If you’ve tuned into my blog, then you know a little bit of my history growing up in an Italian family. Today I decided to do something a little different and list 50 signs you know you grew up Italian American! If you truly are Italian, then you should relate to most of these things, so without further ado, let’s get started!

You know you’re Italian-American when…..

  1. You thought everyone made their own tomato sauce.
  2. Your grandma has 1 or more religious statue in her garden.
  3. You’ve been chased around the house/been threatened with the wooden spoon as a child.
  4. Your grandpa grows fava beans and has a fig tree in the garden.
  5. A relative in the family makes their own wine and forces everyone to try it on Christmas. 
  6. Most, if not all the men in your family work in masonry, are carpenters, or electricians. 
  7. Your grandma has a “cheese guy”.
  8. Your family gathers every Sunday for a meal.
  9. It’s hard for you to not talk with your hands.
  10. Every significant other who meets the family is terrified at first. 
  11. Your grandma has more than one oven in the house.
  12. Leaving a family party takes an extra 30 minutes.
  13. You have more than 10 cousins on each side of the family.
  14. Your grandpa tells you to “puta s’more cheese” on every meal you consume in his presence. 
  15. You were sometimes embarrassed to pull your lunch out at school.
  16. No one can pronounce your last name.
  17. You can eat an excessive amount of pasta without shame.
  18. You call your grandma “nonna” or “ma”.
  19. You have cousins in Italy that you’ve never met but want to switch lives with.
  20. Italian cookies are at every single family event without question. 
  21. The ricotta cheese in the fridge is never ricotta cheese. 
  22. Your grandma has a “meat guy”.
  23. There is a map of Italy in some rooms of your house.
  24. Holiday meals are planned at least a month in advance.
  25. You know how to throw a party.
  26. You started drinking coffee before you could talk.
  27. Family drama is like world war 3.
  28. You are stubborn. 
  29. If you are ever feeling sick or are in a bad mood or hurt yourself in any way, shape or form, it’s because you haven’t eaten.
  30. There are at least 5 relatives in the family with the name Joe, Frank, Tony or Paul.
  31. Most of the time you can’t go hangout with friends is because there is a family party or you already made plans to hangout with your cousins. 
  32. The best Italian restaurant you know is your grandma’s house.
  33. One or both of your grandparents came to America to start a new life. 
  34. You surpassed your mother and grandmother in height at the age of 10.
  35. You have never purchased tomato sauce at the store.
  36. There are no secrets kept in an Italian family, no matter how hard you try.
  37. Your grandpa has always told you to “find a nice Italian boy”.
  38. As a kid you “thought you were feelin it”, after you ate pasta with vodka sauce.
  39. People always think you are deathly ill in the winter because of your olive toned complexion. 
  40. You were forced to sit and finish everything on your plate at the dinner table as a child.
  41. You always have room for seconds.
  42. You never had a babysitter that wasn’t a family member.
  43. You have several crosses/ photos of Jesus around the house.
  44. If you don’t have leftovers then you didn’t make enough food.
  45. Most of your family lives close by.
  46. Your best friends are your cousins.
  47. If you’re not talking enough at a family event, your family will press you to tell them what’s wrong, even if there is nothing wrong at all. 
  48. Pastina cures all.
  49. Your family can be loud and obnoxious but you love them more than anything.
  50. You are proud of your heritage and make sure everyone knows it :).