The United States is known for its diversity and vibrant culture, and one group contributing to this is Europeans, particularly Italian Americans.
They have had an immense impact on American culture, cuisine, and heritage, so much so that it is hard to imagine a world without them.
Unfortunately, not enough people know about Italian Americans’ contributions to society. Hence, let’s discuss the history and role of Italians in America.
A Brief History Of Italian Americans
Italian Americans are an ethnic group that originated in Italy but now live in America.
They arrived on the shores of the new world as early as the 17th century, much like the Germans, and to this day, they continue to leave their mark on American culture.
In 2016, over 4.5 million Italian-Americans were living in the United States. After generations of immigrants coming to the US, Italian Americans are today members of what is now called the Italian diaspora.
Nevertheless, Italian Americans represent only a fraction of all Italians alive outside of Italy. Indeed, more than 65 million Italian descendants live abroad – more than the entire population of Italy today.
Italian immigrants came to America due to poverty at home, looking for exciting opportunities in the new world.
Many Italian immigrants had already acquired higher education. Consequently, they were able to obtain respectable jobs as doctors, lawyers, and architects.
These “white collar” Italian Americans left Italy without much money and worked low-paying jobs, eventually working their way up in society.
Yet, despite their now predominantly affluent status, Italian Americans have managed to retain their distinct identity.
Traditions And Customs Specific To Italian Americans
Today, the largest event related to Italian heritage is National Pizza Month held each October, honoring pizza’s Neopolitan origins.
Whether it is eating meatballs on New Year’s Day or “feasting” on fish and Easter desserts, features of Italian culture are visible everywhere.
Popular Mediterranean dishes like Fave de Pejo (broad beans), Stuffed Calamari (calamari ripieni), and Italian Sausage with White Beans & Garlic (salsiccia con fagi e aglio) are prepared in Italian households during Holiday Season.
The city of New Orleans, Louisiana, is primarily known for being a melting pot of Italian culture. Famously known as “The Italian South,” many of its early settlers were Italian immigrants who arrived in the 1800s.
In a new city on a new continent, many immigrants felt alienated and out of place. As a result, they formed their own ethnic enclaves to hold onto their traditions.
Their inability to communicate in English also hampered their assimilation into American society, compelling them to forge their distinct culture. In American English history, you see that they were able to meld in more easily.
In fact, those who did learn English used the opportunity to pass down Italian traditions, including foods like pasta and bakery products like zeppole.
Eventually, Italian American neighborhoods sprang up across the US. The most notable of these is Little Italy in New York City, North Beach in San Francisco, and Little Sicily and Taylor Street in Chicago.
Each of these neighborhoods kept Italian traditions alive via restaurants, bakeries, live music, and numerous other cultural institutions.
Most of these neighborhoods host annual Columbus Day parades to celebrate Italian Americans’ heritage, with many families preparing traditional Italian food to give away to the parade’s attendees.
Italian Influence On American Food
Italy is internationally-renowned for its delicious and nutritious food. So it is no surprise Italian-American cuisine has evolved from simple meals prepared by immigrants to complex dishes served at posh eateries.
In fact, it is possible to find at least one restaurant run by Italian Americans that serves pizza and pasta dishes in most American zip codes. Indeed, Italian Americans love spending time cooking authentic dishes such as spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna. As the inventors of pizza, they have also been instrumental in making it as ubiquitous as it is today.
Notably, many Italian dishes were adapted to suit American palettes to generate massive profits subsequently. For instance, deep-dish pizza was innovated in Chicago.
Recipes For Popular Dishes That Are Easy To Cook At Home
Italy is a popular holiday destination known for its culture and cuisine. But many people do not realize they can enjoy authentic food from one of the world’s most famous cuisines without vacationing. In fact, you can do it in your kitchen.
BASIC SCRAMBLED EGGS
Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
This is a straightforward and quick recipe that only requires 5 minutes.
Beat the eggs in a bowl, adding salt and pepper to taste. Heat some butter in a frying pan on medium-high heat.
Once the butter is melted, pour in the eggs and stir with a wooden spoon to make small, soft curds. Keep stirring until there are no more left and the eggs are cooked to your liking.
During this process, it’s a good idea to take the pan off the heat a few times to make sure the eggs don’t overcook. They’re ready when they are slightly firm and creamy, albeit still moist.
Although it is an easy recipe, you can make it fancier by adding ingredients like chopped fresh herbs or vegetables.
BAKED OATMEAL WITH FRUIT (Porridge)
Ingredients:
- 150 g oats
- 500 ml milk (half and half; cream or water can be used to reduce the calories)
- a dash of salt
- a handful of dried fruit, chopped if large (dates, pineapple, apples, apricots, figs)
- 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional)
Oatmeal also goes well with different seasonings and condiments. Try adding ginger, cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, or honey to the bowl to enhance the flavor.
Mix all ingredients in a baking dish. Pour in enough water to cover the oats. Bake for half an hour at 160°C, then sprinkle some brown sugar over the top and return it to the oven until the oatmeal cooks through.
HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH
Ingredients:
- 500 g “00” flour (if you don’t have this type of flour, use wheat, buckwheat, or spelled)
- 5 g fresh yeast (or 3 g dried yeast)
- 10 g salt (preferably sea salt)
- 300 ml warm water
Preparing pizza dough at home admittedly takes time, which can be an issue if you need it in a cinch. But otherwise, all you need is thirty minutes to prepare the dish and then an additional 24 hours for it to rest.
Mix flour, yeast, and salt inside a bowl. Pour in warm water and knead for about 10 minutes until you have a smooth, elastic dough.
If the dough is too wet or dry, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water or flour. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and leave to rest for about 12 hours until it has doubled in size.
Then, preheat the oven to 240°C. Please take out the dough and knead it briefly before splitting it into five pieces. Roll each piece out on a floured surface with a rolling pin and put it in the oven on a baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
This is an excellent way of enjoying pizza at home. All you have to do is roll out your homemade dough, top it with your favorite ingredients, and throw it in the oven.
All of the above dishes only take a few minutes to prepare.
Italians Americans With Notable Achievements
Gone are the days of Italian immigrants arriving on ships, living in tenements with little to their name. Since then, the Italian American community has worked hard to achieve the American Dream.
Many have obtained high-ranking positions in status in virtually all spheres of the US, from the business world to government and from Hollywood to agriculture.
Famous Italian Americans include Rose Pelsch Medvec, a Vanity Fair actress, Nino Benvenuti, a boxer and actor, and Joe Piscopo, a comedian.
Conversely, Anthony Napolitano became the first Italian American mayor of Chicago, setting a precedent in public service.
In business, Italian Americans have always been massive contributors. For example, Eugene Grace was famously Chairman of Bethlehem Steel Corporation from 1917-1927. Today, you can find the likes of Donald Marrone acting as CEO for JC Penney.
Italian Americans have especially made contributions in the arts and entertainment industries. For instance, Patrizia Salina produced Andy Warhol’s acclaimed “Oxidation Paintings.”
More recently, Olivier Dard has written a series of mystery novels starring Giulia Driscoll, an Irish-American police detective adopted into an Italian American family who solves crimes with her husband.
Irish American history month also highlights interesting facts about Irish immigrants.
Lady Gaga is also famously of Italian descent, which explains her stellar performance in “The House of Gucci,” a crime-drama based on Gucci’s real-life Italian luxury brand.
Besides this, they have also featured on the big screen as a staple of American pop culture diets.
Several movies like “Once Upon a Time in America,” “The Godfather,” and “The Sopranos” were not only written by Italian Americans but also featured them and their unique culture.
Unsurprisingly, tinsel town has helped keep Italian-American culture alive for many generations.
Learn About Italian American History Month With Superprof
Italian Americans have influenced countless facets of American life. If you’re interested in learning more, consider enrolling in an Italian language class.
It is pointless to try understanding a culture without knowing what its language is. Therefore, learn Italian to appreciate what Italy and Italian Americans have to offer fully.
If you are interested in learning about Polish American history month, Superprof history tutors are available to teach you all about this and more.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
