Given the prodigious amounts of ice-cream eaten on this day and because it was a day off from school, my Italian-American grandmother recounted she and the other children (as well as most adults) simply referred to the 4th of July as Forza Gelato, which roughly means “Go, ice-cream!” or “Hurray, ice-cream!”
Hmm… “Forza Gelato“? Ostensibly quite a stretch. Then again, say “Fourth of July” quickly 5 times in a row with a strong Italian accent and you’ll notice that the “translation” is quite close, at least phonetically.
So, since so many of you are from the US, please allow us at Italian Notebook to wish you and your families a most Happy Forza Gelato holiday.
– Contributed by GB (see bio), Editor, Italian Notebook.
I’ll second that!
… and BTW, My absolutely favourite gelateria in Rome is “Mela e Cannella” at Via Oderisi da Gubbio 71. It is run by Davide, an Italian who lived in Canada for many years and speaks perfect english. Visit their website at http://www.melaecannella.it/index.html
Mille Grazie, GB for your good wishes in your inimitable style which I love. Happy “Forza Gelato” to my adopted country and to all of my fellow Italian-American compatriots.
Grazie, GB, you made me smile this morning. My grandmother didn’t say it quite that way, but she struggled to learn English so she could take the test required to become an American citizen. She was so PROUD to be an AMERICAN, but never forgot her Italian roots. Happy 4th of July to all who love this country!
THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY GB.
GELATO ICE CREAM BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF WALKING WITH MY FAMILY TO DOWNTOWN CELLE DE. (NEVER HAD A CAR)IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST TREATS ON A HOT SUMMER DAY “PELLEGRINI” I THINK WAS THE NAME OF THE ITALIEN FAMILY THAT HAD COME SO FAR NORTH TO SERVE US SUCH A DELICIOUS TASTE.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY REFRIDGERATION IN OUR HOMES THEN SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW VERY IMPORTANT THEIR WORK WAS TO US.
THIS IS THE FRUIT OF THE LABOR THOSE OF US THAT DARE TO LEAVE OUR HOMES FOR WHATEVER REASON AND TAKE THE GOODNESS WITH US AND ALSO LEARN SO MUCH FROM ALL THE CONTRY CUSTOMS TRADITIONS AND GREAT FOODS AND THEN SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE THAT IS DARING ENOUGH TO TRY :)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL TINA
So charming, loved it. I get so much from this site. As an American I celebrate the 4th, and appreciate your mentioning our greatest American holiday. However as an Italian American I want to share with some of your readers two little know facts about our Declaration of Independence. Two of the signers of that document had an Italian heritage. They are Caesar Rodney of Delaware and William Paca of Maryland. I celebrate my Italian heritage also. Long live the 4th of July and ice cream.
Joanne Dell’Aquila
Buon Forza Gelato a voi!!
Gelato should be the national food for 4th of July and all year long.
Having grown up in the Bronx, New York with an Irish family, I nurtured friendship with my Italian/American classmates hoping for a decent meal once in a while.
My travels have taken me to a lot of places, but Italy is the soul of Europe offering us ART in all forms.
Forza Tutti!
That’s funny!
My wife is a gelato “junkie”
What can you come up if you say “Happy Independence Day” five times fast with an Italian accent?
I’ll lay 8 to 5 it has something to do with food! ;-)
:)
Gelato on the 4th of July ! Now that is a great thought. While being very very proud to be an Ameriacan, my Italian roots are always near and dear to my heart. Wonderful article and tribute. Grazie
Gelato on the 4th of July ! Now that is a great thought. While being very very proud to be an American, my Italian roots are always near and dear to my heart. Wonderful article and tribute. Grazie
A gelato holiday….Brillant!!!
my mother took me to italy 84 yrs ago when i was 4 and i remember her taking me one day to monreale in sicily and us going to a gilatoria(i dont know if i spelled it right)an italian ice cream parlor-and the sight of so many different colored gelliti and cannoli,just overwhelmed me(image 4 yrs old and i still remember it!!!we tried different flvors of ice cream and colors and tastes of the cannoli creams—that was a wonderful day out with my mother!!!
GB, your note had me grinning.
Another good one.
Thanks for sharing such a happy childhood memory
there is a sad part of the story -on that day as we enjoyed the ice cream and connoli–( the ice cream parlor was on a boulevard-we heard screeching of brakes and as we looked out we saw that a bus had hid a boy of about 15 or 16 who had crossed the bus’s path on his bicycl-he was laying on the ground all full of blood, and people where saying that he was dead-i remember that day as it were today -i remember my mother crying and holding me tight and then i cried too–
We toasted to July 4 yesterday with a ‘Forza Gelato!!’ led by Peter Bloom, at a rooftop party in Rome, thanks to this IN entry. Thanks, as always, GB!
Grazie mille.
Ciao