There may not be a lot of snow in most of Italy, but an Italian Christmas will be one to remember. Christmas in Italy is an extended season that starts in early December and goes to early January. Rich and fascinating traditions abound from Milan to Positano, yet they differ in surprising ways. Even the giver of gifts may change, depending on where you live: a king, a witch, a saint, or a father figure.
Food is an important part of an Italian Christmas, so you’ll want to brush up on how to order food in Italian and learn about Italian coffee. And since Vatican City is the central headquarters of the Catholic church, plenty of religious Christmas experiences will be found. But mostly, Christmas is about traditions, cooking, friends, and family—just like many other parts of the world.
To prepare for an Italian Christmas abroad or at home, learning Italian will help you enjoy the festive mood even more. Then you’ll feel confident wishing buon natale (Merry Christmas) to everyone you meet. For now, explore 12 Italian Christmas traditions that you might want to do at home or join while you travel.
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1. Decorating on December 8 during Immacolata Concezione
The Immacolata Concezione (also known as Immacolata or Feast of the Immaculate Conception) is celebrated on December 8 in Italy. This special day originates from Catholic dogma to celebrate the conception of the Virgin Mary, who is said to have been born free from original sin.
December 8 is when many Italians go to the Christmas markets, start their holiday shopping, and decorate their albero di Natale (Christmas tree). Italians adorn their holiday trees much like the rest of the world, yet they may favor ornaments made of natural materials like wool or wood. As this is a national holiday, many people do not work and you may see parades and other celebrations before big dinners with friends and family.
2. Shopping at local Christmas markets
Italy is known for the Christmas markets that can be found all over the country. You can find everything from food and wine to handmade decorations, crafts, and toys. Many of these are made by local artisans. Depending on the city, there may be a few stalls to find hot drinks, heated spaces, or charming cottage-like structures for chatting with people you meet.
You’re sure to see presepe (nativity scenes) while being entertained by live music, acrobats, or even pupi (puppets) in a marionette show. One of the best things to do in Naples is to explore Via dei Presepi, which is a street with generations-old shops largely dedicated to the making of Nativity scenes. It’s open year-round but really comes to life during the Christmas season.
3. Crafting and displaying presepi
A presepe is a nativity scene and the plural is presepi. Originating with one of the most important Italian (and Catholic) saints of all, St. Francis of Assisi, presepi recreate the scene of Jesus’ birth. St. Francis used live people, which still happens in many areas for brief periods of the day or evening. But since the 18th century, Naples has been the primary location dedicated to nativity scenes. Neapolitan presepi may include 20 or more figures from bakers and beggars to children and court jesters.
In the northern town of Sutrio, craftspeople carve and dress wooden nativity figures from unwanted trees. No matter where Italians get their nativity scenes from, they usually set them up on December 8. This is also the day when public nativity scenes—like the one in St. Peter’s Square in Rome—are also displayed.
4. Listening to the zampognari
Zampognari are musicians who play the zamponga, a traditional bagpipe-like instrument with a history steeped in folklore. Wearing peaked hats and sheepskin leggings and vests topped off with capes, the zampogna players come from mountainous regions near Naples and Rome, representing the shepherds attending Jesus’s birth.
Historically, zampognari were also real shepherds themselves. Today, they wander the streets at Christmastime playing songs such as the well-known Tu scendi dalle stelle (You Come from Starry Skies) and stopping at nativity scenes to show their respect.
5. Baking iconic Italian Christmas dolci
The most famous Christmas dolci (desserts) of Italy are panettone and its variation pandoro—both are slightly sweet, spongy, tall breads. Rounded and often cooked in parchment paper, panettone contains ingredients like candied fruit, raisins, and chocolate chips. On the other hand, pandoro, taller by nature, foregos most additions for a powdered sugar coating. The dough for each of them is slightly different too. Whichever one you try, we’re sure you’ll love it, especially when accompanied by a nice mulled cider at a Christmas market.
A few other much-loved Italian goodies for Christmas include:
- Cavalluci: These are spice cookies with walnuts from Siena.
- Pangiallo Romano: This is a heavy cake with honey, nuts, dried fruit, and sometimes chocolate. This Christmas dessert from Rome is almost a meal in itself, especially when it’s savored with a glass of sweet wine.
- Torrone: This white nougat candy, often eaten with espresso, is flavored with honey and nuts.
- Panforte: Rich and dense, this Christmas fruitcake from Siena has nuts, chocolate, figs, and dried fruit. It’s often served with coffee or red wine.
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6. Celebrating Festa di Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia is the patron saint of the blind and the city of Siracusa (Syracuse) in Sicily where she was born. December 13 is the date that a feast is held to celebrate her. In northern Italy, St. Lucy acts as a bearer of gifts, bringing children their Christmas presents on a donkey. So instead of milk and cookies, these children leave biscuits and carrots to thank the traveling donkey and saint.
Meanwhile, the city of Syracuse celebrates her martyrdom with a procession of some of her relics (some are found in Venice) and a heavy silver statue of the saint. Families often honor Santa Lucia with a special meal or candles, since Lucia means “light” in Latin. She is often depicted with a wreath on her head topped with candles, and the oldest daughter in a family might dress up in a white robe and candled wreath to honor her as well.
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7. Hosting a Feast of the Seven Fishes
Some of Italy’s most famous dishes are made with gifts from the sea since the country is surrounded by water. Seafood holds its own place in a feast that begins on Christmas Eve. Many Catholic Italians (and Americans) will forgo meat this evening to enjoy a feast of seven types of fish or at least a few varieties of seafood dishes.
Baccalà (salted codfish) is one of the most popular dishes around Italy, but each region might also have their preferred dishes. For instance, in Naples you’ll find baccalà prepared alla napoletana (Neapolitan style) with tomatoes, olives, capers, potatoes, and olive oil then served on a crusty piece of fresh Italian bread. In Rome, you might find a delicious minestra di pesce (fish soup). But gnocchi with tuna and tomatoes is popular in Sardegna.
8. Attending a festive midnight mass
Many people around the world attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, but for a Catholic, there’s nothing like attending midnight mass at the Vatican. Mass at Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter’s Basilica) is free but requires tickets. Make sure to get them in well in advance!
No matter where you are in Italy, churches will be adorned with greenery and a nativity scene and every church will hold a midnight mass. Larger ones like Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) in Venice even offer mass in several languages. Anyone is welcome to attend these remarkable religious celebrations at Christmas.
9. Embarking on a weekend of skiing
While most people think of the warmer regions of Italy, northern Italy has some spectacular mountains that are part of the Alps of Europe. Italy’s mountain ranges are fondly known as the Dolomites. It’s here that many people choose to take a weekend and go skiing. In fact, the city of Turin, Italy, hosted the winter Olympics of 2006, which means you’ll find some great runs here. Some ski areas in Italy even do late night skiing around the holidays where you can join a parade of skiers holding torches as they slalom down the slopes.
10. Waiting for La Befana and Babbo Natale
Children in Italy are twice blessed when it comes to Christmas presents. They receive gifts on the night of December 24 from Babbo Natale (Papa Noel) and on January 6 from La Befana (a Christmas witch). Families gathered together on Christmas Eve might exchange gifts among adults, but the children wait for Babbo Natale for their first set of gifts.
Depending on the region, children might only get presents from Babbo Natale, La Befana, or Santa Lucia, who we mentioned earlier. As in other parts of the world, Italian children are encouraged to be good throughout the year so they don’t get a lump of carbone (coal) at Christmas.
11. Playing a game of Tombola
After Christmas meals and presents, Italians might play tombola. It’s a little like bingo with 90 numbered pieces and a cartellone (game board) with 15 randomized numbers ranging from one to 90. Some tombola boards have colorful images on them while others just have numbers. In many areas, friends and family will pay a little money for each board and the winners receive the money as their prize.
The most popular version originated in the Neapolitan region of Italy as an alternative to the lotto (lottery game) that was being taxed in the mid 1700s. Tombola was created by the people without a tax and it quickly grew popular. Today, families enjoy playing in friendly competition on a cool winter’s eve.
12. Wrapping up the season on the day of Epifania
The Italian Christmas season officially ends on January 6, which is Epifania (Epiphany) when La Befana arrives with gifts for the children. La Befana, a generally friendly Christmas witch on a broom, brings candy and toys to the good children of Italy. Legend has it that the three magi, or three kings, asked La Befana how to reach the baby Jesus after his birth, but she ignored their request, later regretting it.
Since then, she has tried to make up for her negligence by rewarding children with presents. Also, some children in Italy receive gifts from the three kings. No matter who Italian children believe will bring their presents, they’ll send letters asking for their preferred gifts in December and go to bed early on January 5 in hopes of receiving their Christmas wishes.
Individual cities and towns celebrate the Day of Epiphany in different ways, but in Florence there’s a calvacata dei magi (three kings parade) complete with richly costumed actors portraying the three kings on horseback and the Holy Family. Musicians in Renaissance dress play horns and drums for the parade, a children’s choir sings carols, and thespians enact a live nativity set in an open-air stable with hay bales and donkeys.
Let Rosetta Stone help you celebrate Italian Christmas Traditions
As an international holiday, Christmas stems from the same biblical story, but it manifests in very distinct ways—and Italy is no exception. Whether it be a candle-lit procession remembering the patron saint of light or eating panettone listening to zampognari, there are endless traditions in Italy to experience.
If you want to understand Italian culture even more without spending your weekends with verb charts, cozy up with our downloadable courses in the Rosetta Stone app from the comfort of your armchair until you leave for your natale in Italia.
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