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Thanksgiving is celebrated by Italian Americans in the United States but has no historical or cultural significancein Italy. Italians are aware of the holiday through celebrations hosted by American expats, visiting relatives and through books and film. Thanksgiving in Italy is known as Il Giorno di Ringraziamento, La Festa di Ringraziamento, or jokingly la Festa del Tacchino, which means The Turkeys’ Feast Day. Here in America, to add an Italian flair, the Thanksgiving celebration for Italian Americans usually includes lasagna, Italian escarole soup and other Italian specialties. The turkey and other traditional fixings often take second place.
It is unlikely that the holiday will ever be assimilated into Italian culture but in order to satisfy a native Italian’s curiosity and for those wishing to enrich their Italian language skills, we’ve prepared a list of words and expressions that will help you explain a little about the history of the holiday.
In this lesson, we will cover the foods associated with this fall feast along with seasonal Italian greetings you can use to start a new “Giorno di Ringraziamento” tradition at your table this year. Try asking for your favorite foods with the expression Passami (il tacchino), per favore. This is asking to please pass me the turkey, but you can substitute other vocabulary as below.
Let’s begin with some holiday greetings:
Buona festa (this is a universal holiday greeting)
Happy Holiday
Felice Giorno di Ringraziamento
Happy Thanksgiving
Felice Giorno
del Tacchino
Happy Turkey Day
Inghilterra
England
Pellegrino
Pilgrim
Nave
Ship
Indiano o Pellerosso
Native American
Tacchino
Turkey
Prosciutto cotto
Ham
Patata americana
Sweet potato
Purè di patate
Mashed potatoes
Piselli
Peas
Mais
Corn
Farcito
Stuffing
(Gelatina di)
Mirtilli rossi
Cranberries (sauce)
Crostata di zucca
Pumpkin pie
Sidro
Cider
Buona Festa e buon appetito a tutti!
This month’s falso amico
It is “tasto” which in Italian doesn’t mean taste. It means a key on a typewriter or computer keyboard. The Italian word for taste is “gusto.”
This month’s proverb
It is from Sicily.
Sicilianu: Si voi campari filici e cuntenti, finciti orvu, surdu e ‘gnuranti.
Italiano: Se vuoi vivere felice e contento fa finta di essere cieco, sordo e ignorante.
English: (Literally – If you want to live a happy life, pretend to be blind deaf, and ignorant.)
English: (Equivalent – See nothing, hear nothing, say nothing.)
While residing in Italy, the Herald’s Editor Emeritus Joseph Cannavo wrote a poem dedicated to the holiday.
“La Festa del Tacchino” “Turkey Day”
Dall’Inghilterra son andati,
From England theydeparted,
I pelligrini perseguitati
Pilgrims persecuted far too long,
A “Plymouth Rock” son arrivati,
They arrived at Plymouth Rock,
Amici Indiani han trovati.
New Indian friends they did find.
Il benvenutoera con tutto il cuore,
They were welcomed with open hearts,
Gli indiani li han aiutati con fervore,
They toiled together to raise a crop,
Dopo d’una raccolta strepitosa,
Their harvest was a big success,
Han fatto una festa meravigliosa.
They feasted on food that was the best.
In questo giornocome Americani,
On this day as Americans,
Ricordiamo i pellegrini e gl’indiani,
We remember these two best friends,
E`”La Festa del Tacchino,”
It is our “Turkey Day,”
Brindiamola col buon vino.
Let’s toast it with fine wine.
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