From Brookyln to Hornell to Milan; Italian-American culture is all about family, flavor, and vibrant living
By: Johanna Elattar
October is Italian-American Heritage Month—a time to celebrate the culture, traditions, and contributions of Italian-Americans across the country. For me, it’s also a small personal nod: I’m part Italian on my mother’s side, a thread in the rich tapestry of this heritage.
Some of my fondest memories of Italian-American culture come from Brooklyn, where the streets pulse with energy during festivals and family gatherings. The Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy is unforgettable. What started in 1926 as a humble religious celebration for Italian immigrants has grown into an eleven-day street festival bursting with life. The air is thick with the aroma of roasting sausages and peppers, fried zeppole dusted in sugar, fresh cannoli, and garlic bread that smells like it could conquer the city. Music pours from every corner—accordion, mandolin, voices singing old Neapolitan songs—and the streets are crowded with families, tourists, and locals all moving in a slow, happy parade. Kids tug at parents for candy and balloons while elders share stories of the old country, their accents and gestures painting pictures more vivid than any photograph.
Brooklyn is full of neighborhoods where Italian-American culture thrives: Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, and Dyker Heights are living museums of immigrant pride. Corner delis with hand-written signs, bakeries that have been in the same family for generations, butcher shops with hanging prosciutto and fresh mozzarella—these are more than businesses; they are cultural anchors, testaments to perseverance and tradition. Every Columbus Day Parade, floats decorated in red, white, and green roll down the streets, marching bands play classic Italian tunes, and the community gathers, celebrating both history and identity.
For me, heritage isn’t just about ancestry or bloodlines—it’s about stories, rituals, and the flavors and smells that linger long after the streets are empty. Sunday dinners, where extended family spills into the kitchen and the table groans under layers of pasta, meatballs, roasted vegetables, and homemade sauces, are where I first learned the rhythm of Italian life: laughter over serious conversation, pride in small achievements, and an unspoken bond that ties generations together.
Celebrating Italian-American Heritage Month reminds us that culture is living. It’s in the laughter at a crowded street festival, the aroma of fresh bread wafting down a Brooklyn block, and the quiet pride of a mother passing a recipe to her daughter. Even in Hornell, far from the bustle of New York City, these traditions echo. They remind us of resilience, family, and the importance of keeping our histories alive.
This month, as Italian-Americans across the country celebrate their heritage, I reflect on my small piece of it. From Brooklyn’s vibrant streets to quiet family kitchens, Italian culture is alive, messy, delicious, and enduring—a reminder that where we come from always shapes who we are.
Johanna Elattar is a journalist and author whose work bridges personal narrative and investigative insight. Based in Hornell, NY, she writes for the Hornell Sun and Wellsville Sun, covering local stories, social justice, and national issues. Her reporting has been recognized internationally, her work is featured in the forthcoming 4th edition of Race & Racisms (Oxford University Press, 2026). Beyond journalism, Johanna is the author of the upcoming novella Hollow Echo and regularly explores complex topics with honesty, clarity, and depth, giving voice to overlooked communities and nuanced stories. You can reach her anytime, americangrrl70@gmail.com
