Enjoy the monthlong celebration! The meat and pasta make a serious comeback on Christmas day for the cenone big dinner , and there is often a kind of meat-filled pasta in broth. There are lots of seasonal goodies to indulge in throughout the country, as well, including panettone.
The sweet cake filled with raisins and candied fruit is eaten after many meals during December and January. In major cities, you will find towering Christmas trees taking over the main square and smaller trees are increasingly decorating Italian homes.
However, even though the trees are gaining popularity as Christmas decor, the true Christmas scene-stealer is the presepe or presepio. Presepe are nativity scenes that depict the manger scene, with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. In addition to the central figures, presepe can grow into huge, elaborate displays with handpainted figures and motorized moving parts. You will find them in homes, as well as in almost every church and in many other central locations around towns and villages.
La Befana is usually depicted as a witch, and legend has it that this kind old woman was out sweeping when the Three Wise Men invited her to join them as they set out to visit the newborn King. It is common practice for Italian children write letters to Babbo Natale Father Christmas asking for Christmas presents. Christmas meals include:. However, gift-exchanging also occurs on Epiphany.
Christmas Day is a national public holiday in Italy. Organizations and businesses that are closed include:. Transport options, such as taxis, rail services between major cities and major long-route bus lines, are available but travelers are advised to check routes and timetables with the local transport authorities.
Italian Christmas traditions are based on Christianity but are also traced further back to the Pagan celebrations of Pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti, pre-dating Christianity.
Whether you're taking a Rome tour or skiing in the Italian Alps, here are 8 Christmas traditions from all across Italy! One of the best Italian Christmas traditions is that they celebrate for much longer than other countries. Their festive season officially starts on December 8 - celebrated with the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. It lasts right the way through until January 6, the 12th day of Christmas, known as the Epiphany. Throughout December, you can combine sightseeing and seasonal activities.
Take a Catacombs of Rome tour followed by all the festive fun you can imagine, or do a Rome city tour and see how many of the below traditions you can see in action. Instead they eat a variety of fish dishes - sometimes up to seven courses of seafood! Popular fish dishes vary across the country. As well as fish, of course, the people of Italy have pasta dishes on Christmas Eve. Again, the specific pasta dishes vary depending on whereabouts in the country you are. Places like Piedmont and Lombardy in the north will eat lasagna filled with anchovies, while in Naples you are more likely to be served vermicelli with mussels or clams.
A popular Christmas tradition for those who live or are staying in Rome is visiting the Vatican for midnight mass with the Pope on Christmas Eve. This actually happens at 9. Enjoy learning about the world!
Happy Travelling! All rights reserved Privacy Policy Disclaimer. Homepage Christmas Christmas in Italy. St Peter's Basilica and Christmas Tree. Italian Christmas Market. San Nicolo, the Italian name for Saint Nicholas.
Typical Nativity Scene. Crib in the Messina Cathedral. Typical Zampognari. Babbo Natale, the Italian Santa Claus. Christmas Stockings for everyone. Typical Italian Panettone. Merry Christmas.
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