Ask Italian Pride

Federico and Stephen Moramarco would love to hear from you regarding this website, Italian pride, or just to say "buon giorno." You can reach them via email: steve@italianpride.com or post a note in the Italian Pride Guestbook. You can also visit Steve's website for his band, The Abe Lincoln Story!

We will do our best to answer your quesions. Here are some of our favorites:

Buon Giorno,

I would like to know the meaning of the 3 Jordon Almonds that were once so popular to hand out at weddings as favors. What exactly is the Italian Tradition on this. I think the actual meaning of the three: is Health, Wealth & Happiness.

My brother is getting married soon and I would like to make the favors for him. Being of Italian blood ourselves I thought it would be something different to enclose the meaning or tradition of these nuts.
I'll be waiting for you response soon. 

Grazie,
Roselyn P.

Dear Roselyn,

According to www.thenutfactory.com --
At an ITALIAN WEDDING, five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. These almonds decorate each place setting as favors, tucked into pretty boxes or decorative bags called "bomboniere". The pretty packages are often personalized with the couple's names and the wedding date.

Hope that helps
Steve
www.italianpride.com

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Ciao!

I had a question about Italian education.... is it valued? Who can get an education? Is it free? what is a typical school day like? And do they have the same grades as we do in the US?

Maria M.

Hi Maria,
Thank you for your question! This link from the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington DC will lead you to a complete overview of the entire Italian education system:

http://www.italcultusa.org/DCeducation-intro.html

Also, you may be interested in learning about a famous Italian educator by the name of Maria Montessori, whose ideas revolutionized how children are taught around the world. She is one of the chapters in our book, Italian Pride, which we have available on the web here:

http://www.italianpride.com/montessori.htm

Ciao,
Steve
www.italianpride.com

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Hi Steve,

Is it an italian tradition to bring wine, and bread to  a house warming party? I have heard that its meaning is for the recipient not to ever go hungry or thirsty. Is this in fact true? 

VCRU3

Dear VCRU3,

In some parts of Italy, housewarming guests bring a bottle of wine to ensure the host never goes thirsty, bread so they never go hungry, and salt to mend all wounds. (Sometimes a broom is also offered so the house will always be clean!)

Bringing wine, salt and bread also fits perfectly into the Italian model of "Convivio," which also happens to be Reason Number Five in our book, Italian Pride, which you can read here:

http://www.italianpride.com/convivio.htm

Hope this helps.
Steve

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I would like to know wher i could get a book or ideas how to do my kitchen in all italian style. Every web site I go to don't have any thing on your designs. I'm a little italian not much but my cousin was and I love your colors and art. Could you please help me? Thank you.

Ravenrose

Dear Ravenrose,

Try this link: http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/DAC-ART/italian-kitchen-design.html

Steve

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I would like to know the history behind the song "Eva
Maria."
Thank you.

MsStairwaytoHeaven

Dear MsStairwaytoHeaven,

I think you mean "Ave Maria," the Giulio Cassini classic recently re-popularized.by Andre Bocelli and others. According to Disc Imports Limited:"Giulio Caccini's 'Ave Maria' was never 'lost' but it was unknown to most music lovers in the Twentieth Century.  In the last decade of the 20th Century it achieved remarkable popularity, and versions were recorded in the 1990s by Lesley Garrett, Charlotte Church and, arranged for a Cello soloist, by Julian Lloyd-Webber . Andrea Bocelli and Sumi Jo have also recently recorded new arrangements.

"Giulio Cassini was born around 1545 in Rome (or Tivoli?) and died in 1618 in Florence.  He was a member of the Camerata - a group of nobles and musicians who met to discuss science, drama and music, and was particularly involved in the attempts to add music to ancient Greek drama, which led to Opera.  Caccini himself is often credited with the invention of the recitative style of singing so essential to early music dramas. His "Euridice" was not the first opera performed - that credit usually goes to an opera of the same name by Peri, but it was probably the first to have been written.

"Caccini's most famous work prior to this decade was the song 'Amarilli mia bell'" - it is still (at the time of writing) his most recorded work.  This came from a collection of songs and madrigals called Le nuove musiche which also contained  an essay on the composition and singing techniques for the new styles emerging.
The"Ave Maria" as most of us know it today may not be 100% authentic, but to the best of my knowledge the authorship of the original is undisputed, and printed versions have been available before, including one from Schott."

If you would like to buy a CD of Ave Maria, click here: Ave Maria on CD

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Hi, Steve,
 
I am an artist who was in Rome a few years ago.  I have since done a painting of the Bocca della verita, and my understanding of its legend is that if anyone puts his hand in the mouth of the stone, if he is a liar, the stone will not release his hand.  I need to verify this legend before I submit this painting.  Can you help me or direct me?  Thanks so much.       
 
Helene

Hi Helen,
Thank you for your email. There are many legends surrounding this famous symbol of Rome, and Roma2000.it confirms your legend at:
http://www.roma2000.it/zbocver.html
"According to popular belief it was said that any one putting his hand in this mouth and swearing falsely, could not withdraw it."

Additionally, you can learn more about the Bocca at the official site:

http://www.dpsusa.com/bdv.html

Hope this helps!
Steve
www.italianpride.com

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