Home Remedies Galore

Whenever we were sick growing up, Nonna always seemed to have some sort of trick to help us out. Whether it be a tooth ache or a head ache, she always had some trick up her sleeve. Nonna would never pop a Tylenol in your mouth and tell you to "Vai a dormire" (go to sleep).

Whenever there was a sore throat, trouble sleeping, or just trying to wind down after a long day she would suggest Chamomile tea. When she said the name, however, it sounded like she was saying "gagumila". This got me very confused when I was older when people would talk about this kind of tea since I was so used to how Nonna would say it. I'm sure I still slip and say it according to how Nonna would say it.

Oil, plants, and alcohol were the next tools used by Nonna.  For ear aches she would suggest heating up a spoonful of olive oil and pouring the hot liquid into the affected ear. It was the most uncomfortable feeling, but worked! Got a sun burn? No problem! Just go into Nonna's porch where she has an Aloe Vera plant year round. This was very useful in the summers. The next useful tool was putting some sort of alcohol on a tooth ache. I think that the only way this helped was by intoxicating the child to make them forget about  the pain.

Nonna was very resourceful on what she could use to make us feel better.  I guess when you grow up on a hill in Italy, you have to be resourceful in the remedies you use. There was no "dottore" (doctor) you could see easily.

Who needs a farmers market?

Picture from Nonna Maria's Facebook Page

For some people a garden might consist of grass, some flowers, and maybe a few shrubs. In an Italian household, however,  the garden is really a farm. When it comes to a garden we don't mess around.

As a child, I used to love going to my Nonnos garden. It was like a jungle to explore in. As time has gone on, the garden has not lost its integrity and still amazes me even as an adult. There are tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, herbs, beans, figs, the list could go on forever.

In order to keep the garden running, my Nonno has a specific system. He uses spare wood to make stands to tie the vines against in order to make sure they don't fall over. He uses recycled water to water the veggies. Everything he needs is lined up and ready to use when it is needed. He has taken caring for his garden as an art.

Nonno takes a lot of pride in his garden. There are so many vegetables that sometimes we have to get creative on what to make or he pawns them off to people that live around him.  If people go to visit his house, they leave with a doggie bag of produce from the garden.

Diet? What's a Diet?

In the Italian household, keeping a diet is a very hard thing to do. According to Nonna, there is no such thing as a diet. The word is not even in their vocabulary.

With all the meat, cheese, pasta, and bread, a diet is close to impossible. I remember one time I told my Nonna she was feeding me too much and she was going to make me fat. She was not too happy with me after that comment.

Joe Avati, an Italian-Australian Comedian, pokes fun at the idea of a diet during a comedy show he had. He talks about this while describing the use of a George Forman Grill in an Italian household can be an attempt at a healthy choice gone bad.

La Cantina

If you go into most Italian homes, there is always a room in the basement called the cantina.  The cantina is a cold room where everything is stored. You can find sausages hanging from a broom balance between shelves, sauce, homemade wine, and God knows what else.

I tend to think of this room as a black hole . If you need something, chances are its in the cantina.  When we rebuilt my house we made sure to add one. They are not only useful for storing food, but in the summer they are a perfect place to hide to stay cool!

A group of Canadian comedians talked about the cantina on their online show "Nonna Maria". This video is  spot on in talking about what can be found in there and what it looks like. Chances are they probably went into their Nonna and Nonno's cantina's to get the full affect!

How many Italians does it take to plow a driveway?

Within many Italian families, most of the men either work as landscapers or own their own landscaping company.  When planning family get together or parties, Saturdays are always out of the question since most of the men are doing the landscaping rounds on Saturdays.

Even in the winter, it can be crazy. Since winter time is the off season, many landscapers plow for extra cash. While the money pays well, the mental stress that the rest of  us have to endure is not so great. But the perks to having a landscaper (or ten) in the family means you will never be snowed in!

I give the guys a lot of respect. They work hard day in and day out. From working in the 100 degree weather to below freezing to plow, they somehow always keep going.  For instance, today I am sure many of my relatives have already prepped the plows, stocked up on salt, and have the espresso ready to go once Nemo fully hits.

Nonno and Nonna

In my opinion, if you don't have an Italian Nonno or a Nonna (grandfather or grandmother), you are missing out!  My grandparents are the most hilarious people I have ever met. Half the stuff they say and do shocks me on a day to day basis.

With Nonna (grandmother), the conversation is almost always about food. Whenever she calls the first thing she asks is always "Maria, hai magiato? You eat?" From there the conversation will then go to what did you eat, what time did you eat, who's home, where is everyone, and then she will say the reason she called.  Its a process, but I know she genuinely cares and wants to make sure I am not dying of starvation. I could only imagine what she would do if I said I didn't eat and that I was hungry.

Nonno is the most independent person you will ever meet. He is always up and out of the house going all over. His English is very limited, but  he always manages to get himself to and from Boston on the bus. He knows how much the T costs, where he has to switch buses, what time the bus comes, and so much more. It amazes me on how much he has done with so little English to communicate with others.

They are both very set on their ways and when something  needs to be done they need to do it their way. For example, during Hurricane Sandy part of a tree fell down in front of their house. It was a little tree and it landed on part of their lawn. Instead of letting the storm pass to take care of this small issue, my grandfather went out that exact minute to cut the tree down.  Within the family, we were not surprised at all on his actions. He wanted to get it done right then and there.

This is how they are and at times all we can do is laugh at their actions.  But at the same time, it is something to look up to (well not the part about going out in the middle of a hurricane). They have a drive that sets them apart from others and that keeps them going. Without that drive, they would not be the people they are today. Luckily with this drive, it keeps them young, lively, and full of humor for the rest of us to enjoy.

Benvenuti

Many people that say they are Italian, never know the true meaning behind the culture.  I am the complete opposite of those people. I come from a family that immigrated here during childhood and in adulthood. Both my parents are "fresh off the boat" as I like to say. 


My whole life I have been very proud of being Italian. It can be loud and sometimes crazy, but I would not change it for anything. In this blog, I will talk about the crazy things that we say, do, and some cultural beliefs we have.