All Holiday Cafe

Christmas around the World: Italy

by Sandy Mitchell on July 3rd, 2008

As we continue our “Christmas in July” celebration, we look at Christmas traditions in other countries. Today, we’ll look at Christmas in Italy. Below are just a few uniquely Italian holiday traditions:

• The Italian Christmas season isn’t limited to December 25. There are several special days, ranging from the Feast of St. Nicolas on December 6 to Epiphany on January 6.
• Traditional Italian Christmas foods include Italian Christmas dishes include baccalà (salted dried cod fish), vermicelli, baked pasta, capon, and turkey.
• Traditional Italian holiday decorations include a creche with a vaulted top and filled with the nativity scene figures. Many Italian cities hosts live tableaux of the manager scene.
• Italian holiday baked goods include panettone (cake filled with candied fruit),torrone (nougat with honey, almonds, and hazelnuts), and panforte (gingerbread).
• On Christmas Eve, La Befana, a kind of female Santa Claus, visits the children of Italy and fills their shoes with candy and small presents.

Buon Natale!

For more “Christmas in July” posts, see:
Creating a CD holiday tree, from Peggy at “Junk Creation”
Getting Ready for Holiday Quilting Season from Mary Emma at “Quilting and Patchwork”

^{(photo © pierricrblons/cc license)}

Share This

Related Stories

All About ChristmasChristmas in July Roundup100 Days ’til Christmas

POSTED IN: Christmas