Italy has a population of over 5 million citizens, but it’s estimated that 80 million people globally are part of the Italian diaspora. Similar to Ireland, Italy has seen several generations of high immigration rates, leading to a large diaspora spread across the world. Many of these immigrants and their families continue to uphold Italian traditions with an increased interest in discovering their roots through genealogy.
At MyHeritage, we’ll help you navigate millions of Italian genealogy records, from learning about Italian surnames and Italian unification to accessing Italian government records. In this article, we’re exploring the Italian traditions being kept alive by immigrant families and how you can trace your Italian heritage with MyHeritage.
The Italian Culture: La Famiglia
‘La Famiglia’ is the backbone of Italian culture with families having a deep bond that helps them navigate the challenges of immigrating, while maintaining their cultural identity. It’s a reflection of the importance of family within Italy itself, where multigenerational households are common, and grandparents are seen as cultural leaders.
With this focus on family life, it’s no surprise that mealtimes are seen as a ritual. Food and the kitchen table represent more than a standard part of daily life. Meals are a ritual where families come together to share stories, connect, and relax. It reflects an old Italian proverb, “At the table, one does not grow old”.
Italian Food as a Cultural Ritual
Regional Italian identities are often preserved through food with niche recipes that trace back to their family’s time in Italy. These dishes symbolize more than just food, they’re a part of living history.
Food is deeply rooted within cultural festivities, including ‘Ferragosto’, on August 15th annually, a public holiday where families often celebrate with picnics, group dinners, and parties. Species dishes are often associated with religious events, from the ‘feast of seven fishes’ on Christmas Eve to serving Colomba cakes and braided bread during Easter.
Continuing Italian Catholic Traditions Abroad
The Catholic Church is one of Italy’s major cultural forces, underpinning traditions, and family life for generations. Many of these religious traditions continue to be followed by immigrants and their families, even generations after they left Italy. Popular saints’ days and festivals in Italy, including Santa Rosalia, San Rocco, and San Gennaro are often commemorated by immigrant communities with street gatherings and parades.
Many Italian families continue the tradition of naming their children after saints and family members with religious objects, such as rosaries and relics, being involved in everyday life. Faith-based customs, from baptisms to attending regular mass, act as an anchor for ‘la familiga’, especially outside of Italy.
Italian Language and Oral Traditions
Although most descendants of Italian immigrants don’t speak Italian fluently, the language itself continues to flourish within Italian homes, whether it’s from regional dialects or popular proverbs. The kitchen table is often where these dialects and common phrases are learned.
It’s at the kitchen table that the tradition of storytelling is often explored with families sharing their stories of ‘home’, from their journey leaving Italy to what life was like in their villages. This oral tradition is one of the oldest in Italy and is often how many people first begin to explore their Italian ancestry.
How to Discover Your Italian Roots with MyHeritage
If you want to feel more connected to your Italian identity, researching your family tree is the best place to start. MyHeritage makes it easy to explore the branches of your family tree by exploring historical records with expert advice on navigating alternative spellings and how to use census records to start your search.
Start with what you know and interview older members of your family. Even small details like town names, surnames, and birthplaces can serve as clues that unlock your family history. Start by researching Italian surnames as these often follow regional traditions, for example, Sicilian surnames are often derived from given names and occupations.
Although you can access vital records, parish and civil records will be your main resource when working back through the generations of your Italian roots. At MyHeritage, our Italian church records date back to 1679. Using translation tools and learning common terms can help you navigate older handwritten genealogy documents, particularly parish records.
Explore Your Italian Roots with a Free Trial of MyHeritage
By following these traditions, you help keep your Italian heritage alive. Whether you’re a second-generation immigrant or your Italian roots date back to the 19th century, exploring your family tree can help you feel more connected to your Italian identity and preserve it for the next generation. Sign up for a free trial today and discover your Italian roots with MyHeritage.
The post Being Italian: Traditions and Genealogy appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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