"I'm not sure, though Paglia mentions it in several interviews -- basically the women are preparing Thanksgiving in the kitchen, they all have dinner, and then the men "recover" by heading outside, gathering around one of the car engines that needs repairs."
Perfectly describes my family's gatherings over the decades.
I hope I got the Italian right in the title of this photo essay.
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It was a gorgeous day outside yesterday and I couldn't help myself.
The Italian is correct. Wholesome Sunday post. I know the phenomenon has been around in Italy for quite a while, social media speaking, since at least the years facebook came around, as there were plenty of popular groups called ''Anziani che guardano i lavori'' - ''Elders who watch construction''. The phenomenon itself has been around since long before I was born. I actually didn't know we came up with a whole term for it, so I'm learning about it from you. Enjoy the sunshine
No, not at all. They mostly live vicariously through the workmen. It's a very Italian thing. I'm sure there were umarelli present when the Vatican was being constructed.
Mar 19, 2023·edited Mar 19, 2023Liked by Niccolo Soldo
i'm italian-american from queens and we had a full committee of old retired gentlemen who supervised the block from a row of folding chairs, where they sat pretty much every day, weather permitting.
they mostly engaged in running commentary but also made sure everyone's kids got off the school bus ok, they helped people carry groceries, they kept an eye on someone's car if they double parked for a few mins, and they were happy to "babysit" if a woman had to run an errand and needed someone to watch her brat.
there were no construction sites to supervise, but i know they would have loved that.
I grew up in a neighbourhood that was heavily Italian, first generation types. The grandfathers couldn't speak more than two words of English, but they sat on their porches all day long and made sure that everything in the neighbourhood was fine as they watched their carefully manicured lawns grow.
technically i was raised by a single mother (my father died), but really I was raised by all the old italians of our block (it really felt like each block was its own universe), some family and some not, but all incredibly loving, kind and hilarious. (they had known my dad so they were especially good to me.)
so when i have to give a sort of shorthand version of my childhood it sounds at first maybe sad, but really it was very rich and very warm, and has given me so many great stories and memories to help remember all those people of the Old World, who no longer roam the earth and have been replaced by the synthetic humans of the 21st century.
The culture here is men will hang out with their male friends in groups while in retirement, and women with their female friends. This is when they are not with children and grandchildren.
I'll probably show this in another photo essay sometime this summer.
In Russia and Ukraine, the old ladies congregate in front of apartment blocks to uncover crimes committed by the local residents. Most girls are determined to be "prostitutes". A friend was found out as an "alcoholic" and his brother a "bandit".
They also feed stray animals, and there are many stories of Russian people's connection with cats, such as a stray cat leading someone to an abandoned baby, a family cat who kept his humans alive during Siege of Leningrad, etc..
Excellent piece! A welcome change-of-pace. Here in the US, your "umarelli" have long been referred-to as "sidewalk superintendents" -- almost always in an endearing way... sometimes less so.
I love it. Makes me think about how the elderly are treated here in the US. On the one hand, we really don't respect them in general, which is heartbreaking. Nursing homes are truly terrible places, where we stuff and send to die the parents who raised us and provided for us and who we are supposed to provide for and take care of if/when they can no longer do so themselves. But on the other hand, as a young adult myself, let's just say I don't know very many elderly people who are worth learning from, who are worth sitting at the feet of to absorb their wisdom and experience like a sponge. I love and respect my grandparents, buy boy do I not want to turn out like them.
I have a better idea of what I was trying to say above. It seems to me that the lack of respect for the elderly we see in the US (and, to a lesser extent, the West at large) is a symptom of a much deeper problem. Well, to be honest, it's probably a couple of problems. (Don't want to take a shortcut and oversimplify things.) I think the idolization of youth plays a part here, along with the rejection of authority (and all old things/the past, for that matter). Modern man must be free from all ties, limits, and constraints, of course. However, I think a more rampant contributor to the problem is the ongoing general breakdown in family and social life. If you never had a good relationship with your parents, why would you want to take care of them? Or if, God forbid, your parents are divorced (or divorced and remarried), how would that work? (Not saying anything about my family with that last bit. Just raising some hypotheticals)
Which portrait is that?
It's very easy to entertain little boys, railway shunting yards and any heavy plant moving about are perfect. Ships too, preferably warships.
"I'm not sure, though Paglia mentions it in several interviews -- basically the women are preparing Thanksgiving in the kitchen, they all have dinner, and then the men "recover" by heading outside, gathering around one of the car engines that needs repairs."
Perfectly describes my family's gatherings over the decades.
Gotta mix it up a bit or things get boring and predictable.
I hope I got the Italian right in the title of this photo essay.
Hit the like button up at the top of the page to like this post. Share it on social media by using the share button. Leave a comment if the mood strikes you to do so, and please consider subscribing if you haven't done so already.
It was a gorgeous day outside yesterday and I couldn't help myself.
The Italian is correct. Wholesome Sunday post. I know the phenomenon has been around in Italy for quite a while, social media speaking, since at least the years facebook came around, as there were plenty of popular groups called ''Anziani che guardano i lavori'' - ''Elders who watch construction''. The phenomenon itself has been around since long before I was born. I actually didn't know we came up with a whole term for it, so I'm learning about it from you. Enjoy the sunshine
Lovely quirky unexpected piece. Well spotted.
Nice photos and explanation of a fun concept. Can we consider umarelli to be the more endearing male European version of the Karen?
I think that these guys are mostly not loathed and are pretty much harmless in comparison....at least the ones on construction sites.
No, not at all. They mostly live vicariously through the workmen. It's a very Italian thing. I'm sure there were umarelli present when the Vatican was being constructed.
i'm italian-american from queens and we had a full committee of old retired gentlemen who supervised the block from a row of folding chairs, where they sat pretty much every day, weather permitting.
they mostly engaged in running commentary but also made sure everyone's kids got off the school bus ok, they helped people carry groceries, they kept an eye on someone's car if they double parked for a few mins, and they were happy to "babysit" if a woman had to run an errand and needed someone to watch her brat.
there were no construction sites to supervise, but i know they would have loved that.
To have those days back...
I grew up in a neighbourhood that was heavily Italian, first generation types. The grandfathers couldn't speak more than two words of English, but they sat on their porches all day long and made sure that everything in the neighbourhood was fine as they watched their carefully manicured lawns grow.
technically i was raised by a single mother (my father died), but really I was raised by all the old italians of our block (it really felt like each block was its own universe), some family and some not, but all incredibly loving, kind and hilarious. (they had known my dad so they were especially good to me.)
so when i have to give a sort of shorthand version of my childhood it sounds at first maybe sad, but really it was very rich and very warm, and has given me so many great stories and memories to help remember all those people of the Old World, who no longer roam the earth and have been replaced by the synthetic humans of the 21st century.
thanks again for another great piece...
Also: if you make it here to Split this year let me know in advance so that we can meet up.
I spent two days with two couples from California here this past week. Great time.
Hilarious- and true!
Though I initially thought it was the glass cube that was awaiting its long-delayed and well-deserved demolition
Same
I think that they're unfortunately keeping it.
Umarell Nationalism Today
I love it. Makes me wonder how my dad will fare in retirement.
The culture here is men will hang out with their male friends in groups while in retirement, and women with their female friends. This is when they are not with children and grandchildren.
I'll probably show this in another photo essay sometime this summer.
In Russia and Ukraine, the old ladies congregate in front of apartment blocks to uncover crimes committed by the local residents. Most girls are determined to be "prostitutes". A friend was found out as an "alcoholic" and his brother a "bandit".
They also feed stray animals, and there are many stories of Russian people's connection with cats, such as a stray cat leading someone to an abandoned baby, a family cat who kept his humans alive during Siege of Leningrad, etc..
Ah yes, the "old women spies". They are common here too.
I personally have been turned in as a spy.
Absolutely vile during corona, I hear: at least the Italian women were.
the neighborhood watch here in the states is a poorly manufactured knockoff of the babushka syndicate
Excellent piece! A welcome change-of-pace. Here in the US, your "umarelli" have long been referred-to as "sidewalk superintendents" -- almost always in an endearing way... sometimes less so.
Hardwired behaviour in men's psychological makeup.
Loved this
This is a beautiful piece of writing, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
What a lovely piece for Sunday morning.
Thank you!
I love it. Makes me think about how the elderly are treated here in the US. On the one hand, we really don't respect them in general, which is heartbreaking. Nursing homes are truly terrible places, where we stuff and send to die the parents who raised us and provided for us and who we are supposed to provide for and take care of if/when they can no longer do so themselves. But on the other hand, as a young adult myself, let's just say I don't know very many elderly people who are worth learning from, who are worth sitting at the feet of to absorb their wisdom and experience like a sponge. I love and respect my grandparents, buy boy do I not want to turn out like them.
That's very sad. My grandfather was magnificent and taught me a great deal, quietly.
I'm really glad to hear that.
I have a better idea of what I was trying to say above. It seems to me that the lack of respect for the elderly we see in the US (and, to a lesser extent, the West at large) is a symptom of a much deeper problem. Well, to be honest, it's probably a couple of problems. (Don't want to take a shortcut and oversimplify things.) I think the idolization of youth plays a part here, along with the rejection of authority (and all old things/the past, for that matter). Modern man must be free from all ties, limits, and constraints, of course. However, I think a more rampant contributor to the problem is the ongoing general breakdown in family and social life. If you never had a good relationship with your parents, why would you want to take care of them? Or if, God forbid, your parents are divorced (or divorced and remarried), how would that work? (Not saying anything about my family with that last bit. Just raising some hypotheticals)
Very nice!
Very nice story. Great pictures. My father was also a crane operator. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure!