How do Italians view marriage?
Marriage is a very respected convention in Italian society, especially among devout Christians. Ceremonies usually follow the Roman Catholic tradition and are often performed at the church of the bride's hometown.
Italians have a strong sense of loyalty to one another, and the family unit is often the only social unit that is considered to be complete and forever. This is why, in general, Italians spend so much time with their family: the family represents a refuge, a secure place to live, and a source of support.
In Italy, family is the foundation of society. The bonds within an Italian family are strong and deeply rooted in love, loyalty, and support. It's not uncommon to see multiple generations living under one roof, fostering a close-knit, interdependent family structure.
Some important values and aspects of Italian lifestyle are family and spending time with them, religion and maintaining Catholic traditions, and the pleasure of eating good meals prepared with love and dedication. Gestures and body language are important in the Italian language to emphasize certain ideas.
The tradition of Italian adults living with their parents until marriage is rooted in cultural and family values. In Italy, family plays a central role in people's lives, and there is a strong emphasis on close-knit family relationships.
Italian values and norms
One of the most prominent Italian values is without doubt family. They are usually larger in the south and considerably smaller in the centre and the northern parts of the peninsula.
Ordinarily, Italians tend to take things slowly in terms of relationship progression. A second date will likely be an opportunity to spend a longer amount of time together. Cooking together or making dinner for your date is a popular activity as Italians adore their food.
Basic Etiquette
It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender. Stand up out of respect when an older person enters the room. It is important to dress neatly and respectfully. Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing.
Values and Beliefs
Here are just a few core truths of Italian culture: → Family is very, very important and it is at the core of all Italian life. → Italy is statistically old-aged and Italians hold elderly people in a position of respect, valuing their history and knowledge. People often rely on elders for help.
The main elements of Italian culture are its art, music, cinema, style, and food. Italy was the birthplace of opera, and for generations the language of opera was Italian, irrespective of the nationality of the composer.
What is the Italian way of life?
Italian lifestyle is largely imitated all over the world. It is made up of small and big habits that create a peculiar and sought-after image. Italians value and celebrate all aspects of life, such as spending time with family and friends, eating and drinking well, and enjoying beauty in all its forms.
In the culture of Italy, families are generally quite close and they are the focal point for life. Even though daily life is always a rush, Italians always find a way to spend quality time together by eating all around the table. At the dinner table, nobody is in a rush.
Additionally, Italy has made significant contributions to the fields of engineering, design, and technology. Italian cuisine, including pasta, pizza, and gelato, is beloved worldwide. The Italian people are also known for their warmth, hospitality, and passion for life.
Marriage is a very respected convention in Italian society, especially among devout Christians. Ceremonies usually follow the Roman Catholic tradition and are often performed at the church of the bride's hometown.
The non-Italian Spouse married to an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship by marriage after two years from the marriage/civil union, if residing in Italy. Or 3 years, if not residing in Italy. This term is reduced by half if the couple has children under the age of 18.
Marriage has been decreasing since 1972, but the fall has been particularly marked during the past four years, with over 45,000 fewer weddings. This corresponds to -4.5% per annum between 2007 and 2011, a much higher value that the average of -1.2% recorded over the past 20 years.
In 2022, the average value of the financial assets of Italians between 55 and 64 years of age was estimated at 147,415 euros, while that of Italians between 25 and 34 years of age amounted to 58,429 euros. The graph shows that the older generations were more well-off compared to younger generations.
In Italy the most common stereotype concerning traditional gender roles were “for a man, more than for a woman, is very important to be successful at work” (32.5%), “men are less suitable for doing housework” (31.5%), “it's up to man to provide for family's financial needs” (27.9%).
Finally, Eurostat's Eurobarometer survey in 2018 showed that 85.6% of Italy's population is Christian (78.9% Catholic, 4.6% orthodox Christians, 0.6% Protestants, 1.5% other Christians), while 2.6% belong to other religions and 11.7% are non-religious (7.5% atheists, 4.2% agnostics).
In Italy today, marriages between Italians and people of foreign origin are more than 14% of the total number of marriages celebrated. It is a similar percentage to that of the UK and other European countries. In 55% of cases, these are Italian men who marry foreign women.
What does an Italian man want in a woman?
Italian guys appreciate a woman who takes care of herself and exudes confidence. It's also important to show an interest in Italian culture, such as the food, wine, and art.
A true Italian romance is taking things slowly, finding pleasure in dating, and playing a game of courtship. For Italians, the prelude to the relationship is as important as the relationship itself. But don't expect to settle down quickly because they want to make sure you're the right person for them.
And please, do not burp or fart in public, it is considered extremely rude. Also, loud swearing and drinking alcohol from a bottle while walking the street, is frowned upon. Most Italians like some alcohol, but usually avoid to get drunk. Public scenes of drunkenness are much less tolerated than in other countries.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Tesoro mio | My darling |
Baciami! | Kiss me! |
Sei tutto per me | you're everything to me |
Ti penso ogni giorno | I think about you every day |
While some forms of emotional expression are more obvious than others, almost everyone expresses emotion. In Italy, emotional expression is displayed through either word or action. This may include a kiss on the cheek, a smile, a simple greeting like “Buongiorno!” or “Buona sera!” or even a song.
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