CHRISTMAS IN ITALY

Class 5Primary School

DervioItaly

Class 5Primary school

Dervio

ITALIAN TRADITIONS

DURING THE PERIOD PRECEDING THE HOLIDAYS, TRADITION CALLS FOR THE

SETTING UP OF THE PRESEPE (CRIB) AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE. BOTH ARE USUALLY

PREPARED ON THE 8th OF DECEMBER AND REMOVED ON THE 6th OF JANUARY.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

THE TREE IS USUALLY A FIR, REAL OR FAKE, DECORATED WITH COLOURED ORNAMENTS AND MULTICOLOURED LIGHTS.

THE CRIB

THE FOCAL POINT OF DECORATION IS THE CRIB. THE "PRESEPE" IS THE EXACT REPRODUCTION OF THE SCENE OF

JESUS'BIRTH AND ITS SURROUNDING, RENDERED WITH BEAUTIFUL STATUETTES.

THE TRADITION OF THE CRIB IS PARTICULARLY STRONG IN NAPLES.

ZAMPOGNARI AND PIFFERAI

BAGPIPES ARE THE MOST COMMON ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SOUND. IN MOST ITALIAN CITIES

BAGPIPERS AND FLUTE PLAYERS PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC IN TOWN AS YOU DO YOUR

SHOPPING.

CHRISTMAS SWEETS

EVEN IF THE MENU VARIES FROM REGION TO REGION, PANETTONE, PANDORO AND

TORRONE ARE ALWAYS PRESENT ON THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS TABLE.

PANETTONE

PANETTONE IS A LIGHT, YET RICH CAKE CONTAINING RAISINS AND CANDIED FRUIT.

PANDORO

PANDORO IS A DELICIOUS, BUTTERY CAKE COVERED IN ICING SUGAR AND CHARACTERIZED BY A LIGHT, FLUFFY, GOLDEN DOUGH.

TORRONE

TORRONE, THE MOST TYPICAL OF ALL CHRISTMAS SWEETS, IS MADE WITH HONEY

AND EGGS, TO WHICH CHOCOLATE,ALMONDS OR PISTACHIOS ARE ADDED.

LA TOMBOLA

THIS FORM OF BINGO IS A HUGELY TRADITIONAL FAMILY PAST TIME IN ITALY AT

CHRISTMAS.

THE EPIPHANY

CHILDREN HANG UP THEIR STOCKINGS ON THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY, JANUARY 6th.INSTEAD OF SANTA CLAUS, THEY ARE

EXPECTING THE "BEFANA". SHE IS AN OLD LADY WHO RIDES AROUND ON A BROOM.

GOOD CHILDREN FIND SWEETS AND GIFTS IN THEIR STOCKINGS AND NAUGHTY CHILDREN

FIND COAL.

BUON NATALE!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!