If you are thinking of learning Italian, or visiting Italy, here are some facts you should definitely know about Italians. There are many things about our culture that are famous around the world: our food, music and coffee never go unnoticed. However, there are many mannerisms in our culture that you may not be aware of.
Let me share with you 5 curious facts about Italians that will help you understand our culture better.
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1. Coffee after eating is essential
Italians start their day with a cappuccino, followed by an espresso after lunch and sometimes after dinner . They’re usually enjoyed standing up at a bar, partly because the size of an espresso shot can be downed in less than a minute. They also prepare it at home in a Moka pot. One thing you have to be sure of is that in Italy there is always room for coffee.
2. You can make hand gestures to communicate
Do you want to have a conversation with an Italian but you don’t have command of the language yet ? Do not worry. You can rely less on vocabulary and try to speak with your hands, they are likely to understand you. Italian is all about gestures, but make sure you learn when and how each one is used. Not all gestures are innocent in Italy and you don’t want to have awkward moments.
3. Never refuse food from an Italian grandmother
It is the worst crime you can commit, just like in Mexico. The family is one of the most important aspects of Italian life and grandparents are highly respected. The food of Italian grandmothers is especially sacred. So when you are invited to an Italian table, the answer to the question, are you satisfied? it’s always not.
4. Pineapple pizza does not exist in Italy
There is a lot of debate about whether pizza should have pineapple or not. In Italy this does not exist: pineapple is considered a fruit, not something that should go on a pizza. For Italians it is not acceptable to put fruit on pizza. This is mainly because the pineapple is not an Italian product and also because the ingredients in the pizza should not predominate one over the other, unfortunately, this is not the case with this fruit.
5. Never go out with wet hair
If you want to drive an Italian crazy, just go out with wet hair. Going out without drying your hair in Italy means risking colpo d’aria , literally wind blow. It is said to cause everything from neck pain to indigestion. In Italy, a sudden change in temperature is considered bad for your health, so when Italians get sick they blame the air.
