Christmas in Italy is celebrated over several weeks as
Italians celebrate it from early December, depending on the region, until the
day of Epiphany, on the 6th of January. Especially the children look forward to
the start of the Christmas season in December when Christmas trees are put up
and houses are decorated.
There is a festive atmosphere during the whole of December.
Christmas markets with various stalls with typical food, Christmas sweets and
gifts can be visited in many towns.
On 6th of
December, many families celebrate St. Nicholas Day. Children write letters to
St Nicholas asking for gifts and they hang up either a sock or put a plate on
the table on Nicholas day’s eve. Sometimes even St. Nicholas visits the
children’s homes. Then children sing a Christmas carol or recite a poem.
If the children have behaved well throughout the last year,
they will get some fruits, nuts and sweets from St. Nicholas. The naughty ones
usually also get a sweet, although it does not look like coal.
DECORATION
On Christmas
Eve, as in the old Catholic tradition, food is not often eaten during the day
as this is a fast day. The festive celebrations start after midnight mass.
Nowadays, ‘Babbo Natale’, the Father Christmas, brings presents to
children on Christmas Eve.
The most important Christmas decoration in
Italy is the 'presepe' or 'crib'. The crib is made up of Mary, Joseph and the
new baby Jesus.
There are also included in the crib the shepherds and the three wise men
carrying gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Some cribs are very
elaborate and can even have angels hanging above the crib. Others include
animals, rivers and trees. Householders, churches and towns in Italy compete
for the best 'presepe'. Most of Italy’s cribs are made in Naples and this city
in particular has a lot of competition for the best crib. We can find in the
Italian house in Christmas: Stars, candles, lights, Christmas Tree, Angels...
Christmas Decorations and Christmas lights are usually put up from the 8th December which is the feast of the
Immaculate Conception.
CHRISTMAS CHARACTER’S NAME
La Befana is an old woman
of modest means who lived in a shack at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ.
One night, The Three Magi, on their way to find the Christ child, stopped to
ask for directions to Bethlehem and for food and shelter. Having provided their
needs, the Magi thanked the old woman and invited her to join them in search of
the baby Jesus. La Befana begged off, saying she could not leave her home.
Later that night, while asleep, La Befana was awoken by an unusually
bright light. Startled and afraid, she took it as a sign to follow the Magi in
search of the Christ Child. Unfortunately, La Befana lost her way, failing to
find the Wise Men or the manger.
Each year, on January 5th
(the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany), La Befana resumes her search of
the Christ Child. As she travels from house to house, she drops off treats to
sleeping children in hopes that the baby Jesus might also be with them.
Children
hang up their stockings, so that the Befana can bring presents to the good
children. The naughty ones get lumps of black sugar sweets.
FOOD
Italian Christmas meals generally include a wide
selection of meat as part of the second course. Dishes such as braised beef,
roasted chicken with potatoes and roasted veal are common. A sausage made from,
and filled with, pig intestines is also popular in northern Italy.
Desserts are also a common part of an Italian
Christmas meal. Dishes such as nougat are common after the main course. The
main traditional cake served after the meal is called Il pandoro. This cake resembles the Il torrone, which is a Milanese light cake, but does not include
fillings of raisins and candied fruit
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