Christmas in Italy

In Italy, the Christmas season is from December 17 -January 6th, but decorations start going up as

early as December 8th.

Eight days before Christmas Eight days before Christmas the children dress up as the children dress up as shepherds and go from house to shepherds and go from house to house singing Christmas songs house singing Christmas songs and reciting poetry. Here they and reciting poetry. Here they receive money to buy Christmas receive money to buy Christmas presents.presents.

On Christmas Eve they follow a strict 24 hour fast

where they do not eat meat. Children also write

letters to their parents explaining how much they

love them (instead of writing letters to Santa)

and are read on Christmas Eve.

Lunch on Christmas is Tortellini in Brodo which is filled pasta parcels

in broth. They also eat cappone (boiled chicken) or roasts.

For dinner, the first course is normally lasagna, which is followed by a mixed roast or a roasted beef for the second

course.

The cake that is eaten is called panettone (on the left) which contains raisins and candied

fruit. The other cake they eat is called pandoro (on the right).

On Christmas Babbo Natale (Father

Christmas) gives everyone a present,

but this is not the main day for gift giving.

Children normally do not receive presents until January

6th. On this day an ugly and kind witch named Befana puts

presents in children’s stockings.