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I know most Italians in the US are Southern Italians. But I was wondering if many Italians in NJ are from Sicily or just from the Southern part. I once heard that New Jersey is "The capital of New Sicily."
I know most Italians in the US are Southern Italians. But I was wondering if many Italians in NJ are from Sicily or just from the Southern part. I once heard that New Jersey is "The capital of New Sicily."
Some come from Northern Staten Island and some come from Southern Staten Island.
Sicilians aren't Italians (most Italians I know consider them to be a different culture/ethnicity), but regardless most Italians in NJ (even if you include the Sicilians) are Southern Italian, and, although it's not like it used to be, most Italians still live in enclaves (and I use that term loosely) made up of Italians all from the area. So, for example, if you come to Vineland where I live, you'll find Italians from Emiglia-Romagna.
I've heard plenty of stories of huge family conflicts in my friends' grandparents' and great-grandparents' generation because of intermarriage between different parts of Italy (and yes, especially Sicily). I find it pretty fascinating to see the same thing play out (although not nearly as bad) these days amongst the various ethnic/sub-ethnic divisions of Indians, Hispanics, etc.
'Italians' from here are so far removed from Italians in Italy (in terms of culture, looks, food, you name it) you can hardly call them Italian, no matter what part they are 'from'.
'Italians' from here are so far removed from Italians in Italy (in terms of culture, looks, food, you name it) you can hardly call them Italian, no matter what part they are 'from'.
There's Italians, and then there's Italian Americans. They are with out a doubt completely different.
Sicilians aren't Italians (most Italians I know consider them to be a different culture/ethnicity), but regardless most Italians in NJ (even if you include the Sicilians) are Southern Italian, and, although it's not like it used to be, most Italians still live in enclaves (and I use that term loosely) made up of Italians all from the area. So, for example, if you come to Vineland where I live, you'll find Italians from Emiglia-Romagna.
while Sicilians will usually point our they are Sicilian, this isn't uncommon of other regions in Italy, because it wasn't unified until relatively recently. Even the language today in each part of the country is still relatively exclusive to each region, as the national language wasn't established until the 40s or 50s. Sicialians are absolutely Italians, I've never heard an Italian person say anything otherwise. But, because of the military strategic positioning of the island, it's been conquered by so many cultures that Sicilian culture is unique. But every region in Italy has it's own unique culters. Northern Italians and Southern Italians still have a lot of anymosity between the groups, as the South is viewed as poor and lazy, and the North is generally despised by the South.
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