Table Appointments and Cultural Etiquette
Italian dinners are usually a long affair, especially celebration dinners. Sitting down at four
in the evening to eat and getting up at eight is not that unusual when your host is Italian.
When setting a table Italians use starched linen tablecloths in pale colors or white. Bread is
placed on tablecloths beside the plates at casual dinners, only formal dinners have a
specific bread plate as part of the table setting. Long breadsticks in a vase are sometimes
set like stem lilies, which is a decorative way to serve bread. There should be wine, as it is
almost as important as food for any Italian dinner, and there should be plenty of it.
In Italy, greetings are enthusiastic but fairly formal. The usual handshake with direct eye
contact is enough to be polite with strangers and ladies should extend their hand first to
men. Once a relationship between two people develops, kissing, without full contact
between the lips and both cheeks, starting with the left cheek is often added. However, if
both are men then a pat on the back is typical. First impressions are important, so it is
essential that you demonstrate good manners and respect when greeting people, especially
for the first time. Dont use first names until you have been invited to move to a first name
basis. Until then use last names and appropriate titles.
If you are invited to an Italian house, being on time is not mandatory. You may arrive 15
