eye or the horns), but that red horn (contra malokya) will protect you if you use it right. If you are feeling mooshadda, always head to my Mom's and she will fix you up a quick maninad (marinara to you) with cavadeel (cavatelli) or some sausage and peppers. For dessert we don't EVER eat zeppoles (we eat them only in the summer at the FEAST; your Carnival or Fair), we do have tartufo, shfoolyadell', pignoli cookies, or an espresso with a little Marie Bizzard Annisette.

Sunday Snack you want? My dad will fix you some proshoot and mozarell' and some hot peppers or when I was a little girl my grampa would bring us a "well done pie" and we would have a hot slice of a'beetz (Pizza to the rest of you) and talk about going to the park..............

And the wine, please never forget wine. Carafs or big gallons, red if you please!
Rub some on the baby's gums--"It's good for her!" So salud ' and beech en don and if you have any Italian in you then some of this didn't totally freak you out!


I found some of this on the Internet and customized most of it to my own family. Makes me smile.