Italy is rich in culture, dress, food, and tradition. Dress in Italy evolved during the Renaissance, and due to new fabric being produced in major cities, it became one of the most important countries in clothing (Benigni, 2023). Italians are in the polychronic time zone where living in the moment and interacting with others come first. Italy, specifically Milan, is still known as one of the fashion capitals of the World. Traditional Italian dress features various patterns that are influenced by the landscape of Italy, such as nature and flowers (Vahedi, 2024). While these traditional attires are not frequently worn, they are still worn for special occasions. Food and traditions are deeply intertwined in Italy, where regional dishes reflect the country’s heritage and history (Acerbi, 2024). The two most well-known dishes in Italy are pizza and pasta, with various types depending on the region of Italy. But there are many other dishes native to Italy such as Florentine steak, polenta, risotto, Arancini, gelato, or ice cream (Mussio, 2024). You can see the inter-relationship between Italy and its neighboring countries through many native foods, for example, risotto and paella from Spain.
Italy has many traditions that Italians all over the world follow. One tradition Italians follow is celebrating Carnevale. Carnevale is a holiday that is celebrated the week before Lent begins, where people dress in costumes, party, and even play jokes on others. In addition to celebrating Christmas, Italians celebrate the Epiphany on January sixth. The Epiphany where children leave their stockings out for La Befana to bring candy for the good kids and coal for the bad ones, the legend originates from the birth of Jesus when the Three Kings asked La Befana to help them find the newborn King (Caravetta, 2023). Another tradition Italians follow is how they bring in the new year. On New Year’s Eve, Italians are to wear new red underwear for good luck and eat lentils for prosperity in the new year (De Filippo, 2023). These traditions bring light to the rich culture of Italy to celebrate their history and values.
Figure 5: Italian’s culture & food, 2019
