Customs and etiquette

1. CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE
IN ITALY
4th Project Meeting in Latvia
(04-08 April 2016)
Multidisciplinary Flipped Learning with ICT
Erasmus+ KA2 Project
FLwICT
(2015 – 2017)
Istituto Comprensivo San Giorgio di Mantova/ITALY

2. • Introduction and greetings
• Gift giving etiquette
• Dining etiquette
• Social norms in public spaces
• School rules

4. When you’re introduced
to an Italian, you should
say ‘Good day’
(Buongiorno) and shake
hands. A single pump is
enough.
When being introduced to
someone in a formal
situation, it’s common to
say ‘Pleased to meet you’
(molto lieto).
‘Hello’ (Ciao) is used only
with friends.

5. It’s also customary to say ‘Good day’ (Buongiorno) or ‘Good
evening’ (Buonasera) on entering a small shop, waiting
room or lift, and ‘Good day’ or ‘Goodbye’ (Arrivederci) on
leaving.
«GOOD
DAY»

6. In a formal situation, when talking to a
stranger (particularly older Italians) or with
people of higher rank or authority, it is
necessary to use the courtesy form of
address: the third person singular feminine
‘Lei’ is used to address people of both sex.
Don’t use the familiar form ‘Tu’, second
person singular, until you’re invited to do
so.
FORMAL SITUATIONS

7. Titles should generally be used when addressing or writing
people, particularly when the holder is elderly. ‘Dottore’ is
usually used when addressing anyone with a university
degree. ‘Dottoressa’ if it’s a woman.
Professionals should be addressed by their first titles such
as Professor (Professore), Doctor (Dottore), Engineer
(Ingegnere), exc…
TITLES

9. Italians are very generous gift givers. Their attitude
towards gift giving is awe and the person receiving
the gift thanks the person who gave him the gift.
Italian children are taught to put a lot of thought into
the selection of a gift, considering their recipient's
interests and tastes.
Gifts are also expected for social events and to express
thanks for an invitation.

10. Gifts are expected at New Year's,
Ephipany, on Valentine's Day,
Mother's Day, Father's Day,
Christmas, on Name Day and
Birthday.

11. Things you have to DO
Gifts should always be
beautifully wrapped.
Gifts are usually opened
in front of the giver
when received.

12. When invited to someone's home, always bring a small
gift for the host or hostess. Give chocolates, flowers (an
uneven number), wine or pastries.

13. Things you dont’t have to DO
Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.
Do not give red flowers as they indicate secrecy.
Do not give yellow flowers as they indicate jealousy.

14. Do not wrap gifts in black with gold ribbon, which
symbolizes mourning.
Do not wrap gifts in purple as
it is a symbol of bad luck.

15. Brooches, handkerchiefs or knives are gifts associated with
sadness.
The price paid for a gift should
never be referenced.

17. TIME
Italians usually have
lunch at 1.00 PM and
dinner at 8.00 PM.
Lunch is the most
important meal of the
day.
If you are invited
remember that
punctuality is not
mandatory.
You may arrive between
15 minutes late if
invited to dinner and
up to 30 minutes late if
invited to a party.

18. DRESS
Italians are well known for their
attention of dressing-up well.
Even people in small towns
spend a great deal of money
on their wardrobes and dress
well at all times.
If an invitation says the dress is
informal, wear stylish clothes
that are still rather formal, i.e.,
jacket and tie for men and an
elegant dress for women.
Men and women dress
conservatively and formally
for business.

19. Italians are proud of their
homes and love to give
tours. Feel free to ask for
a tour when invited into
someone's home.

20. TABLE MANNERS
Remain standing until invited
to sit down. You may be
shown to a particular seat.
Follow the lead of the hostess -
she sits at the table first,
starts eating first, and is the
first to get up at the end of
the meal.
The host gives the first toast.
An honoured guest should
return the toast later in the
meal.

21. TABLE MANNERS
Always take a small amount at
first so you can be cajoled into
accepting a second helping.
It is acceptable to leave a small
amount of food on your plate.
Do not keep your hands in your
lap during the meal; however,
do not rest your elbows on the
table either.
The fork is held in the left hand
and the knife in the right while
eating.

22. DINING AND
ENTERTAINMENT
Business entertainment is generally done at lunch or
dinner in a restaurant.
Dinner entertainment is more of a social occasion to get to
know people. Business discussions are usually very
limited.
If you invite, you pay for the meal.

23. DINING AND
ENTERTAINMENT
Cocktails are not
common in Italy.
Drinking without
eating is rare.
Hard drinking is
unusual and not
appreciated.
Women drink very
little in Italy.

25. THE PEOPLE
Personal relation are
scrupulously
maintained with
loyalty highly valued,
especially in families.
The family is the most
important affiliation in
Italy.

26. BODY LANGUAGE
Maintain eye contact
while talking, otherwise
Italians might think you
are hiding something.
Italians are known for
using the most body
language of all European
nations.

27. SHOPS
Shopkeepers will help one
person at a time, first come-first
served. Be patient!
Do not handle the produce! Tell
the shopkeeper what you want.
Same in clothing stores.
Do not start riffling through a
pile of neatly folded shirts or
the staff will freak out! Tell the
shopkeepers what size and
colour you want, they will
serve you.

28. CAFÉ-RESTAURANTS
In most cafés, you are expected to go to the
cash to pay immediately, then to bring the
bartender your receipt and, when served,
to drink or eat standing by the counter.
If you sit at a table and wait to be served, a
surcharge is often applied.
Italian people usually dress well when
dining out.
It's forbidden to smoke in public spaces such
as restaurants, café, etc...

29. HELPFUL HINTS
Stand when an older person
enters the room.
Cover your mouth if you must
yawn, but try not to yawn.
Men should always remove
their hats when entering a
public building.

31. GENERAL RULES
The students are required
to use the structures correctly,
the labs and the other things.
For any damage the single
pupil must pay for it and if the
person doesn’t come out all the
people of the classroom are
held responsible.

32. ABSENCE
Come to class on time. A delay must be justified and reported
on the class register; if it is for more than 5 minutes students
can be admitted in the class only at the beginning of the second
lesson.

33. Students must attend the lessons regularly and be
engaged in studying. When the students are
missing from the lessons they must bring a note
from their parents to justify their absence.
For an absence of more than 5 days they must bring a
medical certificate in order to be accepted at school.

34. DRESSING CODE
In Italy, school uniforms are uncommon but you have to dress
properly, it means not coming in flip-flop, in singlet, short
skirt or short trousers.
.

35. SMOKING RULES FOR
TEACHERS AND PUPILS
In our school smoking is forbidden. If you
smoke in the school area there are penalty
from €250 to€ 2500, so respect it.

36. DRUGS AN ALCOHOL DRINKS
Drugs at school are totally forbidden and
alcohol drinks as well.

37. PUNISHMENTS
In our school we have different sentences and punishments, for
the violations of different rule.
If someone has bad behaviour in class like disturbing or lacks of
respect towards the teacher and all the school staff there are
many types of punishments, according to the gravity:
- Bad score in behaviour
- Notes or communications to the parents
- Suspension from the lessons for one or more days

38. Other bad behaviours like using electronic devices or
damage to the building and the belonging objects are
punished in this way:
Retreat indefinitely of the mobile phone, if you use it
during the lessons;
Compensation for damages to the school’s structures.

39. ADDRESSING TEACHER
In Italian schools you must use formal language towards the teachers by
calling them “Teacher” (Professore/ Professoressa) and addressing
them by using the third person singular feminine “She” (Lei) for both
sexes, instead of the second person “you” (tu).
The students must be always polite and kind to them because they are
adults, respect is first!
Example:
All the class must stand when a
teacher comes in class
Pupils must use appropriate
words when talking to a
teacher.

40. Sources
• https://www.justlanded.com/english/Italy/Articles/Culture/Social-customs-
in-Italy
• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-country-
profile.html
• http://www.ediplomat.com
• http://www.giftypedia.com

41. Prepared by…
INTRODUCTIONS AND GREETINGS: Giavara Asia,
Badari Alec Indaco Deborah Romeo Anna
GIFT GIVING:
Aldighieri Francesco Carli Sofia Cenzato Federica
Montorio Martina Rebecchi Chiara

42. DINING ETIQUETTE:
Busi Arianna, Gazzoni Mattia, Gialdini Greta, Zamboni Alessandro.
SOCIAL NORMS IN PUBLIC SPACES:
Balboni Greta Rebonato Filippo
Bonafè Riccardo
Rossi Alessandra
Variati Sara.
SCHOOL RULES:
De Melo Fabryne, Alessandro Bottardi, Alice Tucci, Aurora Oliveri.

44. "The European Commission support for the
production of this publication does not
constitute an endorsement of the contents
which reflects the views only of the authors,
and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained therein."