Being raised by a single mom in a large Italian family (famiglia), I was taught a few things about our culture, specifically about our passion for food and togetherness. At a very young age, those of us in Italian or, for me, more specifically, Sicilian families, learn the cherished recipes of our ancestors almost as soon as we learn to walk and talk.
Although I did not marry an Italian man and my children are but half Sicilian, I, too, carried on the tradition of teaching them how to cook at a very young age. There are a few recipes we learn right away in my famiglia, whether you are a boy or a girl. For example, we are taught at a young age how to make the following but not limited to:
- The Family Sauce
- Carne Muddica
- Manicotti
- Pepperoncini Beef
- Italian Meatballs
Food is so important in our family that if you happen to dislike any of the old-world Sicilian recipes from our great-grandmother, you might be shunned. Seriously.
For instance, I happen to have diverticulitis, which by technical definition from the Mayo Clinic is, “When one or more of the pouches become inflamed, and in some cases infected, that condition is known as diverticulitis (die-vur-tik-yoo-LIE-tis). Diverticulitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in your bowel habits,”.
Basically, I cannot eat seeds from vegetables, fruits, nuts, or popcorn. And if you know the ingredients in the family sauce, there are seeds. Here are some of the ingredients we use when making the Ventimiglia/Zerilli family sauce:
- One can of tomato puree
- One can of stewed tomatoes
- One can of tomato paste
- Oregano (enough until it smells right)
- Basil (enough until it smells right)
- Lots of garlic (enough until it smells right)
- Onion (enough until it smells right)
- Bay leaves (enough until it smells right)
- Crushed red pepper (enough until it smells right)
- Two pounds of meat (could be a combo of ground beef, veal, Italian sausage or ground pork)
Notice all those tomato ingredients? Well, they are the culprit of my chronic stomach issues growing up in a Sicilian-American family where there is always a pot of sauce in the refrigerator. My poor mother took it personally when I would say I did not want to eat sauce because it gave me a stomachache. She’d say, “How come you can eat Mexican food but not eat your family’s sauce?!”
We discovered later why, and she modified the sauce by taking out the stewed tomatoes and the tomato paste. It helps, but to this day, I still struggle with stomach issues when eating the family sauce. Thankfully, I am all in with other parts of our cultural heritage.
What are the things important to Italian culture?
As I mentioned above, we are actually Sicilians, not Italians. However, we do have highly similar values and aspects of our lifestyle. Most notable is the importance of family and spending time with them. Guilt works really well in this area (however, it is not recommended until you are the eldest and earn the right to).
Another aspect that is heavily woven into our lives is our faith and maintaining Roman Catholic sacraments, such as:
- Christening (baptism) our babies within the first year
- First Communion and Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Confession
- Sacraments of Healing (reconciliation and anointing of the sick)
- Sacraments of Vocational Consecration (matrimony and ordination)
- Funeral/wake (in order: wake, funeral mass, and committal of the urn or casket)
Additionally, the pleasure of eating good meals that are created with lots of love and dedication is something that makes the top of my list. When my children are sick or down in the dumps, I specifically think of them while preparing the meal, always being mindful of putting a whole lot of love into it.
Gestures and body language to emphasize specific ideas are also common characteristics of those of us raised in Italian or Sicilian culture. Because of my expressive hand movements, I have knocked over many items when I am excited or passionate about what I am saying!
Catholic customs
Some more faith-based customs, according to A Catholic Mom’s Life, are:
“Catholic customs that have been passed down throughout the generations:
- Make the Sign of the Cross with three fingers and kiss the thumb. Some people kiss their thumb and imagine they are kissing the feet of Jesus.
- When driving past a Catholic Church, always make the Sign of the Cross. That is Jesus’s home, as He is physically present in the Tabernacle of that Church.
- When we hear an ambulance or emergency sirens, we always pray for that situation and the people. We pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be for whoever is involved in that situation.
- Saint Anthony Prayer- I pray the St Anthony prayer whenever I can’t find something! “Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony please come here, come here. Something is lost and it is so very dear.” St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost things, and he always seems to help us when we need it!
- If a Holy object falls (a sacramental, blessed rosary, etc.), pick it up and kiss it immediately.
- Palm Sunday palms- put them behind crucifix or a picture of Jesus
- If a sacramental (blessed object like a rosary, scapular or picture) breaks, we are to bury it OR burn it.
- Crucifix in every single bedroom and room of the house- the Holy Crucifix is extremely powerful. Satan hates the crucifix! It always reminds him that Jesus is victorious
- Bow your head and think about Jesus every time Jesus’s name is mentioned.
- When you go into a new Catholic Church, you can ask God for 3 specific prayers
Importance of food in Italian culture
Food is central to Italian culture, symbolizing family, tradition, and love. Sicilian recipes are passed down through generations, fostering lifelong culinary skills and maintaining cultural heritage while emphasizing togetherness and shared experiences.