The Superstition of the Number 8
In Naples, the cradle of pizza, there is a curious superstition: pizza should never be cut into an odd number of slices.
Tradition has it that the perfect number is 8, a symbol of infinity and prosperity.
According to popular belief, cutting pizza into an odd number of slices brings bad luck.
This tradition has ancient roots and is connected to the symbolism of numbers in Neapolitan culture.
The number 8, in the Neapolitan smorfia (the system of dream interpretation linked to the lottery game), represents the Madonna, a figure of great popular devotion.
The Most Expensive Pizza in the World
If pizza was born as a popular and cheap food, today there are decidedly luxurious versions.
The world's most expensive pizza was created by chef Renato Viola for an exclusive event in Salerno. Named "Louis XIII" in honor of the French king, this pizza cost around 8,300 euros.
The ingredients? Three different types of rare caviar, Atlantic Ocean lobster, Cilento red prawns, Himalayan pink salt and organic stone-ground flour.
The whole thing is served with Krug Clos du Mesnil 1995 champagne, Remy Martin Cognac Louis XIII and accompanied by white-gloved service.
Fun fact: to prepare it, the dough needs 72 hours to rise.
The Real Neapolitan Pizza and its Rules
The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), founded in 1984, has established a rigorous specification that defines what can be called "true Neapolitan pizza".
According to these rules, the dough must contain only flour, water, salt and yeast; it must be worked by hand, without the aid of rolling pins or machines; it must rise for at least 8 hours and must be cooked in a wood-fired oven at 485°C for 60-90 seconds.
The dimensions are also regulated: the edge (cornicione) must not exceed 2 cm in height and the pizza must have a maximum diameter of 35 cm.
Only two variants are recognized as authentic: the Marinara and the Margherita.
Today over 800 pizzerias worldwide are certified by the AVPN.
Pizza in Cinema and Pop Culture
Pizza has earned a prominent place in popular culture and cinema.
From the famous pizza throwing on the roof in "Breaking Bad" to the scene in "Eat, Pray, Love" where Julia Roberts savors a Neapolitan pizza, the food has become a global cultural icon.
Particularly famous is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' passion for pizza, which has influenced generations of children.
In Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing," a pizza restaurant becomes the fulcrum of racial tension, while in "Mystic Pizza," the film's titular restaurant is the center of the narrative.
Pizza is also the protagonist of numerous songs, from Dean Martin to One Direction.
Traditions and Rituals of Consumption
In Italy, pizza has its own consumption rituals.
In Naples, traditional pizza is not served pre-cut but whole, and the customer cuts it personally with a knife and fork or, more informally, folds it into a "booklet" or "wallet" to eat it with his hands.
Another tradition is "pizza a ogge a otto" (pizza today for eight), a Neapolitan custom that consists of paying for a pizza today and promising to pay for another in eight days.
This informal credit system, based on trust, was common in popular pizzerias and reflects the social role of pizza as a food accessible to all.
Discover all the curiosities and traditions about Italian pizza
In our ebook "The Magic Art of Italian Pizza" you will find even more anecdotes, curiosities and traditions related to pizza, along with authentic recipes and professional techniques to prepare real Italian pizza in the pizzeria and at home.
If you are interested in the paper version visit my sites:
Italian version: web https://lartemagicadellapizzaitaliana.jimdofree.com/
French version: https://lartmagiquedelapizzaitalienne.jimdofree.com/
English version: https://themagicalartofitalianpiz.jimdofree.com/