My Culture

My family has a lot of traditions. Too many to count. They are made up of all different sorts of cultures. Food would have to be our main way we show our traditions however. We have to ring in the new year with black-eyed peas and pork and sauerkraut. On Easter, mom makes pickled eggs. On Thanksgiving, we have lime jell-o with carrots and cabbage and the usual turkey. On Christmas, we all have ham.
These traditions of different foods makes up the culture my family has become. I am unsure of where these foods have come from I wish I knew or remembered. I am a mix of Irish, German and Belgium for sure. I think my cultural background becomes interesting when I discuss my Italian family. And for all of my knowledge, have zero Italian in me.
My mother’s sister married my uncle who is half-Italian. A few years ago, his family decided to contact the family who still lived in Italy. My cousin became a chef and traveled to Italy to visit. He is now fluent in Italian. It is not odd anymore to walk into my aunt’s house to have the smell of some Italian recipe simmering on the stove, or have rapid Italian fired at you. This past summer, two Italian cousins visited and I found myself saying a few phrases.
I was jealous that I do not know my background very well, or have contact with foreign relatives because it is something fun and fascinating to do. I feel that I am a part of the Italian family who I am not related to. It’s how they make you feel. But it is also nice to come home to my mom’s and have some odd recipe set in front of me. One day, I hope to learn more about my family. Until then, I don’t mind what I have.