Task: Symbols

For the first task we discussed different symbols in Italy and Ireland and what they mean in relation to the country's culture. On the first meeting we only discussed the italian symbols which were given. The fisrt symbol was a map of Italy, which Francesca explained was in the shape of a stivaglio (boot), Franceca went on to talk about different parts of Italy and her favourite places where she had been she told us she once visited Sardegna and was in a motorcycle accident when she was younger and had to stay at home for a few weeks cause her lef was badly damaged. The next symbol was a gondola which is famous in Venezia, each gondola has a l'uomo gondolina. Francesca's friend studies in Venice. She told us that Venice has a magical atmosphere and it is bellissimo (very beautiful). The next symbol was of fermaggio e uva (cheese and grapes), Francesca explained that both foods are famous in Italy especially grapes as they make vigneti (wines). The fourth symbol discussed was the Vaticano a Roma (Vatican in Rome) this is a major tourist attraction in Italy as it is the home of the pope. Francesca was unsure what the fifth symbol stood for. The next symbol Francesca explained to us was the gladiatori (gladiators) which was a ancient Roman and Greek tradition and is still strong in the Italian culture. The next symbol was the colesseo which is in Rome and is one of the most famous landmarks in Italy. Leonardo Da Vinci was the next symbol, he was a famous italian artist. The next was a symbol for carnivale (festival) this festival runs each year in Italy and is very famous. Il Papa (the pope) was the next symbol Francesca explained that Pope Francis the current pope is more loved than previous popes as he has italian origins, she also explained that people of higher power in Italy have blue cars and Pope Francis refused a blue car. The next symbol was a mandolina which was a traditional instrument it Italy especially in Napoli (Naples) an example of a song was il sole mio which tanslates as my sun. Spaghetti was the next symbol which really refers to pasta, pasta is the most famous food in Italy, Francesca explained that each region in Italy has different famous types of pasta, in Francesca's region the most famous pasta dish was trofia a pesto. The next symbol was Pisa which is a city in Italy and is famous for the leaning tower which is seen in the symbol. It has a huge tourist attraction and so many people take photographs trying to make it look as if they're holding the leaning tower. Francesca told us that the city is beautiful and small and is quite similar to galway in relation to the size and its location as both are beside fiume (river). Calcio (football) was the next symbol and it is molto famoso (very famous) in Italy. Francesca doesn't have much interest in football but remembers when her team won the final and everyone was going crazy when they won. The final symbol was pizza which is a very important dish in Italy Francesca told us how she misses the pizza from Italy compared to Ireland and is still yet too find a similar pizza in Galway.
We thought the symbols really suited the Italian culture. Two symbols that we may have added would have been a Vespa as they were created in Italy and everywhere has so many. Also we though perhaps Julius Ceaser as he played a huge role in Rome in ancient times.
On our second meeting we discussed Irish symbols and there significance to our culture. We explained to Francesca about the four leaf clover and how it is lucky and that it is worn on St.Patricks day. We told Francesca that the second symbol was a bannor with the Irish colours and balloons which is used to promote St. Patricks day and it's festivities. We explained that the third symbol was a clay pipe which was used to smoke tobacco by both men and women, its manufacturing began in Co. Roscommon dating back to the 1800s, the pipe is not as common now as cigarettes are now on the market. The symbol of the harp has a big significance to the Irish culture as it is known as the Irish emblem, we showed Francesca how the harp is present on Irish euro coins and that it is also on the presidential flag. I also explained that people who played the harp in olden days were highly trained. We used both the symbol of the rainbow and the pot of gold together to help explain to Francesca, we told her that it is an old Irish legend/myth that leprechauns used to chase rainbows to try find the treasure. Next explained was the horseshoe, we told Francesca that this also is supposed to bring luck and that people usually hang them on their home doors -if it's facing in the shape of an ''n'' it's supposed to bring luck to anyone who walks in and if its facing like a ''u'' its supposed to bring luck to anyone who lives in the house. Nonie explained to Francesca and I about the Irish flag and the reasoning behind the colours, green representing catholics, white representing peace between catholics and protestants and orange representing protestants.
Two other symbols that we may have added to the list were the Guinness logo as it was founded in Ireland and is still manufactured here which is still a huge tourist attraction in Ireland and the St. Bridgid's cross as it marks the start of Spring and is an important saint in Ireland still to this day.

New expressions and phrases

Stivaglioboot l'uomo gondolinathe man who rows the gondolas vignetiwines mandolinoa traditional italian instrument