At the table you don't talk about politics or religion.
po-LI-ti-ca — stress on second syllable. 're-li-GIO-ne' — stress on third syllable.
Know this guideline for Italian dinner conversation, especially in mixed company. While Italians are passionate about politics, raising divisive political or religious topics with people you don't know well is considered bad form at the table.
This Italian table rule ('galateo') reflects the importance of food as a unifying, pleasant experience. Politics and religion are divisive. In practice, Italians break this rule constantly — but among family and close friends. With strangers or at formal dinners, it is wise to keep to 'safe' topics: food, travel, family, sport.
Meglio evitare l'argomento politico a tavola.
Better to avoid the political topic at the table.
Gentle warning to a companion before a mixed dinner.
Cambiamo argomento.
Let's change the subject.
Diplomatic phrase when a conversation starts getting heated.
A tavola si parla di cose piacevoli.
At the table you talk about pleasant things.
The positive version of the rule.
The 'Galateo' is a 16th-century Italian etiquette manual by Giovanni della Casa — one of the first books of social manners in the Western world. Many of its rules about table behaviour and social grace are still operative in Italian culture today, even if few Italians know its name.