Italian Culture and Traditions - Italy Travel Guide (2023)

The culture of Italy presents a unique set of traditions, values, customs and beliefs that form the core of the culture of the Italian people. These traditions have greatly influenced the lifestyle and way of life in Italy since the last century and are still practiced in modern Italy today. Italian customs are indirectly linked to ancestors, which says a lot about Italy's rich history.

What makes Italy such a particular European country?

In Italy there were several smaller nations with their own customs and traditions that came together in the 19th century and form the basis of today's Italian culture. With a population of 60 million that includes 20 religions. There are different conversations, dialects and accents that these people share through common customs, values, beliefs and traditions.

italian values

The family is one of the most important foundations of Italian values, with greater emphasis in the south, less in the center and north of the country. Eating together, like a Sunday lunch when the women cook and serve, guided by Nonna while the men sit around the table chatting and talking maturely is the way of life here. The older members of the family hold a special place of power, while the younger members become a source of wisdom. People enthusiastically celebrate the religious status here, among other occasions.

Many students still receive financial and emotional support from their parents for their studies and help them settle down with their partner. Grandparents spend a lot of time interacting with their grandchildren; Their parents drag themselves into the modern world to support their respective families. In fact, it is a wonderful place to study. then doapply for a student visa to ItalyAs soon as you get admission here.

Men have more preferences compared to women when it comes to meetings and social interactions. This is because children have strict rules dictated by their father or an older relative.

Greetings are enthusiastic and should be done with direct eye contact and a small smile. Air kisses on both cheeks can start when it comes to a deeper relationship. Unfortunately, people often judge based on their first impressions. Therefore, it is important to show respect and decency when greeting people, especially when meeting them for the first time.

italian belief

The majority of Italians are Catholic with almost 80% of the population. This makes it ideal forVatican Citybe located in the heart of the city of Rome. Also, the Vatican is a separate state whose residents and employees benefit from tax breaks and good discounts.

Italian traditions are mostly linked to religions, many of which can also be found in the Italian festive calendar. Each Italian region has its own local religious festival, where the patron saint is carried on the shoulders of the faithful in procession from one church to another. In addition, every day of the year is named after a saint.

Italy has more Catholic churches than any other country in the world. Church attendance is low compared to the number of churches involved. However, the Church still has great power and influence over the functioning of society.

italian holiday calendar

The most common Italian holidays on its calendar are:

• January 1 - the first day of the year or New Year's Day
• January 6 - Epiphany of the Lord
• January 14 - Valentine's Day
• March 8 – Festa Delle Donne or International Women's Day
• May 1 – Labor Day
• June 2 - Festa Della Repubblica to commemorate the unification and formation of the Italian Republic
• August 15 to August 15
• November 1 - Italian Ognissanti or All Saints' Day
• December 8 - Immaculate Conception
• December 25 – Christmas holidays
• December 26 - Santo Stefano
• December 31 – Capodanno or Christmas

italian costumes

The Italian language is very formal and there are protocols that must be followed if you want to be widely accepted and fit into society. Language is one of the most important aspects of Italian culture. There are well-defined formal and informal communication rules that must be followed when talking to anyone. Titles associated with a person's occupation are extremely critical. The mentality of the population varies from north to south.

Nearly 93% of the Italian population are native Italian speakers, and 50% or more of these people have a regional dialect as their first language. Friulan is spoken by almost 0.6 million people in northern Italy, but represents only 1% of the Italian population. Other languages ​​such as German, Ladin, French, Albanian and Slovene are treated the same as Italian.

italian dress codes

Clothing is another important aspect of Italian culture and can be a determining factor in your family background, educational level, and social status. The first impression created by clothing and dress codes is lasting and sometimes difficult to change. Fashion is synonymous with Italian culture and lifestyle, especially the latest trends and brands. Appearance and dress sense are one of the key aspects to determine the type of person.

gifts and food

Giving is a big part of Italian culture. Red and yellow flowers are not the ideal color to give as they represent secrecy and jealousy. If you give wine, it must be old wine. Quality is much more important than quantity. Chrysanthemums are used in funerals. Therefore, it should be completely avoided as a gift.

Black and purple are also considered the colors of mourning and misfortune. When you give someone a gift, it's normal to open it as soon as you receive it. All gifts must be wrapped when delivered to the recipient.

A dinner invitation has dress codes defined in such a way that avoiding the dress code will result in multiple stares and stares. Formal attire is the way to go when it comes to dinner invitations. Punctuality is optional up to 30 minutes when invited to a dinner or party. Table manners are very important elements of Italian culture. People are expected to follow the hostess and not sit until directed. The host makes the first toast, followed by a counter toast by the honoree.

relationship and corporate culture

Trust and confidence are two key aspects of doing business in Italy. Italians generally prefer face-to-face contact while chatting, so spending time in Italy is important to invest in a relationship. Personal connections are important when doing business with you. The first appearances leave an immediate and lasting impression on the business partner.
All meetings must be planned at least 2-3 weeks in advance and recorded in writing. A reconfirmation of the appointment by fax or by phone is considered normal. August is a rest month for Italians, so avoid business during this month.

In a business negotiation, people only start talking about a deal after a brief interaction or social conversation where they approach you based on your openness to talk about you. Italians like to dictate the pace of negotiations. You can easily follow their leads as you switch topics from social to business discussions. Hierarchy is one of the pillars of doing business, since Italians highly value older people. Business cards are usually exchanged after a formal interaction or negotiation.