PTPI Blog

Learn more about customs and cultures all over the world, from your fellow members of PTPI.

We believe that greater understanding between individuals and peoples, worldwide, reveals universal values and aspirations. We believe that if people can better understand other cultures, they are more tolerant and accepting of differences.

Name: Manuela Corti

Country of Residence: Italy

1. Describe your favorite cultural tradition:

Natale, or Christmas – the Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It falls on 25 December. People exchange gifts on this day and lights and candles deck houses, trees and roads. Usually families have a Christmas lunch with many relatives and after that they all play cards or games like bingo.

2. What do you consider to be the most important holiday in your country and how is it celebrated?

In my opinion there is an important day and political holiday on the calendar that has great significance in my country: the 25th of April. This day is the feast of liberation and it remembers the anniversary of liberation from fascism. To fight the fascists, partisans organized resistance. Men, women, youth, elders, priests, soldiers, people from different walks of life with different political and religious veiws – they all had in common a willingness to fight personally, each with their own means, to get back democracy and respect for individual liberty and equality. On April 25, 1945, the partisans, supported by the American allies, became victorious in major Italian cities, putting an end to the tragic period of grief and ruin and starting the process of the liberation of Italy from fascist oppression. A few years later, the Italian Constitution was born out of the ideas of democracy and freedom.

3. Who would you say is your country’s most significant historical figure?

Giuseppe Garibaldi. He was born in Nice on July 4, 1807 and died on the island of Caprera on June 2, 1882. He was a soldier and a patriot and is considered a fundamental figure of the Italian Risorgimento. He was very famous and popular. In Italy he is known as the hero of two worlds, for his military exploits were carried out in both South America and Europe. Also in Italy, it is rare to find a city or locality that does not have a street, square, memorial, monument, school or theater dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi. Abroad, his notoriety is also great, attested by monuments. All consider him an invincible fighter, the symbol of the ideals of freedom and justice.

4. Which part of your country’s history do you find most interesting?

Risorgimento (1815 – 1870) – a process of cultural, political and social renewal that allowed for the formation of the national state in Italy.

5. What is the customary form of greeting in your country?

Buongiorno (good morning), buonasera (good evening), buonanotte (good night), ciao (hello), arrivederci (goodbye).

6. What is your favorite traditional meal and how do you make it?

Pasta with different sauces and many kinds of pizzas.

7. Where in the world would you most like to visit?

I have visited many countries from west to east in the past, North and South America, some countries in Africa and Asia (India, China, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand…) and went twice to Australia. Now I would like to visit some parts of Europe, like Spain, Scotland, and Poland.

8. Tell us about your experience as a PTPI Language Ambassador:

I participated as a Language Ambassador in Romania in 2006. My students (children, teenagers, and adults) learned the Italian language, a few Italian songs, and information about Italian culture (food, traditions, holidays, etc). I enjoyed traditional Romanian food and gained a greater understanding of the country.

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