Family traditions in Italy. Cultural traditions of Italy

It is difficult to give a capacious and unambiguous description of the Italian ethnos as such - it is a people of contradictions, a people of contrasts, no matter how trite it may sound. The local culture is a complex mixture of several dozen ethnic traditions. For many thousands of years, the territory of the Apennine Peninsula was inhabited by people, and many peoples left behind amazing culture and architectural monuments, while others seemed to pass unnoticed by world history, but all the tribes, to one degree or another, contributed to the formation of the local ethnic group and characteristic features of the modern Italian people.

Family way

If you need to find something really important for an Italian, then without a doubt, you can put the family in the first place. Even faith and love for the motherland, which are so vividly expressed in everyday life, usually recede when it comes to the family. For many centuries of uneasy Italian history, the family here has often been the only source of stability and strength in an unpredictable world where governments and borders are constantly changing. It is just as important today, although the realities of modern life have left their mark on this aspect. The main difference between the modern Italian family is its size. If in the middle of the 20th century a large family, in fact a clan, was considered an ideal, now local families are getting closer and closer to the pan-European proportion of "two parents - 1-2 children." The birth rate in Italy has fallen to about 1.2 children per woman, although the proportion of 2.1 children remains in the south (for comparison, at the beginning of the 20th century, this parameter was 4.6 and 5.1, respectively). This means that the population of the country is growing only due to emigrants and the nation is aging, but in all other respects, local families have remained exactly the same as they were 200-300 years ago.

The visiting card of any Italian family is children. They are admired, pampered, proud of, and allowed to do whatever they want. It's hard to add anything here - it's enough to see at least once the exit of the Italian family "to people" in order to understand who is in charge here. At the same time, local residents manage to combine the complete freedom of offspring within their community or family with a fairly serious motivation for their success in life and socialization in society. Children attend restaurants and masses with their parents, participate in all family and community holidays and, at the same time, receive a certain financial independence quite early. Most babies are taken care of by grandparents or mothers when they are not working (the latter is quite rare in the north and quite common in the south). Lunch or dinner is a real "family hour", when all relatives living together (or even nearby) gather at the table. After dinner, everyone usually goes out to the "passeggiata" (passeggiata, evening walk) to relax and chat with neighbors or friends. Children also have their own freedom within the framework of this ritual - after "serving the required time" they can spend time in their company while their parents drink coffee somewhere in a cafe nearby.

Here, by the way, the superstition of the Italians is also manifested - in public it is not customary to brag about the success of a child in school or sports, as well as complaining about his health. There is a whole system of methods designed to protect the child from the evil eye, which, as usual, is usually watched by grandmothers, but the parents themselves perform the rituals. Therefore, asking an Italian about his children should be done carefully, without crossing the boundaries of local etiquette. It is also characteristic that the older the child, the less all family members indulge him, and the greater the load he bears in common affairs. Usually senior members of the family are in charge of such "public works", not disdaining physical punishment, but within reason - violence against a child is simply unthinkable here. However, sociologists note that Italian men are still more attached to their "first family" (mother, father, siblings and even maternal relatives) than to their own family - so great is the influence of primordial methods of education.

social issues

Italians traditionally attach great importance to education, especially higher education. For many centuries, the position of a person in society was determined either by nobility or by his education. And if the first advantage could be obtained only by inheritance, then the second person could achieve it himself. Accordingly, increased attention has always been paid to the level of education here. The country has many internationally recognized educational institutions, including the oldest universities of Bologna and Salerno. However, it is paradoxical that today Italy ranks last among the "old" members of the European Union in terms of spending on education.

In Italy, it is customary to address a person by his position, a teacher of any level - "professor", a doctor - "doctor", a coach - "maestro" and even "engineer" - a very respectful title for a person with a technical education. There is an element of the traditional Italian game in this, designed to emphasize the status of the interlocutor, but there is also a sincere respect for other people's knowledge. The excellent knowledge of good manners by almost all Italians is also striking - even in a remote mountain village the table will be served according to all the rules of etiquette, and even the most dishonest teenager will not forget to hold the door in front of a woman.

In Italian culture, men have traditionally had higher status and influence. A woman was usually perceived only as a mother and "the soul of the family", while a man was, so to speak, the "head". In the southern regions of the country, as well as in Sicily and Sardinia, this tradition is still vividly observed today, having entered many sayings and common clichés. However, Italy would not be Italy if this rule were observed always and everywhere. In fact, women here have always had much more "power" than is commonly believed. And this applies not only to the management of household affairs, but also to the general life of the family, both in the north and in the south. In the industrialized provinces, women's self-sufficiency is more visible, but in the south they often have much more "authority". Currently, Italian women are considered the most emancipated and independent in Europe. However, a public dispute between a woman and a man or open disobedience to him is considered the height of indecency - it is customary to resolve all contentious internal issues in the family, without taking them out into the street. This does not in the least get rid of quite characteristic street scenes - it should just be borne in mind that if a woman speaks in a raised tone with a man in the middle of the square, then either she has the right to do so (for example, a mother or sister - everything is simple here - they are "much more important "wife), or the spouse specially builds a "theatrical scene" with work for the public in order to quickly achieve her goal.

welfare

Until now, there is a certain inequality in the level of income between the north and south of Italy, and the social division characteristic of an industrial society is also noticeable. Italy has a fairly high unemployment rate and an equally high level of immigration, especially from the Balkans and Africa. The once extensive social support of the state has recently been significantly reduced in accordance with the requirements of the European Union, and wealth inequality is constantly growing. Although, thanks to their resourcefulness and lightness of character, Italians are able to adapt to any conditions, which is reflected in the absolute invisibility of many internal problems in the eyes of a tourist unfamiliar with local realities.

Speech is the most striking "marker" of social status in Italy . The more educated and successful a person is, the closer his language is to the literary national language and the less dialectal it is. The second striking element is the style of clothing, the choice of food and places of recreation. However, it should be noted that all Italians, regardless of the level of income, try to dress fashionably, so at first glance it can be difficult to distinguish the status of a person - almost everyone has a good suit and tie from a prestigious brand. For the poor, it will most likely be a Chinese fake, but try to distinguish it at a glance! However, recently a number of laws have been adopted that severely punish the purchase and wearing of counterfeit products.

The other side of this trend is the obvious desire of Italians to save money wherever it can be done without losing prestige. Scooters and bicycles are in use even among fairly wealthy citizens, and cars with diesel engines often dominate the traffic flow. However, an Italian will never allow himself to save on essentials - each category of the population has its own ideas about the measure of urgency, but it is problematic to meet a slovenly dressed person here.

mentality

While most Italians are industrious and work very hard, when visiting the country it always feels like everyone is on vacation! However, this is not entirely true - the majority of local residents work an average of 36 hours a week, and in the case of "hands-on work", as in the whole world, they work with full dedication. However, the Italians cannot be called workaholics either - many work exactly as much as is necessary to perform vital tasks, and not a minute more. This is facilitated by fairly liberal legislation in the field of protecting the rights of workers, and trade unions, and the general situation in the country.

There are also quite long breaks in work for breakfast and lunch, during which the whole organization usually occupies the surrounding cafes, creating the illusion of idleness - there are a lot of offices, and everyone has a different work schedule, plus tourists. Between 12.00-13.00 and 16.00 most establishments can be just hard to find open - everyone has a siesta, often accompanied by "peninkella" (la pennichella - afternoon nap). Government offices and offices usually operate on tighter schedules, but the siesta is observed here as well. Some large stores generally open only at 11.00, at 13.00-14.00 they are already closed for a siesta and open only at 16.00, however, they often work until 20.00 and even 22.00. The working day in the private sector can be very long (from 8.00 to 19.30) and have only a half-hour lunch break, but according to Italian laws, such work is paid in a completely different way.

The vacation period for almost everyone falls on July-August, when many enterprises in the northern cities are closed, and only busy tourist centers work in the south. Life during this period is much more complicated: many shops are closed, and it is not always possible to find even the most necessary things.

Although the well-known Italian lack of punctuality and "easy" look at any problem can really spoil the nerves of anyone. Disrespect for routine here is manifested literally in everything - from store hours to train schedules, from rather disordered traffic to the midnight roar of music from someone's windows. However, this problem is not as terrible as it seems - the Italians themselves have a philosophical attitude towards their always late buses and trains, and finding a store to replace the closed one is not a problem. And noisy parties with drunken companies are rather typical for large tourist centers and resort areas - in small Italian cities, peace and tranquility reign after 21.00.

Etiquette and communication

Italian expansiveness can be traced in all spheres of social behavior. Hugs and kisses in public are perfectly acceptable, and not only between persons of different sexes. It is also allowed not only to touch the interlocutor during a conversation, but also to hold his hand or hug his shoulders. It is quite acceptable to call unfamiliar people "karo" or "kara" ("dear", "dear") and even "bello" or "bella" ("dear", "sweetheart"), although they usually manage with an informal form of greeting and farewell - " chao".

From childhood, Italians develop a special style of communication, most clearly manifested in their eyes - this is a whole system of facial expressions, gestures, rolling and rounding eyes, postures and intonations, designed to emphasize the imaginary or true emotions of the "performer". And here it is important not so much to convey your thoughts to the interlocutor, but to feel like the center of attention and emphasize your importance. It is extremely important to show others your confidence and lack of weaknesses, cheerfulness and the ability to manage your life. And often it borders on impudence, but not in the eyes of an Italian! If he doesn’t know something, he will confidently broadcast about it like an inveterate professor, if he is stuck in a traffic jam, he will drive around the curb, if he sees his interlocutor for the first time in his life, he will hug him by the shoulders and look into his eyes like a best friend . And there is nothing far-fetched in this - having lived for centuries with a reputation for being such a macho and sexy, in a beautiful country with a unique history and culture, they sincerely believe that all this flair and pantomime give imagery and sincerity to the conversation.

However, this trend is typical, perhaps, only for the central regions of the Apennine Peninsula - southerners and northerners are much more restrained, and in Sicily, the manifestation of their emotions in public may be considered unacceptable at all. But even here the ability to convey one's thoughts to the interlocutor in the most intelligible way by local standards is highly valued.

In a conversation, it is customary to look into the eyes of the interlocutor, since it is believed that someone who cannot look into the eyes is hiding something. Hence the alarming habit of many people on the streets to peer into the eyes of oncoming people or the manner of sellers trying to look into the eyes of the buyer - for an Italian this is quite a common thing. And at the same time, the Italian will never apologize if he really does not feel guilty, even if he splashed someone with mud from under the wheels (“the roads are like that!”) Or pushed with his elbow (“and where did you look?”). And here you can see a reverent, almost childish, attitude towards friends. For a local man, friends are almost the meaning of life, they spend most of their free time with them, they look for support in difficult times, they defend their honor and dignity with no less fervor than their own. For women, everything is a little more complicated, but the opinion of girlfriends often means much more than the rest of the world - only mother and father, perhaps, have more authority for the Italian. Moreover, the farther to the south, the more clearly this feature is traced.

Respect for elders is all-encompassing - they are the first to enter the room, the first to sit down at the table, and in general they usually lead all the ceremonies. It is customary for them to ask for advice on the slightest occasion, and if several elderly people are sitting at the table, they are guided by the oldest, even if he is not a member of the family. Children usually perform all sorts of small assignments or serve the elders to the best of decency (open subservience is not encouraged here). Tradition forces younger women to publicly obey and not contradict men, however, older women in the family may interrupt men's conversation without fear. At the same time, everyone is characterized by the obligatory preservation of the "bella-figure" (bella figura, figurative translation - "self-esteem"), both of oneself and of the interlocutor. This is a whole code of norms and principles of public behavior, including the manner of dressing, the ability to present and present oneself in a favorable light, as well as the ability to create an opinion about oneself that is necessary in this particular situation. Damage to someone's ego Italy - a rather dangerous activity, since it is this activity that usually determines the status of a person in the eyes of the community. It is this complex combination of hierarchical elements and traditions that gives communication with local residents a special flavor that is usually remembered by all foreigners.

In any company, everyone is quickly divided according to gender and age - men form their own circle, women form their own, grandmothers usually gossip separately from grandfathers, even children are divided into groups. The sociability of Italians is amazing - a noisy and imaginative conversation, where often no one hears each other, begins almost immediately after the differentiation of the company, and simply when meeting familiar people. The emotionality and imagery of many discussions are fascinating, even despite the fact that often quite ordinary things are discussed. This "talkativeness" also has a negative feature - a taxi driver can chat all the way on the phone or with drivers of neighboring cars (this is possible in Italy), and a bus driver - with the first passenger he comes across, a policeman can "treat" a driver who has been fined for a long time, and it is simply impossible to stop the flow of speech of an Italian lady who suddenly decided to explain to the seller the required color and style of a new hat.

Clothes and fashion

The attitude to clothing here is quite peculiar. On the one hand, Italy is a strict Catholic country, and in the same Rome, too frivolous clothes are not welcome. In shorts and a T-shirt, they may not even be allowed into a store or a hotel, and even more so into the territory of museums or cathedrals. When visiting temples, mini-skirts and open necklines will cause a sharp hostility. Such types of clothing will also lead to a clear rejection in the south, especially on the islands. A sports suit is considered an attribute only of stadiums and arenas, and not of streets and squares. Untidy or simply unironed clothes also cause sincere surprise. Even the doormen, policemen and military officers here look like a picture from a fashion magazine - the design of the uniform for them is usually developed by the best couturiers of the country. Italy is perhaps the only country in Europe where women prefer skirts to trousers, and men wear ties without complaining about their inconvenience.

On the other hand, the streets of Italy are full of people in clothes of the most unimaginable styles, ranging from the products of the best haute couture houses to various ethnic costumes, and this does not bother anyone. In bars and restaurants you can meet both gentlemen in strict "troikas", and people in leather "leather jackets" or unimaginable ripped jeans, a lady barely covered by some strips of fabric can sit at the wheel of an expensive "Bugatti", and from a beaten life and Italian A man in a Versace suit can easily get off the roads of FIAT. Much here depends on the status of the district and the attitude to life of the wearer of the costume, therefore, by and large, in Italy you don’t have to worry about clothes - the main thing is that they should be decent from the point of view of the owner himself. And, of course, she did not violate the norms of the places he was going to visit.

The official language is Italian. English and French are also spoken in the country - they are understood in restaurants, hotels and tourist offices. In the northern part of the Adriatic and on the lakes, they communicate mainly in German. Souvenir sellers in the shops of Rome, located near the Colosseum, speak Russian.

Religion

The dominant religion in Italy is Catholicism, but you will also see Muslims, Jews and Protestants throughout the country. There are no restrictions on certain religions. If you wish, you can find a representative of almost any religion in the world.

There are more than 45,000 Catholic churches in Italy. Many of them are located in the Vatican - the religious center of the country. All churches are open to the public, you will not be asked what faith you belong to. But remember that when visiting the temple, women must cover their shoulders, otherwise you will not be allowed inside. In extreme cases, you can put a handkerchief on your hands.

National features

By nature, Italians are expansive, impulsive, hot and very sociable. Showing interest in the culture and art of Italy will increase your value in the eyes of the locals.

It is not customary to drink strong alcoholic beverages, including beer. At the same time, a glass of local wine is an indispensable attribute of lunch. Pronunciation of spatial toasts is not practiced. They are replaced by the phrase "chin-chin".

During business negotiations, Italians often use the services of intermediaries. A special place in communication between partners is occupied by informal relationships, including spending time together after hours.

Norms and rules of conduct

Tourist behavior rules

temples. Most excursions in Italy include visits to religious institutions. It is worth preparing for this in advance: put on long trousers (for men) or a skirt and cover your shoulders, back and chest with a scarf (for women).

bars. When serving at the counter, tips are not paid. If you have taken a table, then the amount for its rental is automatically included in the bill. Sometimes it can significantly increase the cost of the order itself. Be careful when choosing dishes. For example, if you ordered seafood, then the waiter will set up white wine, regardless of your preference. They are very sensitive to local dishes and will not allow one of them to be spoiled due to the inexperience of the tourist.

Bad habits. Smoking is prohibited on trains and other public places. The exception is isolated rooms with a special ventilation system.

Rome. Swimming in the fountains of Rome is prohibited. If you violate this rule, you will be fined up to 500 euros.

Venice. When traveling in Venice, do not throw garbage into water channels or on the streets. If you are in Piazza San Marco, then you should know that you can only sit in the places intended for this purpose. The same rules apply to eating.

Communication. In Italy, it is customary to address everyone with "you". During the conversation, be calm and confident, avoid scandals. Italians do not speak loudly, but always pronounce all sounds clearly. And if you pronounce any word incorrectly, then you will be corrected immediately.

The shops. Walking out of a store with a plastic bag is considered bad manners. For this purpose it is necessary to have a shopping bag.

Evening walks. Before dinner in Italy it is customary to take a short walk. At this time, there are so many people on some streets that sometimes the movement of cars stops.

Siesta. During the siesta (from 14.00 to 15.30) most shops and restaurants are closed. Some private shops have a floating work schedule. If you want to visit them again, then ask the sellers at what time they open again.

Behavior in hotels:

• If something is not on the tray during breakfast, then ask the waiter to bring this dish from the kitchen;


• Dine in hotels rarely. The restaurant schedule is usually located at the hotel administration, or hangs near the elevator;


• Dinner ("la cena") in hotels starts at 19.00 or 19.30. Drinks are charged separately.


• In a beach hotel, in addition to a hotel room, a place on the beach is provided. You can take it in advance by putting a towel there;


• In hotels, there is a rope in the bathroom. If you pull on it, then the administration will receive a signal that you urgently need help. If at the same time you do not answer the call to the room, then the attendants will invade your bathroom.

Tourist safety

When visiting Italy, please observe the following safety regulations:

• If you were attacked by robbers, it is better to give them the money, and then call the police. This is what most Italians do;


• You do not need to often check the map - you give out a stranger in yourself;


• Do not sit down with unfamiliar fellow travelers;


• If you lose your passport, contact the police and draw up an appropriate protocol. For the restoration of documents, you should contact the Italian Embassy. You must have a copy of the protocol and 2 photographs with you;


• When driving a car, be careful on the roads. Some drivers can avoid the traffic jam and stand at the traffic lights. For Italians, this only causes respect for the perseverance of the driver;


• It is better to prepare money for travel in an Italian taxi in advance;


• If you are given flowers on the street, then treat this with caution. Perhaps this is just a distraction and they want to rob you.

Holidays

Main holidays and non-working days:

• New Year - January 1
• Easter is considered the main holiday in Italy. The date is set according to the lunar calendar
• February 15-24 - carnival time
• Day of Liberation from Fascism - April 25
• Labor Day - May 1
• Day of the proclamation of the Republic - June 2. On this day, a military parade takes place in Rome.
• Assumption - August 15
• All Saints Day - November 1
• Christmas - December 25
• Saint Stephen's Day - December 26th.

In addition to generally accepted holidays, other significant dates are celebrated in each city. During the celebration of Christmas and New Year, as well as in July and August, when the "ferragosto" period begins, most firms and enterprises do not work.

Italy is a country with a rich history and many traditions that have evolved over the centuries. She survived the era of the Roman Empire, was under the influence of Byzantium, endured the painful years of the Renaissance (Renaissance), felt the oppression of fascism. Each of these eras left a mark on the traditions of Italy and in the lives of people.

Family in Italy is sacred!

The main traditions of Italy are connected with the family. Italians are very careful about the family and family traditions, despite the fact that they resemble frivolous people who grew up, but did not mature. Dinner is one of the main family traditions. During it, the whole family should gather at the table, full, relatives can also be invited to it. Family members can have breakfast and lunch separately, but they must all have dinner together. No one will sit at the table until the whole family is assembled. After finishing the evening meal, the family goes for an evening walk.

Italians and children

Italians pay great attention to children in the family: they are greatly pampered, parents constantly take them with them, especially to restaurants, trying to protect them from damage and the evil eye, as well as the evil influence of the street. But, despite such attention to children, they are taught to be independent from early childhood and released into adulthood very early. By this time, the child should learn to be fully responsible for his life.

Man and woman

Interesting traditions in Italy develop in the relationship between a man and a woman. As you know, Italian girls are considered the most emancipated in all of Europe. Most of the leadership positions belong to women and, admittedly, they are no worse than men. But the tradition of external subordination of a woman to a man has been preserved, which consists in the fact that she can arrange family scenes only at home, and in public places - in no case, even a small argument is categorically unacceptable. The only exceptions are disputes between son and mother or brother and sister. In the south of the country, this tradition is observed very strictly compared to the northern part of Italy. Italian men are very gallant towards women. The family is sacred for them, so every man has a photo of his wife and children with him.

Italian traditions are quite interesting. One of these is a siesta - a lunch break that lasts three hours - from one in the afternoon until four. Almost all shops, banks and institutions are closed during this lunch break. Business negotiations are not scheduled for this time, relatives and friends are not called, because this period is intended for lunchtime sleep.

The traditions of Italy can also be seen in the style of clothing. In this state, by appearance it is very difficult to determine to which social class a person belongs. All citizens dress neatly, stylishly and according to fashion. It is possible to determine a wealthy person only by the manner of speaking. These people have a good education, and their speech is well-delivered.

Let's talk!

Interesting fact. There is an opinion that Italians gesticulate heavily during a conversation, but this is not true. Gesticulation is inherent only to the inhabitants of the center of Italy, and in the rest of the country people behave more restrained. In Sicily, gesticulation is considered uncultured behavior. But Italians are very fond of talking, and it doesn’t matter whether they know their interlocutor, because the main thing here is the process of communication itself and the opportunity to express their opinion. In addition, the Italians are quite unpunctual people. In this country, everyone is late, even trains, buses, shops may not open on time, but close later. Therefore, while staying in Italy, you do not have to worry if the bus or train is late. This is normal in this country.

Italians love to talk about their family and home, about their work and achievements. If you ask them to suggest the right path, they will not only indicate the correct path, but they can also guide you. The only thing you can face at this moment is the language barrier. Unfortunately, many Italians do not understand English. This is where gestures come into play.

During an acquaintance, a person pronounces not only his name, but also his profession or specialty, for example: “Vincenzo, cardiologist.” Therefore, guests of the country should do the same.

August is considered the hottest period (“ferragosto”). At this time, many restaurants, shops and museums are closed.

When entering the store, it is advisable to say hello, and when leaving, say goodbye, as this is considered a sign of good taste. At such moments, you can say buon giorno (good afternoon) or buona sera (good evening), but in no case "chao". This word can only be used between close people.

In the evening, there is traditionally an evening walk - passegiata vesperale.

Before dinner, it is customary to drink white grape wine.

Even for the smallest service, it is customary to give a tip.

Women are allowed to give compliments even at official meetings or negotiations.

Italians, like no one else, sacredly honor and observe the traditions of their people. The Apennine Peninsula was inhabited by many different peoples, so Italian traditions are a symbiosis of the traditions of all ethnic groups living in Italy. Italians have always been committed to the big family. 5-6 children in a family was considered normal. Today, Italians, having become adherents of Western European culture, allow themselves to have no more than 1-3 children.

This is the hour of lunch or dinner, when all family members gather at the table. An exception for the absence at the hour of the family can only be a very good reason. "Passediata" - a traditional evening walk with the whole family.

In addressing any person, it is customary to use the name of his professional affiliation (maestro, doctor, professor). This tradition is strictly observed by Italians.

According to statistics, 90% of the population are Catholics, who attend Sunday mass without fail and honor all saints. The Italians have the same respect for the ministers of the church.

Traditional state and religious holidays in Italy

Christmas

Christmas, which Italians celebrate only at home. There is even an Italian proverb “Christmas is at home, Easter is on the side.” On Christmas Eve, dens with mangers are set up in Catholic cathedrals, where the doll of the holy baby is placed, as soon as the baby is laid in the manger, glasses are raised and the celebration of Christmas begins.

New Year

Italians celebrate the New Year in a very peculiar way. Adhering to the tradition of getting rid of everything old and unnecessary, the Italians, with their inherent energy and incendiary energy, throw out junk on December 31 through the windows, including broken furniture. That is why walking through the streets on December 31 can be traumatic. On December 31, the Romans go to the Vatican to St. Peter's Square, where a solemn mass begins at midnight, which is served by the Pope himself.

Advice

All the Christmas and New Year holidays of Italians are filled with carnivals, all kinds of music festivals, masquerades. Italians love to celebrate New Year's Eve noisily and cheerfully. Don't miss the chance to visit Italy during this period.

may day

The celebration of May Day originated in Italy and spread throughout the world. In Sicily, on the first day of May, everyone rushed to the fields and meadows from early morning, where they collected field daisies, which, according to local belief, bring happiness. Wreaths and garlands were woven from the collected flowers and decorated with them at home.

Are there New Year fortune-telling in Italy?

According to the custom of Italians, it is believed that the first person you meet on January 1st will be the same throughout the year. If you meet a monk or a priest, it's not good. A beautiful girl is already better, and a hunchback you meet will definitely bring happiness.

wedding traditions

Young people get married only in the church, and until 1970, Italian law did not allow divorce in a church marriage. To achieve a divorce, special permission was required from the Pope, which he gave very selectively. Since 1866, the Italian civil code was in force, according to which a woman who married had to bring her husband a dowry, including cash and real estate. Modern family relations of Italians are formalized by a marriage contract. The wedding ceremony can be held on any day except for the days of Great Lent and the month of May. The best days for the marriage ceremony are Tuesday and Friday. Along with church marriage in Italy, marriages concluded in the city hall are also recognized. In the wedding dress, according to the tradition of the Middle Ages, there were red and green colors. Obviously, the tradition arose due to the fact that the newlyweds in those days were covered with a red scarf (flaineum), which symbolized fire, flame. In later centuries, the red scarf was transformed into a veil, and already in the 21st century, a diadem was added to it.

Italians are a very peculiar and very expansive people. If you have received a marriage proposal from an Italian, first of all compare your type of character and temperament with the groom. In general, Italy is an incredibly beautiful country, the people of which greatly honor traditions and customs. Some even still adhere to the most ancient customs, because you can even find old clothes and jewelry in Italian. As for family customs, this has always been and will always be in the first place among the Italian people.

Italy is a country of chic alpine ski and Mediterranean sea resorts. It occupies the southern slopes of the Alps and the entire Apennine Peninsula, Sicily, Sardinia and a number of small islands. It is washed by 5 seas: Adriatic, Ionian, Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian. The wealth of nature and the variety of historical monuments of Rome, Florence, Venice attract millions of tourists. In addition, Italy provides the opportunity for excellent shopping in Milan.

Climate of Italy

Most of the territory is dominated by a Mediterranean climate. The average temperature in January is from 0°C to +12°C, in July +20+28°C. In the north of Italy, snow almost always falls in winter, which does not melt for several weeks. In spring and early summer there are heavy rains with thunderstorms and strong winds. In the south, that is, in the peninsular and insular parts, the winter is much milder, in summer almost all days are clear and dry. In the Alps, the climate varies from temperate at the foot of the mountains to cold at the peaks. In the mountains, snow lasts for several months, on the peaks it lies constantly, heavy snowfalls are frequent.

Italian money

The national currency is the euro. In circulation are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
1 EUR = 7.5 UAH

Italian traditions

Italians are very emotional and temperamental people. Especially brightly national character traits are manifested during the holidays. Each city has its own holidays, which are celebrated only by local residents. As a rule, they are associated with table holidays or some important events that took place in the city. Some holidays are accompanied by processions through the main streets, sports competitions or carnivals. The most important, bright and fabulous holiday is the Venetian carnival, which is celebrated annually in February and lasts ten days. Its tradition goes back to the pagan festival of the Roman Saturnalia, during which the distinction between masters and slaves was blurred. With the advent of Christianity, the holiday was forgotten, but with the beginning of the Renaissance (a hundred years later), the tradition was revived again. At this time, the famous Venetian masks appeared. During the carnival, all the streets, squares, canals are filled with people in masks and costumes. Among the huge variety of masks, you can find the masks of the heroes of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Andersen, various political figures and, of course, the Harlequin and the Carnival King.

Italian cuisine

National cuisine is one of the main attractions of Italy. Pizza, pasta (pasta), risotto and parmesan cheese are famous all over the world. Seafood products, meat dishes and mozzarella cheese are very popular, and Italians have no equal in making coffee and ice cream. The traditions of folk cuisine in Italy are very strong, in many upscale restaurants dishes are prepared according to recipes known since the era of the Punic Wars, and they are very proud of it. Moreover, in each of the twenty regions of the country there are dozens of their own recipes for even the simplest and most famous dishes, and it is customary to be proud of the difference between the products of local chefs and their "neighbors" and exalt their merits in every possible way. And magnificent Italian wines have been famous since ancient times.

Sights of Italy

Coliseum

The Colosseum - the symbol of Rome and all of Italy - was founded by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. e., and was opened already during the reign of his heir - Emperor Titus. Officially, this gigantic structure was called the "Flavian Amphitheatre", in honor of Titus Flavius ​​- the son of Emperor Vespasian. The current name of the Colosseum (from the Latin colosseus - "huge") received on behalf of the huge statue of Nero, which was located nearby, on the territory of the Golden House (Domus Aurea). Shaped like an amphitheater, the Colosseum was surrounded by tiers of rows of seated stands that housed spectators who came to watch gladiator fights and exotic animals. Today, the image of the Colosseum is widely used in art. True, films about gladiators are never shot here - it is not well preserved. Therefore, the role of the Colosseum in the cinema is most often performed by the Amphitheater of Mark Antony Gordian in Tisdre (Tunisia).

Aquarium

Europe's largest marine zoo Aquarium is located in the pedestrian area of ​​Porto Antico in Genoa. It was built on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America at the Expo 92 exhibition complex. The aquarium is equipped with grandiose ocean tanks of great effect, it features pools and aquariums (71 in total) reproducing marine and terrestrial environments from around the world.

Arena di Verona

Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheater, one of the most remarkable archeological monuments in Europe, built in the 1st century AD. e. during the last years of the reign of Emperor Augustus. The arena has the shape of an oval, the length of which is 139 m. The auditorium consists of 45 steps and can accommodate 16,000 spectators. During its existence, the Arena di Verona has been a place of many exciting entertainments: gladiator fights, jousting, tournaments, night spectacles. Today, the Arena di Verona is the world-famous "archaeological theater", thanks to the annual summer opera festival that takes place within its walls.

Vatican

The independent state-city of Vatican City was created by the "Lateran agreements" (concordat) between the Roman Catholic Church and the Italian state of February 11, 1929. The name of the state comes from the name of the Monte Vaticano hill, on which a palace was built in the early Middle Ages, which became the permanent residence of the head of the Catholic Church from the end of the 14th century. The Vatican has less than 1,000 inhabitants and is separated from the rest of Rome by a wall and a colonnade in St. Peter's Square.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest museums in Italy. Construction began in 1560, when the Duke of Florence, Cosimo de' Medici, decided to start building a building that later became the administrative center of Florence. The gallery presents the world's largest collection of Italian paintings (XIII-XVIII centuries), among the examples of which stand out "Allegory of Spring" and "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, "The Adoration of the Magi" by Leonardo da Vinci and the tondo (round-shaped painting) "The Holy family of Michelangelo.