The Italians are responsible for one of the largest exoduses in history, and a large amount of the Italian emigration flowed to the United States. From 1876 to 1924, more than four and a half million Italians arrived in the United States. A vast majority of the immigrants came from southern Italy, who left to escape the economic hardship and downtrodden conditions of their homeland. Most of these immigrants passed through New Yorkís Ellis Island and settled in New York City itself and other large urban centers. The Italians brought their culture and beliefs to the United States and over the years this group has contributed to the diversity of the nation, as the Italian Americans have grown to be a significant ethnicity.
Italians traveled to the New World long before the mass migration of the late nineteenth century, for numerous important Italian adventurers and explorers ventured out to discover America. A Genoese mariner, Cristoforo Colombo, or Christopher Columbus, was one of the most famous Italians to reach the New World in 1492. Other notable Italian explorers include John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto), Giovanni da Verrazano, and Amerigo Vespucci, whose name was to be given to the great New World. These Italian adventurers marked a prelude to the great influx of immigrants that was to flow into the United States.
After the American Revolution, a small group of pioneering Italians immigrated to America. This group consisted mainly of northern Italians, who were skilled artisans, painters, sculptors, musicians, and dancers. Also, political refugees came to America, fleeing the failed liberal revolutions of the early nineteenth century, the most famous being Giuseppe Garibaldi. This early Italian migration lacked significant numbers to make a large impact on the American culture at the time, however, their settlement provided a base from which the mass migration was to build from. In New York City, a mere 1,862 Italian immigrants had made homes, but by the time of the great migration, the city was to become the home to millions of Italians. Also foreshadowing the future, these Italians justified their migration with an old proverb that would surely influence new emigrants: "Chi esce riesce (He who leaves succeeds)."
The full surge of the Italian exodus began after the nation achieved full unification during the Risorgimento of 1860-1870. The cosmopolitan, urban north prospered from the united Italy, which contrasted to the economically fruitless, agricultural south, which eventually bred the emigrants. Progress that found northern Italy was extremely slow in reaching the south, where the impoverished population worked mainly as artigiani (artisans), contadini (sharecroppers), and giornalieri (farm laborers). Italian families generally worked in collective units to survive in the dismal atmosphere of the south. Angelo Pellegrini remembered the struggle of his sharecropping family:
The central, dominating fact of our existence was continuous, inadequately rewarded labor.... Education beyond the third grade was out of the question.... At nine or ten years of age, if not sooner, the peasant child is old enough to bend his neck to the yoke and fix his eyes upon the soil in which he must grub for bread. I did not know it then, but I know it now, that is a cruel, man-made destiny from which there is no immediate hope of escape (Gale 767).
Many people wanted to escape the problems of the south, like the difficulties that Pellegrini's family faced, and the solution was immigration to the United States, thus the exodus was on.
Primarily the first phase of the great migration consisted only of men moving to the United States, who only sought a temporary home, from which they could make money and then return home. These first immigrants, predominantly males of working age, fifteen to thirty-five years of age, clamored into the American cities looking for work. However, almost half of these single males returned back to Italy, longing for their paese (village) from which they came. Later in the great migration, especially after 1910, women and entire families began to immigrate to the United States. Almost all of the Italian immigrants passed through Ellis Island, and more Italians resided in New York City than in the Italian cities of Florence, Venice, and Genoa combined. The padrone (labor boss) found work for the new immigrants, usually securing jobs with the Italians upon arrival to American shores. Typically, the Italians found work as industrial laborers, longshoremen and construction workers, however, they usually held on to these positions longer than other immigrant groups because they lacked an education. Also in America, the Italians continued their old customs while trying to assimilate into the United States' society.
Italian immigrants brought their family-centered culture to America, which resulted in their highly concentrated settlements, ìLittle Italies.î Kin and entire villages would migrate to America and form these "Little Italies", which were clustered heavily in the Northeast cities. Immigrants also sought the protection of the Little Italies because of the hostility they faced in American society. Seemingly resistant to assimilation, the Italians were despised as a minority rooted in the working class, however, within the Little Italies new generations of Italian Americans were being born, and changes took place between society and the Italians. As the second generation of Italians were born, they became more Americanized and thus the Italian American race was alive. Hostility toward the Italians lessened as time progressed, as more of the immigrants fought in World War II, and many gradually began to prosper. Education and professional training also became more commonplace and helped raise the standards of the Italians in the United States. Despite their assimilation, today's Italian Americans retain distinguishing characteristics, like family loyalty and many are still geographically concentrated in the same areas as their forefathers. Italian Americans are one of many ethnic groups that make America a diverse nation.
Italians have been involved with America since the territory's exploration, the great immigration of the Italians to America has left a strong mark in the nation's history. The Italians brought numerous cultural customs and values with their exodus from their homeland. Generations after the Italians came to the United States, their children, the Italian Americans, have become an integral part of American culture
The Experience of landing in New York varied greatly from immigrant to immigrant, depending on the time, and conditions. At first sight unsuspecting immigrants would be over whelmed with the possibilities their imagination provided them with.
"My first impression when I got there, I tell you the God's truth, your'e in a dream. Its like you're in heaven, you don't know what it is. You're so happy there in America." (Gale 768)
Until 1900, when Ellis Island was opened, Castle Garden was the door for immigrants entering the US. Italians , as all immigrants were subjected to physical examination, and difficult interviews. At Ellis Island the immigrants were examined for signs of diseases, and then vaccinated. It was rumored that if one wiped off the skin immediately after the vaccination, one would not get sick. This was true , and this tip worked because the vaccine would not take if it was wiped off, therefore the immigrant would not get sick.
Immigrants were asked many questions which would decide if they woud be admitted or not. Questions like, " Do you have any money? Do you already have a job? Do you have a place to stay? Where does you family live? Are you married? How old are you? What job skills do you have? Have you been in America previously? Can you read?" Those who did not pass the tests at the Immigration office were sent back home to Italy generally at the expense of the ship owners, however those who did make it were allowed to pass into America.
The Italian ethnic group continues to be the most interesting of cultures and draws international attention. This paper discusses the practices of Italians as an ethnic group, as well as the specifics of the Italian people. The Italian holidays, cuisine, family life, religion and language makes the Italian ethnic group one of a kind and one of the most interesting in the world.
The Italian ethnic group is most know for their holidays which incorporate fine foods and wines with a sense of joy and kindness. Italy celebrates numerous holidays. The first of the festivals is called the Festa della Republica ( Festival of the
Republic ) which is celebrated on June 5. This holiday is celebrated much like the July 4 with music and dancing. The people will often attend dances where historical songs and costumes are celebrated while eating some of Italy's finest foods prepared by the best chefs in the world. Other festivals such as the Festa del Lavaro and the Festa del'Unita Nazionale are also celebrated. This holidays also bring the Italian ethnic group together for a night of singing and dancing. All of these holidays are tradition to the Italian people and the songs and dances revolve around the folklore of the Italian peninsula. The festivals are in tune with the religious aspects the Italian live and they come together to make peace on these special nights. These festivals are extremely important to the Italian people, but what they are extremely proud of is the harvest season. Little Italy's all over the world have parades and festivals in the autumn months to celebrate the good harvest and the beginning of the wine and winter season. Parades are held, dances occur in the town squares. The Italian world and often other countries put differences aside to celebrate the bountiful harvest by coming together for the few short weeks and enjoying the harvest while thanking God for the good that has come to them. When the Italian people immigrated to other countries such as the United Sates, they didn't retain many of the Italian holidays that are celebrated in Italy. They do, however, celebrate holidays such as Christmas and Easter as well as festivals of the saints and the Italian American national holiday ( Columbus Day ). Many of these holidays today are celebrated by Italians and non- Italians alike and bring a sense of goodwill and joy to all the people.
Cuisine as always been Italy's crowning achievement. The Italian ethnic group believes food is what make them stand out from the rest of the world and they take pride in making it. Pasta, the staple food, homemade, of coarse, is served at every meal. Italians prefer to eat home made or home grown foods over prepared foods. Gardens are also a necessity for the typical Italian because of the use of fruits, vegetables and spices in everyday cooking. Many of these cuisine's are now famous throughout the world but they were started in Italy. Italian cooking of also famous for its use of rich Italian tomato sauce with mushrooms, olive oil, spices, nuts and garlic. The Italians put the sauce on everything, an Italian specialty. The Italian ethnic group also has a traditional side. The Italian ethnic groups indulge in the specialties of Italy. Ravioli, eels, soup ( celery ), snails, tripe ( cow intestine ) are all Italian. In the United States, most of the Italian ethnic group is from the south which is rich in its garden fresh Vegas, its meat in sauces and the numerous pasta dishes. The northern Italian ethnic group if famous for its corns and rices but used butter instead of sauces. The northern Italian ethnic groups also are famous for using the garden fresh veggies. Italians love to have their food spicy, this is the old world form. They put aged hot peppers on everything and the hotter, the better. Italians have always prided themselves on their foods, and today, when people think of Italians, they think of pizza, pasta, calzione and some of the most outstanding food in the world.
Family and tradition is very important to the Italian people. The Italian view of family grew throughout the centuries and today, families work togeher to accomplish anything. Traditionally, the Italian families were much like a corporation, all of the members were part of the larger family bonded through bloodlines and marriage. The father was considered the head of the household but the mother was often in charge of what went on at home. She was in charge of raising the children, as well as playing a central role in family development. The wife often stayed at home caring for the children while the husband worked in the field or at a job. This belief in the Italian family structure was even seen in the way they immigrated. The husband would often leave for the new place first and after setting up a house and a job, he would have his wife and children join him. As more and more Italians came to the United States, the old traditions of women staying at home while the husband worked began to fall apart. The women would also look for jobs and obtain a career. Today, the old generation Italian views are passing away with the old generation and a new generation of equality is being born in the Italian ethnic group.
Religion also plays a major part in the Italian culture. Around 95 % of the Italian people are Roman Catholic. For the most part, the Italian people believe that faith is a personal thing and should be celebrated often . All of the festivals in Italy are attached in some way to religion. For their belief that religion was personal, the Italian ethnic groups had to put up with the Irish Catholics who felt that the Italian were pagans or indifferent Catholics. Italian Catholicism, especially in immigrants, dealt with saints and beliefs. The saints were very important to the Italians and they felt that they owed the saints a great tribute. They would have holidays in the saints honor and have huge parties for the saint. Italians firmly believed in their religion and in doing God's work and honoring the saints for giving them special graces. The tradition of honoring saints through special festivals is still observed in Italy, but has also spread to other parts of the world. Another tribute to the Italian Catholicism is the presence of the Pope in Vatican City. Although, Vatican City is its own country, it is often associated with Italy. Today, as in the past, Italians strongly believe in their religion and believe in giving thanks for all their special blessings.
The Italian Language, a romance language, has many different dialects. The Italian ethnic group is made up of different regions which speak the different dialects unique to that region. They have different words meaning the same thing and often have their own vocabulary and books. The different dialects can be broken up into Venetian, Calabrian, Neapolitan, Piedmonts, Tucson and Sicilian to name a few. Not until recently was there a universally accepted form of Italian which was derived from the Tuscan form of Italian. When the immigrants began coming to this country in the 19 hundreds, they formed a new type of Italian that was totally different from any other form. The language had become Americanized. The new language could often only be understood by immigrants. For example, carpetto for carpet and bosso for boss were words invented when there was a rush of immigrants to the United States. Language was extremely important to the ethnic group because it was a form of communication and if all else fails, they would be able to make things batter because they understood each other.
The Italian ethnic group is one of the best recognized in the world for all of the special traits that they have contributed. Italy will always be remembered for its centuries of charm, love of tradition and family, cuisine, culture and rich history.
The Experience of landing in New York varied greatly from immigrant to immigrant, depending on the time, and conditions. At first sight unsuspecting immigrants would be over whelmed with the possibilities their imagination provided them with.
"My first impression when I got there, I tell you the God's truth, your'e in a dream. Its like you're in heaven, you don't know what it is. You're so happy there in America." (Gale 768)
Until 1900, when Ellis Island was opened, Castle Garden was the door for immigrants entering the US. Italians , as all immigrants were subjected to physical examination, and difficult interviews. At Ellis Island the immigrants were examined for signs of diseases, and then vaccinated. It was rumored that if one wiped off the skin immediately after the vaccination, one would not get sick. This was true , and this tip worked because the vaccine would not take if it was wiped off, therefore the immigrant would not get sick.
Immigrants were asked many questions which would decide if they woud be admitted or not. Questions like, " Do you have any money? Do you already have a job? Do you have a place to stay? Where does you family live? Are you married? How old are you? What job skills do you have? Have you been in America previously? Can you read?" Those who did not pass the tests at the Immigration office were sent back home to Italy generally at the expense of the ship owners, however those who did make it were allowed to pass into America.
Ingredients:
2 lbs strawberries
2 oranges
1/2 cup sugar cubes
1/4 cup Liquore alla Mandarina
Preperation Instructions:
Hull and slice the strawberries; peal and slice the oranges. Mash half the strawberries with the sugar cubes and liquer. Stir in the remaining fruit and chill for one hour. Serve in individual dishes.
