My Italian CultureMy Italian Culture

by: Lucas Martinezby: Lucas Martinez

My FamilyMy Family

• My great grandpa is Italian and my My great grandpa is Italian and my great grandma is too.great grandma is too.

SicilySicily

• They were both born on an island They were both born on an island near the coast of Italy, Sicily.near the coast of Italy, Sicily.

Grandpa JohnGrandpa John

• My great grandfather Martin Stella, My great grandfather Martin Stella, and great grandmother Kay and great grandmother Kay Consiglio, moved from Sicily to the Consiglio, moved from Sicily to the United Sates as children. They met United Sates as children. They met in Michigan, married in Ohio in 1941, in Michigan, married in Ohio in 1941, and had one son, John Baptist Stella. and had one son, John Baptist Stella. John is my grandpa.John is my grandpa.

My grandpa and my momMy grandpa and my mom

SuperstitionsSuperstitions

• Italians believe that Malocchio the Italians believe that Malocchio the evil eye should be avoided, and evil eye should be avoided, and that is why Italians don’t put that is why Italians don’t put peacock feathers in their home peacock feathers in their home because it has the evil eye because it has the evil eye

Superstition in Italy Superstition in Italy continuedcontinued• When a cat sneezes it is good luck to When a cat sneezes it is good luck to

everyone who hears iteveryone who hears it

Another Superstition in ItalyAnother Superstition in Italy

• After somebody dies you should After somebody dies you should cover up all the mirrors in your housecover up all the mirrors in your house

Superstition in ItalySuperstition in Italy

• Italians think it’s bad luck to not have Italians think it’s bad luck to not have their baby baptizedtheir baby baptized

Superstitions ContinuedSuperstitions Continued• Italians fear the Italians fear the

number seventeen number seventeen because in Roman because in Roman Numerals it’s XVII, Numerals it’s XVII, which can be which can be changed to VIXI, a changed to VIXI, a Latin phrase that Latin phrase that means my life is means my life is over. over.

Superstition in ItalySuperstition in Italy

• You should never You should never call an Italian baby call an Italian baby beautiful because beautiful because it could bring evil it could bring evil to the baby and to to the baby and to save it you have to save it you have to make a horn sign.make a horn sign.

Contributions to the World Contributions to the World from Italyfrom Italy

Italy was a part of the Renaissance, Italy was a part of the Renaissance, and they were a culture that helped and they were a culture that helped bring education and art back after bring education and art back after the dark ages.the dark ages.

Contributions Contributions ContinuedContinued

• Some of the world’s best art comes Some of the world’s best art comes from Italy. Leonardo da Vinci created from Italy. Leonardo da Vinci created the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo sculpted the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo sculpted David, and Raphael painted religious David, and Raphael painted religious scenes.scenes.

Another Contribution: Another Contribution: CarnivalsCarnivals

• Italians also came up with carnivals. Italians also came up with carnivals. The carnival of Venice is very The carnival of Venice is very famous. Carnivals are held before famous. Carnivals are held before Lent, the time before Easter when Lent, the time before Easter when people sacrifice. From Italy, people sacrifice. From Italy, carnivals spread to other Catholic carnivals spread to other Catholic nations.nations.

Italian Contributions to the Italian Contributions to the WorldWorld

One of Italy’s greatest contributions to One of Italy’s greatest contributions to the world is it’s food, such as pizza, the world is it’s food, such as pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, and cannolis.spaghetti, lasagna, and cannolis.

Spumoni is a traditional Italian dessert. Spumoni is a traditional Italian dessert.

In my family, we have a traditional In my family, we have a traditional family meal on Sundays and serve family meal on Sundays and serve some of these foods. My favorite some of these foods. My favorite food from Italy is pizza.food from Italy is pizza.

Italian Food and FamilyItalian Food and Family

THE ENDTHE END Now time for……Now time for……

Italian ice cream cake Italian ice cream cake {Spumoni}{Spumoni}