Italian+Argentine+culture

= = As of 2003, about 20 million people who lived in Argentina were of Italian descent, and that number is estimated to be closer to 25 million today, which means approximately 60% of the population has some degree of Italian ancestry. With such a huge number of Italian Argentines it should come as no surprise that Italian history and culture have played a great part in the development of Argentina as we know it today.
 * The Influence of Italian Immigration on Argentine Culture **



**History:**

Large scale Italian immigration to Argentina began in the 19th century, following Argentina’s fight to gain independence from Spain, with the heaviest immigration occurring between 1857 and 1940.

Some of the reasons for emigration included:
 * The Italian economies’ difficulty adapting during the industrial revolution
 * The famine of 1816-1817, also known as the Year Without a Summer, during which abnormalities in global temperatures resulted in major food shortages across the northern hemisphere
 * Cholera epidemics in the mid to late 19th century
 * Social issues such as population pressure and increased taxes in Italy
 * The first and second World Wars and their subsequent economic hardships

In the 19th century, many Europeans were immigrating to Argentina for primarily colonization purposes, and due to a multiplicity of reasons to leave Italy, many of those immigrants were Italian. Argentina offered the promise of a better life, with a great demand for skilled labor in fields such as agricultural production. This influx of immigrants benefited Argentina in the global agricultural market by allowing it to become the main wheat exporter in the world.

**Language:**

Argentina is home to more than 1,500,000 speakers of Italian, but the influence of the Italian language goes beyond that. Argentines, and specifically those of Buenos Aires, are recognized to have a very distinctive dialect; part of this is due to Andalusian influence, but more recent variations are reflective of Italian influence, such as intonation patterns which are similar to Italian dialects such as Neapolitan and differ significantly from other Spanish patterns.

media type="youtube" key="94Py_QNKYSs" height="315" width="420" align="left"Lunfardo is a dialect which originated from slang used by those considered to be in the lower classes. It was often used as slang or jargon in the criminal underworld of Buenos Aires and the surrounding areas, but has since become a part of the mainstream colloquial dialect. Lunfardo’s introduction into popular culture came by way of its inclusion in the lyrics of the popular style of music and dance, tango. Due to its origins, it is considered an excellent source of lyrics, lending a tone of sensuality with its word plays and often risqué tone.

Many Lunfardo words are actually derived from Cocoliche. Cocoliche is a contact language between Italian and Spanish, spoken by Italian immigrants when they first came to Argentina. In Cocoliche, which was mostly spoken by first-generation immigrants, Spanish acted as the lexifier language, but was pronounced with a strongly Italianianized intonation. This leads many experts to believe that along with the realization of Cocoliche came the initial shift in pronunciation that is now characteristic of the Spanish of Buenos Aires.

"El Ciruja" (The Surgeon) is one such example of Tango lyrics filled with Lunfardo.

**Cuisine:**

Italian cuisine is another aspect of the culture which has been transferred and transformed to become a part of Argentine culture as well. Italian staples such as pizza and pasta have become common in Argentine cuisine as well. Pizza in its Argentine form is closer to calzone than what one may think of as a traditional Italian pizza, with typical varieties including: //pizza canchera//, //pizza rellena// (stuffed pizza), //pizza por metro// (pizza by the meter), and //pizza à la parrilla// (grilled pizza), and a variety of different pastas are also oft consumed, including //tallarines// (fettuccine), //ravioles// (ravioli), //ñoquis// (gnocchi), and //canelones.//

One of the ways a blend of the cultures can be observed is in what the pasta is served with. Ways that are uncommon in Italy but common in Argentina include serving pasta dishes with white (or French) bread, or along with stew. Italian dishes that have influenced Argentine cuisine aren't limited to pizza and pasta though, other popular dishes that have Italian names and origins include //milanesa//, //pannettone//, //fainá//, //polenta//, and //pascualina//. Additionally, gelatarias are extremely popular, and demonstrate the blend of cultures with flavors such as dulce de leche, a caramel-like sweet milk based sauce which is popular in Latin America.

**Celebration:**

Italian influences have also made their way into assorted modern Argentine traditions and celebrations. One of these is giving kids presents on Twelfth Night, a holiday celebrated throughout Europe, which has become a tradition in some households in Argentina as well. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is another holiday observed in both Italy and Argentina. Celebrated on December 8th, this celebration honors the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, and is considered a public holiday in both countries. This day also often signifies the beginning of the Christmas season, where more Italian influence can be seen. Christmas in Argentina has carried over features from Italy such as a Christmas tree which is usually artificial and covered by cotton snow, a manger arranged under the tree along with a nativity scene, and a dramatization of the nativity in many public places leading up to Christmas Day called //Pesebre Viviente// (“Living Manger”).

**Sources:**

"About Argentina: Immigration." 6 Dec. 2011. .

"Argentinean americans." __Countries and Their Cultures.__ 6 Dec. 2011. .

"Colectividad Italiana." 4 Dec. 2011. .

Ferradas, Carmen A. "Culture of Argentina." __Countries and Their Cultures.__ 6 Dec. 2011. .


 * Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: [|**http://www.ethnologue.com/**]. **

Rodrí­guez, Adolfo E. "Historia del Lunfardo." 4 Dec. 2011. .

Stewart, Christopher M. "The Role of Cocoliche in the Development of Buenos Aires Spanish Intonation." __Department of French, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.__.

"Unos 20 millones de personas que viven en la Argentina tienen algún grado de descendencia italiana." __Astericos.Tv.__ 5 Sep. 2003. 4 Dec. 2011. .