The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a resolution to designate October 2025 as Italian and Italian American History and Culture Month in the state. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Marla Brown, a Republican representing Lawrence County.
Brown, who is of Italian descent and resides in New Castle, described the resolution as meaningful to her personally and significant for the wider community. “New Castle is home to one of the most vibrant Italian American communities in the country,” said Brown. “More than one in four residents here trace their roots to Italy, and their cultural legacy is everywhere. You can see it in our food, family traditions and even in the fireworks that light up our skies. This resolution is about honoring the spirit of hard work, faith and community that Italian immigrants brought with them and passed down through generations.”
New Castle has a high concentration of residents with Italian heritage. Local businesses such as Zambelli Fireworks and Pyrotecnico were founded by Italian immigrants, contributing to both local culture and industry.
Statewide, over 1.4 million Pennsylvanians report having Italian ancestry, making this group one of the largest ethnic populations in Pennsylvania.
“Since 1989, October has been recognized nationally as Italian American Heritage Month,” said Brown. “By celebrating it here in Pennsylvania, we are honoring those who came before us and also reaffirming the values they passed down to us.”
