Italian, Sicilian in Italy

Introduction / History

Sicilians are the people who live in the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Sicily is part of Italy. Though they speak Sicilian, Italian is the language of commerce. Sicilian is regarded by UNESCO as a minority language. It contains a lot of other linguistic influences whereas standard Italian is more directly traced to Latin.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Sicilians are known for their generous hospitality and strong families. The idea of being independent from the family, especially as a young, unmarried family member, is anathema. People often live with their parents until they get married, often in their early 30s. This is partly because of the strong family but partly because there is a high unemployment rate among the younger generation.

One of the reasons Sicily’s economy is weak is because of organized crime. Businesses try, often in vain, to not pay protection rackets. Politicians are often corrupt, which makes things difficult for everyone.

Time schedules are fluid; people can’t take opening hours seriously for businesses. Water usage is sporadic since pipes are often not working properly.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sicilians are dedicated Roman Catholics, though many are secularized. This is a Catholic culture, and even those who don’t find spiritual truth in the church will attend festivals honoring saints.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sicilians need to look to Jesus Christ for true spiritual nourishment. He is the bread of life!

Prayer Points

Pray for Sicilian followers of Christ to disciple others in the ways of Jesus.

Pray for the Sicilian to give God praise for all he has given them and make gratitude an important part of their spiritual lives.

Pray for a Holy Spirit directed revival in Roman Catholic churches in Italy.

Text Source:   Joshua Project