Cultural Practices and Memories of the Calabrian Grandparents

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the particular role of the first generation, individuals who were born in Calabria and migrated to Australia. It emerged from the analysis of the ethnographic data that these nonni (Italian grandparents) play a major role in the preservation of those cultural practices that the participants see as Italian. This leads to a discussion not only of what being Italian means to the participants, but to a focus that also includes how they feel Italian, on the emotional and affective dimension. The chapter presents an in-depth observation within the ‘domestic places’ of the first-generation participants. Specifically, while the first part of the chapter considers the second- and third-generation participants recalling their own memories—the moments, scents and cultural practices they experienced with their Calabrian parents or grandparents—the second part presents synchronic ethnographic observations of two case studies related to some cultural practices at the homes of the nonni: it presents and analyses the practices of removing the malocchio (evil eye) and making satizzi (sausages). This chapter includes a final discussion with a reflection on how the participants rely on certain objects when performing their Italian identity.