Why do some people of Italian descent do this?

[Anonymous]

They sometimes proudly remind you that their family is from the north of Italy.

Even in some cases the city that they claim is not anywhere in the north. Even if one grandmother was from the north and three grandparents were from Sicily, they say that they are from the north.
Can someone explain this?

BTW, I have been all over Italy and the southern part is more fun with a nice climate, so I am curious.

[Anonymous]

I totally hear you - DH's family is from Sant'Angelo, which isn't exactly northern italy either.

[Anonymous]

Uh, Mafia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They sometimes proudly remind you that their family is from the north of Italy.

Even in some cases the city that they claim is not anywhere in the north. Even if one grandmother was from the north and three grandparents were from Sicily, they say that they are from the north.
Can someone explain this?

BTW, I have been all over Italy and the southern part is more fun with a nice climate, so I am curious.

It's an elitist thing.

Rome and parts north are considered the "It" regions. I don't consider the North to be any better, as there are regional differences that are to be appreciated throughout Italy, btw - from the North to the South. And yes, my whole family is from the South. So I may be biased.

But b/c the North (like the North in the US) was more industrialized, it drew in a more educated crowd. That's where the work is - fashion, for example, major banks and corporations.

So people claim they're from the North even if technically, they're just a tad bit South of Rome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh, Mafia.

Mafia is all over, dingbat.

Visit the North and see what's running parts of the government there, too.

[Anonymous]

We have family from Avellino and they *specifically* fudge where they're from because some areas are more Mafia than others.

[Anonymous]

From what I recall when I lived in Italy, it's as the pp said. There is a big North-South divide with the north being more wealthy, cosmopolitan, educated and industrialized (sound familiar?). Whereas the caricature of the South is toothless peasants. Rome is technically in the South but they don't admit that. The Mafia is all over but the stronghold is Naples. All the Italians in Florence told me to never, under any circumstances, go there but from what I have heard, that's a big exaggeration.

[Anonymous]

Rome isn't considered the north by actual Italians who live in Italy. For starters, it embodies both the systemic, sprawling dysfunction and the sweet life of the south.

[Anonymous]

They are saying they are not Sacillian.

[Anonymous]

OP here, when I was visiting Sweden, an Italian waiter served me and another Italian gentleman who was there with his son on a conference. The waiter told us that he was from the north of Italy, but neglected to specify the city. Immediately my companion told me that the waiter was not being honest, his accent gave him away among a few other things. Then he said that there are differences in the way that the northerners look and speak. He also complained that he wished the southerners would just "get over it". This was all beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Almost 20 years ago, I had a roomate from Milan who wouldn't be caught dead in Rome. She explained that the south (disdainful twist of nose) was racially distinct from the north because it was once under "Moorish domination". And Moors were really the same "race" as sub-Saharan Africans, only just a little less so. Yeah, really.

And this was from a highly educated European who came from a wealthy family. I've googled her recently, and she has a pretty cool career. But wow, was she ever a piece of work as a young woman.

[Anonymous]

And the southern Italians call northern Italians "Germans"

[Anonymous]

I have no answer to this but wonder if it's akin to some latin americans saying they're from X country but their descendents were from Spain. At least in the latin american culture there has been a tendency amongst some people to claim a connection to whatever region or country that has them appear more "white". Could the same be said for the Italians who feel that the northern Italians are more anglo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are saying they are not Sacillian.

I had no idea it was a "bad" thing to be Sicilian.

[Anonymous]

We Americans surely do this when in other countries, no? "Where are you from?" "New Yawk." "L.A." "Baaaahston." "America...NOT the SOUTH tho!!!" etc.