Christmas in Italy

 

The end of the year is a party that comes with it. Throughout Italy, Christmas decorations continue to dominate as they prepare to usher in the new year. In this sense, Italians have very special traditions. These include a midnight concert with fireworks. Red underwear is also often worn as it is believed to bring good luck. Italians believe that the first person they meet when leaving home after midnight is a harbinger of what awaits them throughout the year. In this way, if you meet an older person, it means longevity and luck, but if you meet the opposite sex, it suggests that you will have great love affairs this year. In Italy, New Year's Eve is a big celebration of Christmas. In this case, their traditions are distinguished by superstitions and rituals that must be followed. The first of these said that as soon as the new year begins, one should eat zampone e lenticchie, spicy minced pork served with lentils. This plate symbolizes abundance, money and luck. At midnight, ...

Cioccolata calda: There is nothing more delicious and appetizing than a cup of cioccolata calda. If you add panna montata or spices, such as cinnamon, it remains one of the most appreciated tastes of the winter season. Vin Brulé: This traditional Italian drink can also be prepared at home. For best results, it's best to buy full-bodied red wine, oranges, lemons, and highly aromatic spices. The basic recipe can be enriched by adding red berries, honey and other spices such as star anise, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg to taste. Zabaione: A custard that immediately signifies hometown and tradition: zabaglione made with beaten egg yolks, sugar and a touch of Marsala wine. It can be served hot with dry biscuits and a portion of panna montata. Bombardino: Especially popular with skiers drinking in high-altitude cabins, the drink is made with coffee, eggnog, whiskey, and Italian cream. Again, there are many variations: the whiskey can be replaced with brandy, grappa, or rum. In winter y...

The religious, cultural and traditional heritage associated with Christmas is a dimension particularly rich in very ancient elements. Among them, the musical aspect cannot be missing, since Italy has a great tradition related to Christmas songs. These songs historically have a Christmas theme and were originally composed in Italy or even composed in other countries and rewritten in Italian. His verses are part of the collective imagination, creating the Christmas spirit year after year. He is one of the most famous Italian Christmas carols. Tu scendi dalle stelle was written in 1745 at Deliceto, Foggia, by Sant'Alfonso Maria de Liguori of Naples. The song consists of seven stanzas, six each, with a complex compositional scheme. Popular tradition quickly picked up on the letter and made some changes. Lyrics: The following link will send you to the cideo of the carol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgdy-X5cogs

Christmas is a great excuse to spend time with the family, so another Christmas tradition in Italy is enjoying the Christmas markets. Buy Christmas gifts for your loved ones little by little and buy a unique handmade ornament... The illuminated stalls, the music, the smell of mulled wine and the majestic Christmas tree create a wonderful Christmas atmosphere. The Bolzano Christmas Market is the largest and oldest Christmas market in Italy and offers many activities for adults (such as presentations of bestsellers by leading authors) and children (pony rides, carriage rides, etc.). The dates to enjoy this great Christmas market are as follows: from November 28 to January 6.

The houses and streets of cities troughout Italy begin to fill decorations and lights. Theese are the main Italian Christmas decorations made by tradition. The Christmas tree in Italy is made on December 8 and is taken down on January 6. Originally, the pine tree was mainly decorated with dried fruits, cookies, oranges, and candles. Today these are replaced my colored lights of all kinds, decorated balls, ribbons and bows. In addition, tradition, provides that a star be placed on the top. In Italian cities, during festive period, Christmas tree is set up in one of the main squares. Perhaps not everyone knows why the balls are used, Acording to a legend, a poor juggler who found himself in the streets of Bethlehem was sad because he couldn´t afford a gift to bring to Jesus, Then, he decided to made a show with his colored balls, making the boy smile. Very widespread is also the custom of making the Advent calendar. It´s a cardboard with 24 boxes that represent the days of waiting at Chr...

Christmas food in Italy is basically family friendly, and even today some modern families enjoy an Italian Christmas brunch with shared food and drinks. The most traditional option is still the great Christmas meal, which sometimes lasts several hours and offers a dozen dishes. Christmas in Italy is a time to eat meat in abundance. Meals at Natale typically begin with a traditional Italian antipasto, which includes cured meats such as salami and prosciutto, olives, roasted peppers, artichokes, local Italian cheeses, and more. The following dishes will include pasta, with some places offering fettuccine bolognese, ravioli, or pasta al forno (baked pasta). Then comes the main ingredient: meat, which can also be enjoyed in various dishes. Some families prefer broth or boiled meat, while some roast is a must. Lamb, roast beef and even stuffed guinea fowl are usually offered. After all, some families also eat some sausage or chops before dessert.

You are likely to see ceppo in most Italian homes during festivals. It is believed to have its origin in the tradition of the Tuscan region: Ceppo is a pyramidal wooden frame that can be several centimeters high.   There are shelves inside the frame: the bottom shelf will display a small nativity scene, and the top shelf will hold sweets, fruit, and small gifts. On top you can place stars or dolls and, sometimes, candles on the sides.   Each ceppo cooks a little differently: some make campfires that don't burn until January 6, while others even make edible ceppo! Tronchetto di natale is a rolled pionono filled with chocolate cream or peanut butter and decorated with bark and chocolate in the shape of a green leaf. A real Christmas tree!

The most typical sweets and desserts in Italy during Christmas: Panforte  in Toscana: It was born in Siena in 1000. Panforte is one of the richest Italian Christmas desserts. It is a thick, flourless fruit cake with added honey, spices, candied fruits and almonds. The name literally means "strong bread". Pangiallo   in Lazio: Since the time of the Roman Empire, pangiallo (literally "yellow bread") has been made on the winter solstice as a good omen for the return of long, sunny days. That is why it has a golden crust due to the mixture of flour, oil and saffron. It also contains nuts, candies and raisins. Torrone : Torrone, the Italian equivalent of nougat, is another popular sweet at Christmas in Italy. Italian torlon is one of the best torlons of its kind and comes in many different flavors and textures. This sweet and chewy white treat is sprinkled with toasted almonds and traditionally prepared with honey, sugar, egg whites, and your choice of nuts and other f...

The most typical sweets and desserts in Italy during Christmas: Pandoro  in Veneto Since the time of imperial Rome, panjarros (literally "yellow bread") have been prepared on the day of the winter solstice as good omens to announce the return of long, sunny days. Thus the mixture of flour, oil and saffron gives a golden crust. It also contains nuts, candied fruits and raisins. Panettone   en Lombardia The most famous Italian Christmas dessert, also abroad. He was born in Milan in the 9th century. The classic recipe includes flour, eggs, butter, raisins and candied fruit; Although today there are many versions such as chocolate or pistachio. Nepitelle   en Calabria: Nepitelle calabresi is usually prepared for Christmas and Easter. Its name comes from the Latin word "nepitedum" (eyelid), because these sweets resemble closed eyes. They are filled with nuts, dried figs, almonds, Strega liqueur, and dark chocolate or honey.

In some Italian cities, especially in Rome, yhe eternal City, you will see men playing the bagpipes in the city squares. Know as "Zampognari", they are dressed as shepherds. Traditionally, it was the shepherds who would walk from their homes in the mountains to the town squares to collect extra money by playing the bagpipes to entertain. The word zamponga is etymologically related to the Greek  symphōnia (συμφωνία), which means "harmony or agreement of sound"    (from σῠν- syn-, "with, together" + φωνή phōnḗ, "sound")  and later to a type of bagpipes. It is related to tsampouna, the Greek island word for the bagpipe (itself a loanword from zampogna), Romanian cimpoi, meaning "symphony" or "many sounds played together", and Georgian  čiboni. This is a tradition based on the legend that shepherds visited and played bagpipes on the night of Jesus' birth. The Zampognari tradition dates back to Roman times, and it's a treat...

For those who live or stay in Rome, a popular teadition is to visit the Vatican with the "Papa" on Christmas for the midnight mass at 21:00 Metro. And it´s aabsolutely free. It will also be broadcast from Saint Peter´s Square so that those who can´t acces the cathedral can see the "Papa" up close and enjoy the mass. If you´ve been to the Vatican on a guided tour, you know that that the square is huge an absolutely berautiful. When Christmas arrives, the giant tree and the baitiful nativity scene become even more magical. Some Italians attended midnight mass on Christmas Eve, while others hit the slopes on Christmas day. In the north of Italy, people ski down the mountains at midnight.

Traditionally, Italians do not eat meat on Christmas, also known as “la vigilia di natale”. Instead, they serve a wide variety of fish dishes, sometimes as many as seven seafood dishes, on their holiday tables. This is typical of the day and night before any religious celebration: it is eaten lightly to cleanse the body before the festivity. The most popular fish dishes vary throughout the country. In Rome, they enjoy a treat called pezzetti: artichoke, zucchini, and broccoli fried together. In Naples, instead, shellfish and broccoli are sautéed. In addition to fish, Italians naturally serve pasta dishes on Christmas Eve. Again, the specific pasta dishes vary depending on where in the country you are. Places like Piedmont and Lombardy to the north eat lasagna stuffed with anchovies, while Naples tends to serve pasta with mussels or clams. Italy is traditionally a Catholic country and therefore it is customary not to eat meat on Christmas Eve. Catholic tradition prohibits eating mea...

In Spain and Mexico, tradition tells that the three Wise Men from the East are in charge of bringing gifts to children during the night of January 5-6. However, in countries like Denmark, Sweden, the United States or France, Santa Claus or Santa Claus is the figure in charge of distributing them and making the dreams of the little ones come true on the night of December 24. Each country has maintained its traditions, and Italy could not be less. The tradition of the Befana witch in Italy maintains the existence of a careless old witch who, with a headscarf, broken shoes and a sack, flies over the roofs of houses on the night between January 5 and 6. La Befana descends through the chimneys to fill the children's socks with toys, chocolates, sweets or coal. The term "Befana" is an abbreviation of the word Epiphany, which derives from the Latin "Epiphany" and the Greek επιφ?νεια which means "apparition". Therefore, the Befana festival is celebrated on...

One of the best Christmas traditions in Italy is that they celebrate for much longer than in other countries. Its festive season officially begins on December 8, which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, also known in other countries as the "Day of the Virgin." It lasts until January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas, known as the Epiphany. The Epiphany is related to the Three Wise Men, who arrived in Bethlehem following a star twelve days after the birth of the Child Jesus, with gifts of myrrh, incense and gold. This festivity represents the closing of the Christmas holidays - it even has its own rhyme that reads "L'Epifania tutte le feste porta via", "the Epiphany puts an end to all parties" - and the beginning of Carnival. In Italy, the Carnival period begins on January 7 (the day considered the end of the Christmas holidays) until the Tuesday before the beginning of Easter Lent (the day before Ash Wednesday). It is a season full of colors,...

In Italy, Christmas officially begins on December 8th, the day of the "Immaculate Conception". It is tradition to put up the Christmas tree and prepare the "nativity scene". The crib corresponds to the most famous: Naples and Greccio. Naples means "the cradle of Christmas" it was there in southern Italy where the first representation of the birth of the baby Jesus was made in the fifteenth century. That first “nativity scene” created with clay figures marked history forever, because it marked the beginning of a tradition that other countries and artists around the world would soon join. In Greccio, Italian tradition says that “San Francisco de Asís” set up the first "nativity scene" in history, in the year 1223 where three years before his death, Francis prepared to celebrate the birth of the child Jesus, in order to excite the devotion of the faithful. Santa Claus is known in Italy as Babbo Natale and he brings gifts to all bambinos on Decem...