7 Italian Christmas Traditions
Tomorrow is Christmas, making it the perfect occasion to wish you Buon Natale (Merry Christmas) and share some fun facts about how we celebrate Christmas in Italy.
To keep this easy to digest. unlike the mountains of food Italians will enjoy over the next few days, I’ll lay it all out in a numbered list.
The Christmas season in Italy begins on December 8th (La Festa dell’Immacolata Concezione) and ends on January 6th (Epifania, also known as la Befana). Many families put up their Christmas decorations around December 8th and take them down after January 6th. While most children open their Christmas gifts on December 25th, in some families, the tradition is to receive gifts on January 6th from la Befana (a kindhearted witch-like old lady). This is of course cruel and unusual punishment and we, at Italian with Antonio, do not endorse such a practice. 😂 For extra sweetness children across Italy traditionally find candy (or coal) in a stocking on January 6th from la Befana.
In addition to the traditional Christmas tree, which comes from Nordic traditions, Italian families often set up a nativity scene called presepe. This tradition is especially significant in the South, particularly in Naples. Many towns even organize live nativity scenes (presepi viventi) to celebrate the arrival of baby Jesus.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash Families in Italy typically gather on Christmas Eve, honoring the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat by opting for fish dishes instead (as meat represents the body of Christ). Common choices include baccalà (salted cod) and capitone (eel), though these vary greatly by region. Families often reconvene on Christmas Day and again on December 26th (Santo Stefano) for more feasting and socializing. The celebrations continue with gatherings on December 31st for the big midnight celebration and again on January 1st to ring in the New Year. While every family has its own unique traditions, this general template is followed by most.
On Christmas Eve, it’s traditional to attend la messa di Natale (midnight mass). However, tired children and non-Catholics often skip this tradition.
Aside from mountains of food (especially in the South), it’s common for Italians to snack on nuts, torrone, struffoli, and other sweet treats. But the real rivalry that divides Italians into two camps is between panettone and pandoro. Panettone, with its fluffy texture, candied fruit, and raisins, is beloved by some but disliked by others who aren’t fans of dried fruit. Pandoro, on the other hand, is soft, buttery, and very sweet, often filled with chocolate, custard, or pistachio, making it less of an acquired taste. During the Christmas holidays, you’d be hard-pressed to find an Italian household without at least one (or both) of these iconic cakes.
Many families enjoy gambling during their holiday gatherings, often playing card games for fun. However, the undisputed queen of all Christmas games in Italy is Tombola, a bingo-like game that’s played with numbered cards and a lot of excitement. It’s a festive tradition that brings generations together, from grandparents to kids, for laughs and a little friendly competition.
For some completely random reason, the 1980s movie Trading Places (Una poltrona per due in Italian) has become a Christmas staple in Italy. Much like Die Hard in North America, it’s not a traditional holiday movie, but you can count on it being broadcast on TV every year during the festive season.
Which of these traditions do you find most appealing?