A Cuban living in Italy recently shared some fascinating insights about her marriage to an Italian in a TikTok video that quickly caught the attention of her followers.
Jany (@janyoficiall) named her video "What They Don't Tell You About Marrying an Italian," where she outlined three cultural surprises she has encountered in her relationship in just over a minute and a half.
The Sacred Art of Pasta
The first and most notable point revolves around pasta. According to Jany, for Italians, "pasta is a completely sacred thing, and you must learn to cook it properly." The rule is non-negotiable: al dente, following the cooking time on the package. Cooking it too soft — to the extent of throwing it against the wall to see if it sticks — is, in her words, grounds for divorce: "If you're not married yet, forget about it, because you never will be."
Controversy Over Hawaiian Pizza
The second revelation involves Hawaiian pizza. Jany admits it's her favorite, but her husband reacted negatively each time she ordered it at a restaurant. "He told me that what I was basically ordering was garbage," she recounts. Nevertheless, the Cuban woman stands her ground: "I keep eating it because I want to."
Religious Differences
The third point touches on religion. Although Italy has a strong Catholic identity — around 78% of its population identifies as Catholic, according to the AP — Jany's husband is an atheist. Faced with this difference, the couple made a mutual decision regarding their daughter: "We agreed that she will choose her religion when she grows up; if she wants to belong to any religion, we won't interfere."
Jany also highlights the straightforward nature of Italians when expressing opinions, particularly about food, which was initially surprising to her but is now something she manages without issue.
Cultural Adaptation and Mixed Marriages
The video is part of a growing trend on TikTok where Cuban women living in Italy share their cultural adaptation experiences in mixed marriages. In May, another Cuban woman with an Italian partner went viral for discussing misunderstandings stemming from Cuban affectionate expressions like "my love" or "my life," which were taken literally by her partner.
Earlier in March, a Cuban woman in Italy reported that some Italians use their partners' immigration status as a control tactic in mixed relationships.
The Cuban community in Italy is predominantly female, with 69.3% being women, and marriage to Italian citizens has historically been a primary pathway for arriving in the country.
"I do see that most Italians are super Catholic, but well, I ended up with the one who's atheist," Jany humorously concluded, summarizing the uniqueness of her story.
Insights into Cuban-Italian Marriages
What cultural challenges does Jany face in her marriage?
Jany encounters cultural challenges such as the Italian reverence for cooking pasta perfectly, differing opinions on Hawaiian pizza, and religious differences, as her husband is an atheist while Italy is predominantly Catholic.
How does Jany handle her husband's disapproval of Hawaiian pizza?
Despite her husband's disapproval, Jany continues to enjoy Hawaiian pizza because she likes it and chooses to eat it regardless of his opinion.