Her housework, according to the tale, stopped her from venturing out with the three kings on the night they went off in search of baby Jesus. She went off herself later on, with a bag full of gifts for the newborn king. At Christmas, the Italians are especially big on sweet food. Of course, it varies across the country from the city to city - but they definitely have a collective sweet tooth over the holidays! Panettone and pandoro, both examples of sweet bread, are popular across the country and enjoyed by all.
In most Italian households you will likely find a ceppo on display during the festive season. Believed to have originated from the Tuscan area, a ceppo is a pyramid-shaped wooden frame which can be anywhere up to a few feet high. Within the frame there are shelves: the bottom shelf will display a small Nativity scene and those above will have candy, fruit and small gifts on them. A star or little doll may be placed at the top, and sometimes candles are attached to the sides - everyone does their ceppo slightly differently, but the basic premise is the same and they are a popular decoration in Italian homes during the holidays.
Italy at Christmas is incredibly special: spending your day on a Roman Catacombs tour followed by pasta and panettone is so much fun. Opening Hours may vary. However, Customer Service is always available at the hours detailed under "Opening Hours" section. A City Wonders tour is the product of meticulous research, detailed planning, and a passion for providing customers with travel experiences they will cherish forever.
With City Wonders it's not just facts, our passionate guides tell you the stories that bring the sights to life. Extended Celebrations One of the best Italian Christmas traditions is that they celebrate for much longer than other countries.
Visiting the Vatican for midnight mass A popular Christmas tradition for those who live or are staying in Rome is visiting the Vatican for midnight mass with the Pope on Christmas Eve. Skiing into Christmas While some Italians are attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve, others are whizzing down the slopes on Christmas Day. If you stroll down the street, you will be thrilled by all these jolly habits in preparation of the 3-day celebration, starting from the 24th.
Christmas day and Christmas Eve Vigilia di Natale are observed in different ways all over the country, depending on where you are. Some Italians start celebrating with a nice dinner on December 24th, while others prefer a light meal — preferably without meat — and wait for a huge Christmas lunch, the day after.
However, the midnight Mass at the local church is a tradition from the North to the South. The joy of this time rises on December 25th, which is made to eat! This is the perfect occasion to meet up with your family, sit around the table — trust me, almost all day long — and enjoy a delicious and exquisite menu.
The charm of this day lasts until late, while playing board games, tasting Italian delicacies and good wines, and unwrapping all the presents! After all the good cheer of this day, the festivities go on: December 26th, Santo Stefano day, is a national holiday in Italy, and it is obviously another occasion to gather with your loved ones and taste other homemade specialities. Celebrations are not over yet! The last mont of the year, everybody knows, is the time to enjoy.
After these 3 days of merrymaking, the next date is December 31st. January 1st is a day to relax, stay with the people you care most about, and have some traditional food and dessert. As we approach the last day of the year, you may think that the holiday is now over, but for the Italians the answer is still no : Christmas time in Italy is not complete up to January 6th, Epiphany day giorno della Befana.
Nowadays, though, most kids get a symbolic lump of coal in the form of a licorice-flavored lump of black sugar — a wink to the naughtiness in all of them, and a sweet surprise in an ugly form.
From antipasti up to dessert, from breakfast to dinner, and from Christmas Eve to la Befana day, Italians love Christmas delicacies. Even though every family has its own traditions and recipes, there are some common traits up and down the country. On Christmas day the table abounds of different entrees: insalata di mare seafood salad , salmone or tonno fresh salmon or tuna fish , gamberetti in salsa rosa shrimps with cocktail sauce , salumi, and cured meats.
The main portata, depending on the region, consists of the famous tortellini in broth, lasagne or pasticcio, the amazing baked pastas prepared just like grandmas taught. Normally after the main meal, a tasty variety of meat is served. Whatever the menu, all Italians cannot end their lunch without some famous Christmas treats: pandoro and panettone. For occasional travel insights and ideas delivered to your inbox. It's never too early to start thinking about the holidays! From family gatherings to travel plans, festive season is always on the top of our minds - even in the summer!
That's why we're thinking about our winter plans. Whether you're planning to travel during the holiday season, or looking to learn more about how holidays are celebrated around the world or in this blog's case - Italy , Context has got you covered! Winter is an ideal time to visit Italy. Not only are there fewer tourists and shorter wait times at the museums and monuments, but there are many unique festivities and traditions only found this time of year.
For Italians, Christmas festivities focus on the family; locals head to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones. Meanwhile, light displays and Christmas markets pop up throughout the country. While spending the holidays in the spiritual home of Catholicism or just a more temperate climate sounds appealing, it can also be a bit daunting. If you're feeling festive and want to understand what Christmas looks like in the diverse regions of Italy, you can join our upcoming seminar, A Very Italian Christmas with Laura Benitti , where she'll explain all the fun facts and peculiarities behind an Italian Christmas.
For those of you looking for further Italy immersion ahead of a potential trip, check out Context Conversations online seminars and virtual tours of Italy for more inspiration. For a more typical, local experience, head to Piazza Mazzini. There will also be a huge Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia and Christmas lights all around the historic center neighborhoods. In the evenings, relax with hearty Roman winter dishes like pasta e ceci pasta and chickpeas.
You can also sample some of our favorite Roman Christmas treats in our Taste of Rome holiday tour. There are also live music performances and fireworks on Via dei Fori Imperiali by the Colosseum; and on several bridges in Rome, there are outdoor dance parties. Ahead of a visit to Rome, explore Context Conversations online seminars and virtual tours of Italy for anything from Bernini, to the Sistine Chapel, to a cacio e pepe cooking class.
The holiday season in Florence is packed with festivities. You can sit back and relax while watching a Christmas choir perform the Nutcracker, head over to Piazza Santa Croce to get some last-minute shopping done at the German Christmas Market, or design a mix of both on one of our custom tours of Florence. Be sure to try a slice of panforte , the Tuscan version of the Italian holiday treat panettone. Or, see the Lighting of the Menorah at the synagogue Tempio Maggiore.
It can get quite cold during the winter months, so much so that the Duomo roof can be closed to the public due to ice; however, there is still lots to see and do this time of year. Check out Context Conversations to see our Milan seminars and courses. Pop to some of the best museums, peek inside the duomo, and marvel at the Last Supper. Naples , along with Rome, is one of the mildest cities during the Italian winter, with temperatures around 50 degrees F.
That said, it does rain quite often, so indoor activities such as museums and royal palaces are ideal attractions for this time of year. If you're up to braving the rain, a trip to Pompeii is well worth it, as the crowds have thinned enormously from their summer peak. Naples is famous for its presepi nativity scenes , with hundreds erected across the city.
Though the street is so crowded during the holiday season that it becomes a one-way pedestrian thoroughfare.
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