Jillian G.

Italy

                                                                            

Introduction

In a far off distance you see lights. You move towards the lights and see people carrying food. You follow the sidewalk until you can’t walk any farther. You look up at the baby blue sky. Then you turn around and go into a shop. In the shop there is a huge crowd waiting for their turn to ask where is this or where is that. Then you go to the end of the line and wait your turn to ask for pizza as a snack right before lunch time. This is how lunch time is in Italy.

What do you want to eat?

       For a lot of Italians breakfast is only bread or pastries that is usually served with coffee. Lunch is usually a midday snack, and  lots and lots of people crowd around lots of stores that sell pasta, pizza and calzones. Calzones are like a combination combining meat, cheese and veggies inside a crust. Dinner is always the largest meal of the day. Italians eat dinner late in the evening. A lot of dinners includes soup, salad and one or two main courses and, of course, dessert. A lot of adults enjoy espresso after their dinner. Also Italians eat lasagna and spaghetti and pizza. Spaghetti can be made with a lot of veggies and also meatballs.

     In Italy, there is a very healthy oil they eat it on bread. On a very hot day Italians like to eat gelato. Gelato is like a Italian ice cream. Gelato has as many types of flavors from chocolate to sour cherry. Pizza is baked in an oven that is heated with wood. Pizza is eaten as a snack. Italians are famous for their pizza and rice. For dinner Italians eat pasta or rice first before salads and other foods. Dinner often ends with eating fresh fruit. In Italy, there is a lot of tasty treats to try.

                                                                                   

When is the next holiday?

     A lot of Italians are Roman Catholic.The Christmas season is December 24 to January 6. On the last day, January 6, a witch called La Befana brings gifts. Some girls wear the La Befana costumes during the parade for the holidays. Another holiday is Ferragosto or the feast of Assumption. That holiday is celebrated on  August  15th. Some other days celebrate Italian history. On April 25th, the country celebrates the end of World War 2. Republic Day is on June 2; it marks the day in 1946 when Italians voted to establish a republic. Some  cities have big parades. Italian people have a lot of holidays they celebrate, for special reasons.

Music and Attractions

   When Italians sings songs they tell stories. Operas use Scenery, acting and plays. Italians wrote some of the best operas. La Scala in Milan is one  the most famous opera houses.

   Venice is one of the most famous cities in Italy. Venice is built on 117 small islands. There are no cars in Venice people travel in boats called gondolas and canals and motor boats. Not that wide walkways are lined up with houses and shops. Plus in Piazza that is in San Marco is the heart of Venice. Millions and billions of people go to see Venice every year. The people that go to Venice learn about Italian art, history and culture. Did you know that Venice has an acqua alta or high waters? Plus to stay dry people have to walk on temporary wooden sidewalks? Also that once in a while the sea floods the whole city floods? There are problems in Venice but there is other stuff to check out there too.

Glossary

Gelato: Gelato is like Italian ice cream.

Gondolas: Gondolas are long wooden boats designed to move easily through Venice.

Piazza: Piazza is the heart of Venice.

San Marco: San Marco is where Piazza is in Venice.

Venice: Venice is a city in Italy. There are no cars in Venice because there is no roads for cars people either travel by boat or by walking.