20 shades of Mom: discover the journey from North to South.

This year we are about to celebrate Mother's Day and we at Spaghetti & Mandolino want to send our warmest wishes in a fun and cheerful way.

From childhood, the word "mamma" is among the first we learn to say and one of the most awaited. As we grow older, this word becomes a constant call, sometimes exhausting our mothers' patience with our ongoing and numerous requests.

How do you say "mamma"?

Italy, with its rich variety of dialects and regional traditions, offers an intriguing overview of ways to say "mamma". This term, so full of affection and family warmth, takes on different shades depending on the geographical area, reflecting the deep cultural identity of each region.

In the Emilia Romagna, the variety of the dialect is expressed in different forms such as "màdar" and "mèder", while further north, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, the proximity to Slavic cultures and Austro-Hungarian history is reflected in the term "mare". In Rome and in the Lazio, "mamma" remains standard, universally recognized and full of family warmth.

Moving down towards the Liguria coast, we find expressions like "moæ" or "muére" that can also refer to an authority figure like the abbess, demonstrating how language can embrace both the familiar and the formal. In Lombardia, terms like "mader" and "madervida" emerge, the latter being an affectionate reference to the mother as a source of life, particularly used in Brescia.

Crossing the Alps into Piemonte, "maire" reflects the musicality of the Piedmont dialect, while in Puglia, the intimacy between mother and child is warmly expressed with "Ih Mà" and "màmete". In Sardegna, with its unique language, terms like "mama", "immama" and "mare" confirm the distinct island identity.

In Sicilia, "matriperna" enriches the vocabulary with a local variation closely tied to Sicilian culture. In Trentino Alto Adige, "madrivída" blends Italian and German influences in tribute to the mother as a key to life, while in Valle d'Aosta "mare" is used, highlighting the influence of French and Franco-Provençal.

Finally, in the Veneto, you can hear "madre vida" in Chioggia and variations like "mere" in the Belluno Ladin-speaking areas, revealing how the concept of mother is deeply intertwined with the historical and linguistic roots of each region. In Italy, therefore, "mamma" is not simply a word, but a mosaic of sounds and meanings that weave together the cultural fabric of a nation.

Every region has its own sweet for Mother's Day

Besides the different way of saying "mamma", each region also expresses an authentic culinary variety that distinguishes each territory.

This diversity is reflected in local specialties, from north to south, and here are the desserts that are most often used to celebrate mothers or more generally family gatherings.

Piemonte: Bonet and Torta Gianduia

A delicious pudding with amaretti, cocoa, and rum for moms with an intense taste. And for the more refined, a gianduia cake made with hazelnuts from Langhe.

Lombardia: Torta Paradiso

Soft and fragrant, perfect to gift with a chantilly cream or a fruit compote.

Veneto: Tiramisu

A sweet embrace between coffee, mascarpone, and cocoa. The perfect dessert for an elegant and determined mother.

Emilia-Romagna: Zuppa inglese

Layered in colorful alchermes and cream, a cheerful and convivial dessert like an Emilian mother.

Toscana: Schiacciata fiorentina

Light, orange-scented, and dusted with powdered sugar: ideal for mom's breakfast.

Lazio: Maritozzo with cream

A classic Roman delight: a soft sweet bun with a heart of fresh cream.

Campania: Delight with lemon

Fresh, velvety, scented with the Amalfi Coast. A dessert that is pure poetry.

Puglia: Sporcamuss

Small pastry pockets filled with warm cream. Perfect for those who love to surprise.

Sicilia: Cassata and Cannoli

Colorful, rich, and baroque: cassata is the queen of the celebration. But also cannoli, with their crunchiness and sweet ricotta, are a captivating gift.