Christmas is a major holiday in Italy which means Italians celebrate lots of great, unique Christmas traditions! Across Italy, Natale tends to be a family-centric holiday, a time to stay at home (and eat!) with loved ones. But customs also vary from city to city, from exactly which dishes are served, to when to open presents, making every region an interesting place to enjoy the holidays.
The Christmas season begins in Italy on the first Sunday of Advent, which is four Sundays before Christmas. In the cold winter weather of the northern mountains and in the mild weather of the south, Christmas fairs feature fireworks and bonfires along with holiday music. Families go to the Christmas markets to shop for gifts and new figures for the manger scene. Some families set up a Christmas tree and decorate it.
Zampognari
Zampognari In southern Italy and Rome, bagpipe-playing shepherds, or Zampognari, perform tunes in piazzas, normally dressed in traditional sheepskin and wool cloaks. The pipers usually travel in pairs down from their mountain homes.
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees have become more and more popular. While the most famous tree in the city is in St Peter’s Square, two of the largest are erected in Piazza Venezia and near the Colosseum. And of course shops, hotels, and restaurants display small trees as part of their holiday themeing.
Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations and trees are becoming more popular in Italy. Lights and decorations are often seen starting on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, or even the end of November. The main focus of the decorations continues to be the PRESEPE (Nativity scene or crèche).
Christmas Food
Christmas celebration, festival in Italy cannot be complete without food or rather a feast. In Italy, many people fast for 24 hours just before the Christmas day. On Christmas day, the fast is broken by having a meal together with the family. Today, not everyone may fast, however, some people skip eating meat on Christmas day.
Christmas Ev Feast
Traditionally, a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve with the family, which includes seven types of fish (for the sacraments) and, depending on the town of origin, as many as thirteen. Baccala (salted dried cod fish), capitone (eel), calamari (squid), scungili (conch meat) and vongole (clams) are typically included in the meal, as are sweets with nuts and almonds.
The Christmas season begins in Italy on the first Sunday of Advent, which is four Sundays before Christmas. In the cold winter weather of the northern mountains and in the mild weather of the south, Christmas fairs feature fireworks and bonfires along with holiday music. Families go to the Christmas markets to shop for gifts and new figures for the manger scene. Some families set up a Christmas tree and decorate it.
Zampognari
Zampognari In southern Italy and Rome, bagpipe-playing shepherds, or Zampognari, perform tunes in piazzas, normally dressed in traditional sheepskin and wool cloaks. The pipers usually travel in pairs down from their mountain homes.
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees have become more and more popular. While the most famous tree in the city is in St Peter’s Square, two of the largest are erected in Piazza Venezia and near the Colosseum. And of course shops, hotels, and restaurants display small trees as part of their holiday themeing.
Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations and trees are becoming more popular in Italy. Lights and decorations are often seen starting on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, or even the end of November. The main focus of the decorations continues to be the PRESEPE (Nativity scene or crèche).
Christmas Food
Christmas celebration, festival in Italy cannot be complete without food or rather a feast. In Italy, many people fast for 24 hours just before the Christmas day. On Christmas day, the fast is broken by having a meal together with the family. Today, not everyone may fast, however, some people skip eating meat on Christmas day.
Christmas Ev Feast
Traditionally, a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve with the family, which includes seven types of fish (for the sacraments) and, depending on the town of origin, as many as thirteen. Baccala (salted dried cod fish), capitone (eel), calamari (squid), scungili (conch meat) and vongole (clams) are typically included in the meal, as are sweets with nuts and almonds.