Joanne Natale Spigonardo
May 7, 2025
Like all Mothers, Italian Mothers have their special remarks and sayings. There were so many poignant comments that my Mother used to say that are worth noting, especially in honor of Mother’s Day. Most of these phrases were actually Italian idioms from different regions of Italy. In the case of Italian idioms the words are worth a thousand images.
When I would tell my Mother that I was definitely going to lose weight, she would smirk at me and say – La canestra mantiene l’aqua? – which means does a basket hold water? In other words, a basket does not hold water – and I don’t believe you will lose weight. It’s not that she didn’t have faith in me, but she knew I couldn’t resist her amazing cookies, cream puffs, and cakes! She was also my soft ice cream connoisseur, and I was her accomplice. Our favorite treat of all treats was vanilla soft ice cream. It didn’t matter if it came from Dairy Queen, Mister Softee, or the fabulous Wana Frost – that we would get at Wannamaker’s every Saturday. So I guess the basket doesn’t hold water, but the memories are beautiful and rich.
As my Mother was aging, I would accompany her to some of her friend’s funerals, and she would say you shouldn’t feel so bad about her, you know her husband will be fine – and then remark – quello chi muore, muore – quello chi rimana si sposa – which means the one who dies, dies – the one who remains gets married. We then would have to leave the services so that we didn’t break out in a fit of laughter. It’s not that she didn’t have sympathy, but she was just remarking on what her Mother and Grandmothers would say at funerals. These sayings last lifetimes. Like springtime flowers, these comments just pop up and I always savor them.
I accompanied my Mother several times to Italy in my teens and in my twenties. We would argue about the expense of the trip, but would always agree that we should go, not only to visit my Grandmother, and my Aunts and Cousins, but because we loved to travel, and we were partners in crime during those trips. She would say to me often during those trips, e meglio vivere un giorno da leone che cento da pecore – which means it’s better to live one day as a lion than a hundred like sheep – she would also say in Neopolitan dialect, quando hai un giorno buone ti la piglia – which means when you have a good day, you gotta grab it.
On our flight home from Italy, Mom would reminisce about our adventures and talk about them all the way home. She was Italy homesick for a few minutes, but then was so happy to get back to our family in Philly. She would remark how beautiful the places in Italy were but then would say – casa e dove il cuore e’ – which means, home is where the heart is.
Wishing you and all the Mother’s in the Universe a Happy Mothers Day, there is no greater gift than being a Mother!
About the Author
Joanne Natale Spigonardo has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, music, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB. For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.
Hidden Treasures of Italy 