SICILIANS - Many became fisherman, fish sellers, farmers, or produce sellers.
Sicilians built the Banana * Lemon trade in New York City.
NEAPOLITANS living more in cities, became Barbers, Construction Workers,
Tailors, Shoemakers. Neapolitan stone masons built the subways and bridges across North Eastern America. Neapolitan tailors opened shops. Neapolitan pizzaiolo opened pizzerias and created the pizza business of America.
All Italians, whether Sicilian or Neapolitan were Catholic.
SICILIANS versus NEAPOLITANS in AMERICA
Italian Americans of Sicilian and Neapolitan descent represent the two largest regional groups that shaped the Italian diaspora in the United States between 1880 and 1920. Both originate from Southern Italy, but they possess fiercely distinct cultural identities, dialects, and traditions (a concept known as campanilismo).[1,2,3,4]
Key Cultural & Historical Differences
Origins & Ancestry: Sicilians come from the Mediterranean's largest island, which was historically conquered by the Greeks, Arabs, and Normans. Neapolitans come from the bustling, mainland coastal city of Naples and the surrounding Campania region, which was dominated by Spanish and French rules. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Languages: Sicilian (siculu) and Neapolitan (napulitano) are recognized as distinct regional languages rather than mere dialects of standard Italian. They have entirely different vocabularies, pronunciations, and historical roots. [1, 2, 3]
Cuisine: The culinary staples differ significantly based on local agriculture. Neapolitan food is famous for its tomato-heavy dishes, mozzarella, and as the birthplace of pizza. Sicilian cuisine relies heavily on eggplants, citrus, ricotta, seafood, and Arabic-influenced ingredients (like pine nuts and raisins). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The Italian American Experience
When these groups immigrated, "Italy" as a unified country was relatively new (unified in 1861). In the United States, immigrants did not identify as "Italian"; rather, they identified as Napolitani or Siciliani. Little Italy neighborhoods in New York (like Mulberry Street in Manhattan or Bensonhurst in Brooklyn) were initially segregated block by block based on these hometowns. Over generations in America, these distinct cultures blended to form the broader Italian American identity, though many families still proudly trace their specific regional heritage.
