What's the difference between being Sicilian and being Italian?

Question

What's the difference between being Sicilian and being Italian?

Answer 1

Sicily is part of Italy.  Italy like Germany did not become a unified nation until the latter part of the 19th century. According to Luigi Barzini in his book, "The Italians" they are still more likely to identify themselves by the province or city state they are from rather than simply as Italians.  A large part of Italy had been the Papal States.  There were some small kingdoms and city state/republics.

Answer 2

Sicily is a part of Italy, the same as Texas is part of the US.  

All Texans are from the US, but everyone in the US is not from Texas.  A person from Sicily is always also Italian.. but not the other way around.

Answer 3

Well, being Sicilian I can say that there is a distinct difference.  Geographically speaking, the two land masses (Italy and Sicily) are not even connected, making Sicily an island.

Secondly, as to things cultural, Sicily has a distinct history from that of Italy.  In actuality, parts of southern Italy (the whole Messogiorno region, and islands Malta and Gozo) were once much more a part of Sicily during 1130 – 1816.  Nevertheless, Sicily had a much more diverse culture than that of mainland Italy due to the influx of different peoples all seeking to conquer Sicily.  You will find Italian, Arab, Norman, Greek, and African influences in the language.  Still, Sicily has increasingly become absorbed into Italy and there are relatively few people who speak the old dialects anymore.

And...from my experience, Sicilians are proud of their culture and maintain a love for Italy but are jealous of everything Sicilian.

The site below is fun, informative and will help you increase your familiarity with Sicily...and me.  ;)

Answer 4

if you're sicilian, you are italian too, but if you are italian, you could be "not sicilian"..Italy is divided in regions (sicilia, calabria, campnia, molise, lazio, basilicata, friuli-venezia giulia,sardegna and so on). For example: a person from Palermo is a "palermitano", a "siciliano" and an "italian", because palermo is in sicilia. that is n italy..It is similar to a person from the state of New York, who is american too, as a person from England comes from United Kingdom...Bye!!

Answer 5

Sicily is the toe of Italy on the map. Italians claim that from being in the rest of the boot. Since Italy includes Sicily, it is like saying your from South Carolina, and a friend is from North Carolina, you are still America

Answer 6

One makes you look like Sophia Loren, the other makes you look like Sophia from the Golden Girls : ) lol