ABSTRACT
Traditions may begin to affect the Italian American child even before birth. Beliefs about conception, pregnancy, and childbirth have influenced his or her parents’ behavior and contribute to matters directly affecting the child such as his or her birth date, number of siblings, and relationships with father and mother. A child born at any time during the month of January may be immune from the effects of being “overlooked” and may have power over snakes, so prospective parents might pace themselves accordingly the preceding April. A strong belief in prenatal marking has characterized Italian American pregnancy lore. A birth was heralded with celebration, at least by members of the immediate family. Spicer reported in the 1920s that Italian Americans saluted the birth of a boy by drinking three glasses of wine and of a girl by drinking two glasses, the lesser amount due to her being “born to suffering.”
