Historical & Current Events dictionary
Italian American Heritage Month
or Italian Heritage Month [ ih-tal-yuhn uh-mer-i-kuhn her-i-tij muhnth ]
What is Italian American Heritage Month?
Italian American Heritage Month is a month-long observance in the US in celebration of the culture, contributions, and lives of Americans with Italian heritage, including Italian immigrants and their descendants in the US.
It is often observed with educational and cultural events, including celebrations like fairs and parades. Many people also use the Flag of Italy emoji 🇮🇹 and the Spaghetti emoji 🍝 during the month as a way of showing their pride and heritage.
When is Italian American Heritage Month?
Italian American Heritage Month is observed each year in October.
Where does Italian American Heritage Month come from?
Italian American Heritage Month was first officially declared in 1989, and it has been observed every October since.
October was chosen for Italian American Heritage Month due to Columbus Day being observed on the second Monday in October. Columbus Day commemorates Italian navigator Christopher Columbus, who was among the first Europeans to land in the Americas (in 1492). Celebration of Columbus and his role in the colonization of the Americas is often criticized due to the devastating consequences for Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples. Many people object to the celebration of Columbus Day and instead observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
However, Italian American Heritage Month as a whole is seen as a time to appreciate and value the positive contributions of Italian Americans to the history and culture of the United States. Along with celebratory events, its observance often involves educational events, including those that teach about the history of Italian immigration to the US (which began around 1820) and that debunk the negative stereotypes sometimes associated with Italian Americans.
Examples of Italian American Heritage Month
Who uses Italian American Heritage Month?
Did you know … ?
- Italian Americans are one of the largest ethnic groups in the US. There are more than 20 million Americans of Italian descent.
What are other words used in discussion of Italian American Heritage Month?
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of Italian American Heritage Month like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Italian American Heritage Month that will help our users expand their word mastery.