Christmas in Italy is rich with traditions going back for centuries. Some traditions vary from region to region but much is the same throughout the country. Italians celebrate Christmas for nearly a month, from December 8 to January 6 with a strong focus on religion, family, friends, and incredible traditional foods. The official start of the holiday season is December 8 with the celebration of Mary and the Immaculate Conception.
One of the most incredible scenes in Italy during Christmas time is the beautiful presepe or nativity scene erected throughout the country. Italians favor presepes over our traditional Christmas trees. Nearly every church has a presepe and they are often found outdoors in public areas. Jesus is placed into the scene when the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve. Instead of writing a letter to Santa Clause, Italian children write letters to tell their parents how much they love them. The letter is traditionally placed under the father’s plate and read after Christmas Eve dinner.
Christmas Eve is the biggest holiday of the year for Italians. It’s common practice throughout Italy not to eat meat on Christmas Eve. Many Southern Italians enjoy a full fish feast on that day, which include seven different varieties of fish. There is no set menu for “The Feast of the Seven Fish,” but if you are invited to an Italians home to celebrate a traditional Christmas Eve, you can expect to find such popular dishes as baccala (cod fish), eel, clams or other shellfish, octopus, scungilli (conch), calamari, mussels, swordfish and more. This feast is always followed up with traditional Italian desserts—struffoli (honey balls), panetone, cannoli, cookies, torrone (nougat), chest nuts and more. Midnight mass is celebrated with family and watching as the Pope appears on his famous balcony on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day is celebrated with another family gathering and a feast of different sorts. A typical meal consists of antipasto, pasta, lamb and more desserts.
The celebration of the Epiphany commemorating the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem on January 6 ends the holiday season. On that day, Italian’s wait for La Befana, the Italian Christmas witch. Legend says, upon hearing the news of baby Jesus, she went in search of him but never found Him. Since she can’t bestow gifts on Him, she leaves toys, candies and fruit for good Italian children every year on that day. If the children have been bad, they will find their shoes filled with coal. La Befana is the best known legend in Italy.
However you choose to celebrate the holiday season, may you be surrounded by your own traditions of family, faith, love, peace, and awesome food. Buon Natale!
Visit our website to see our complete catering menu at www.italiavalencia.com . To place your holiday order, call us today at 661-294-9069. Italia is located at 27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Suite 55, Valencia.