|
|
AUSTRALIA A MULTICULTURAL NATION THE TOP 2O COUNTRIES FROM WHICH PEOPLE HAVE MIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA, plus THE PERCENTAGE OF THE AUSTRALIAN POPULATION IN JANUARY 1988. England 44% Ireland 17% Scotland 12% Italy 4% Germany 4% Greece 2% Netherlands 1.5% China 1.2% Croatia 1% Poland 0.8% Malta 0.8% Lebanon 0.7% Spain 0.6% Sri Lanka 0.6% Vietnam 0.5% France 0.5% Yugoslavia 0.5% Denmark 0.4% India 0.4% Hungary 0.3% see graph and world map on following pages. ITALIAN AUSTRALIANS There are more than 1 million people of Italian background in Australia. Italian Australians are the now the third largest ethic group in Australia. Italians have been migrating to Australia for 200 years. The largest number came in the years following World War II. SPECIAL FESTIVALS. Most Italians are Roman Catholics and many festivals are linked to religious events. Christmas, Easter and Lent are important festivals for Catholics. Lent is 40 days of self-denial with one final indulgence of food and partying, Carnevale. Many Italians are named after saints, and people celebrate their saint’s day as well as their birthday’s. The Italians are famous for having very close families. One festival they take very seriously is Festa dei Morti, a day when they pay their respects to any of their relatives who have died . Other main events in the Italian community are weddings, christenings and funerals. The celebrations at a wedding included a lavish meal of several courses, with different wines. The tradition was to invite the whole town but costs have become too great. Farming families would also get together to make wine, salami, pasta and bread. Another custom was to get together to distil a spirit known as grappa. Thousands of people from Sydney and different parts of New South Wales attend the Brookvale annual festival of Italian song and entertainment. Every year, an Italian festival is held in Lygon Street, Carlton, Melbourne. Along this street, there are Italian restaurants. A street procession is held , along with all-night pavement parties. TRADITIONAL FOODS. Italian immigrants were among the pioneers of irrigation, grape, sugar and tobacco growing and the fishing industry. They are major producers of fruit and vegetables in Australia.
|
