Waht are some aspects of Italy's culture?

Question

or customs/traditions

Answer 1

The shops are normally closed on a Monday morning

Answer 2

A country of wine and pasta, snow and sunshine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces, Italy is as complex as it is beautiful. Landscapes vary from the snow-capped Alps to the beaches of Italian Riviera to the vineyards of Tuscany. Ancient cities blend with modern metropolises. Italy is truly "Il Belpaese", the Beautiful Country.

Italy

Daily life and social customs

...more visible role women play in society outside the home, such as increased participation in higher education and the professions...the concomitant graying of Italy...

For Italian families, among the most popular daily leisure activities are watching television, listening to the radio, reading newspapers, and going to the cinema; reading books and engaging in sports are less common among the majority of people.

Though the popularity of home entertainment has grown, the use of public spaces remains important. Young Italians meet friends on a daily basis, often in the cities' piazzas in the evenings, making frequent trips to bars, cinemas, pizzerias, and discos. Coastal areas are popular destinations in the summer. The automobile retains a strong hold on daily life as well. Ownership levels are high, and many cities and towns suffer severe congestion and pollution as a result.

Food is traditionally a primary element of Italian life. Work patterns in Italy revolve around the midday meal, though the leisurely two-hour-long lunch break is disappearing. Bars and trattorie cater cheaply and quickly to the casual diner. The culinary traditions of Italy proudly bear several ancestries, chiefly Etruscan, Greek, and Saracen: to the Etruscans is owed the heavy use of grain, to the Greeks the widespread presence of herb-cooked fish, and to the Saracens the country's love of pastries, rice, and citrus fruits.  Italians everywhere share a love of noodles, and pastas bear such euphonious names as spaghetti (“little strings”), penne (“feathers”), macaroni (“little dear things”), and orecchiette (“little ears”).  

Italy's strong agricultural tradition gives rise to a multitude of festivals celebrating the harvest, food, country, and seafaring pursuits. These festivals reflect the traditional activities of the area in which they are held.

Answer 3

Italian Society & Culture

Italian Family Values

. The family is the centre of the social structure and provides a stabilizing influence for its members.

. In the north, generally only the nuclear family lives together; while in the south, the extended family often resides together in one house.

. The family provides both emotional and financial support to its members.

Italian Style

. Appearances matter in Italy.

. The way you dress can indicate your social status, your family's background, and your education level.

. First impressions are lasting impressions in Italy.

. The concept of 'bella figura' or good image is important to Italians.

. They unconsciously assess another person's age and social standing in the first few seconds of meeting them, often before any words are exchanged.

. Clothes are important to Italians.

. They are extremely fashion conscious and judge people on their appearance.

. You will be judged on your clothes, shoes, accessories and the way you carry yourself.

. Bella figura is more than dressing well. It extends to the aura your project too - i.e. confidence, style, demeanour, etc.

Answer 4

My favorite part of Italian culture is the hand gestures.  They carry so much meaning and are used so often.  The best is when Italians place their fingers together in a sort of "praying"  manner and shake them at you.  This can do anything from emphasize a point to communicate "you are in deep s***"

I've gotten that one a few times myself