ItalianChristmas traditions

RELIGIOUS

CELEBRATIONS

8TH DECEMBER

Feast

of MARY’S

Immaculate

conception

This feast celebrates belief in the immaculate

conception of the blessed virgin mary. It is celebrated on 8

December, nine months before the nativity of mary,

which is celebrated on 8 September.

It is a

PUBLIC

holiday

in italy

and it is

the first great

celebration

during advent.

conceived as awaiting the coming of the

Christ-child at Christmas, advent is often marked by the

Advent wreath, a garland of

evergreens with four candles, one for each of the four weeks of

advent.

13TH DECEMBER

SAINT LUCIA’S

FEAST

Lucy was a Christian during the DIOCLETIAN

PERSECUTION. She consecrated her virginity to God, refused to marry

a pagan, and had her dowry distributed to the

poor.

Her would-be husband denounced her as a

Christian to the governor of SYRACUSE - SICILY. Miraculously unable to move her or burn her, the guards took out her eyes

with a fork.

BECAUSE OF HER MARTYRDOM, St.

Lucia Has BECOME THE PROTECTOR OF

SIGHT.

MANY CELEBRATIONS TAKE PLACE ALL OVER ITALY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN SYRACUSE, WHERE

SHE WAS BORN.

25TH DECEMBER

Christmas

day

PEOPLE

Traditionally

celebrate a

midnight MASS

which begins at

midnight.

This

ceremony

marks the

beginning

of

Christmas

Day.

DURING THE

CELEBRATION,

SCENES FROM

THE NATIVITY

ARE PERFORMED,

USUALLY BY

CHILDREN.

6TH JANUARY

THE EPIPHANY

Epiphany is a Christian FEAST DAY that celebrates the revelation of GOD THE SON as a HUMAN BEING in JESUS CHRIST. On this feast, We commemorate principally the visitation of the BIBLICAL MAGI to the BABY JESUS.

The commemoration of thE MAGI’S visit, SYMBOLISING the

manifestation of Christ to the world, MARKS the

formal end of the Christmas season.

Nativity CRIBs

Traditionally, the main focus of Christmas decorations in

Italy is the Nativity scene,

presepe or presepio in Italian. Every church has a presepe and they can be

found in squares, shops, and other public areas. Displays often go beyond the manger scene and may even include

a representation of the entire village.

Many people set up a Christmas crib in their house and figurines for

nativity scenes are made in many parts of Italy, with some of the best

coming from Naples and Sicily. Although the

presepe is usually set up before Christmas, baby

Jesus is added on Christmas Eve.

Vatican City Saint Peter's Square in Vatican

City hosts the popular midnight mass given by the

Pope inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

At noon on Christmas day the Pope gives his Christmas

message from the window of his apartment overlooking the

square.

A large tree and nativity scene are erected in the square

before Christmas.

especially In southern Italy, living nativity scenes, in which real humans and animals participate, are extremely popular. in addition to the classic

nativity scene, they may also feature a mock rural

village, complete with artisans in traditional

costumes working at their

particular trades.

The most famous, and probably the

most elaborated,

nativity cribs in italy are created

in Naples.

In Cesenatico, a nice resort on the

Adriatic sea, a unique nativity scene is set on

board the traditional

fishermen’s boats along the pier.

An international exhibition of nativity

cribs from all over the world can be admired

every year in the

suggestive setting Of Verona’s

amphitheatre.

THE christmas tree

The Christmas tree is often brought into a

home, but can also be used in the open, and can

be decorated with christmas lights

(originally candles),

ornaments, gARLANDS and TINSEL.

An ANGEL or STAR is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the STAR

OF BETHLEHEM from the NATIVITY.

ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST people USED TO

decorate trees with food SUCH AS CANDIES,

TANGERINES, MARZIPAN cakes, CHOCOLATE OR SUGAR DECORATIONS.

CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE CENTRE OF

MILAN

ALONG THE SLOPES OF MOUNT INGINO – GUBBIO – THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS

TREE IN THE WORLD LIGHTS EVERY YEAR.

christmas markets

Although Christmas Markets in Italy are not as big as in Germany, you'll find some good Christmas Markets -

called

Mercatini di Natale - in big

cities and in many villages throughout italy.

Trento market

bolzano market

Trentino-Alto Adige Region in northern Italy is one of the best regions for

Christmas markets.

Many mountain towns hold Christmas markets

selling everything from christmas items to

beautiful local handicrafts.

After dark, the markets are decorated with lights and there are

often other festivities to enjoy.

Stella di Natale

The name of this plant means

“Christmas Star”. Many people like

having one in their homes during the

christmas season.

Christmas gifts

Traditions regarding the exchanging of gifts vary from region to region, as

this might take place either on Christmas Eve or on

Christmas Day.

Presents are left for good children underneath the Christmas tree either by

Santa Claus (called Babbo Natale) or, according to older traditions, by Baby

Jesus himself.

According to tradition, the table must not be

cleared after the christmas eve dinner,

and some milk and biscuits

should be left there, in case baby jesus needed something to eat when

he passes at night.

In some areas of Italy, children might receive other gifts earlier (in some

areas of the North, saint lucia brings

gifts on 13th december) or later by “la befana" (on

6th january)

St. Lucia is popular among

children in some regions of North-

Eastern Italy, where she brings

gifts to good children and coal

to bad ones.

Children are asked to leave some food for Lucia (a

sandwich, or anything else) available at the moment and for the flying donkey that helps her carry gifts (flour, sugar, or salt), but they must not see Santa Lucia delivering gifts, or she will throw ashes in their eyes, temporarily

blinding them.

La befana is a kind old witch who brings

children toys on the Feast of the Epiphany.

According to the legend, the Three magi stopped

at her hut to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem and to

invite her to join them. She declined, but soon

repented.

La befana

As she wasn’t able to reach the magi, she

couldn’t find the baby jesus.

Therefore, Each year, on the eve of the Epiphany,

she sets out looking for him.

She stops at each child's house leaving presents in case the baby jesus is

there.

Children hang their stockings before going

to sleep, hoping the befana will fill them up.

She is said to bring sweets and gifts to good children and charcoal

(nowadays sweet charcoal!!!) or bags of ashes to naughty children.

Christmas traditional

cuisine

On christmas Eve, dinner is traditionally based on meatless

dishes, as it is a vigil. Several fish dishes are served.

Tortelli with pumpkin

Marinated fish

Marinatedeel

Fried baccalà

Tuna salad

In Northern Italy it is more common to celebrate Christmas on the 25th with a family

lunch, consisting of different types of meat dishes, and local sweets.

Cappelletti in brodo

Mixed boiled meat

Pork zampone Pork cotechino

grapes Dried fruit

panettone tangerines

Baked/fried tortellini filled with jam or pastry cream

spongata pandoro torrone

Traditional Christmas songs

Traditional Christmas songs

Tu scendi dalle stelle o Re del cielo,

e vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo,

e vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo.

O Bambino mio divino, io ti vedo

qui a tremar.O Dio beato!

Ah! Quanto ti costò l'avermi amato.

Ah! Quanto ti costò l'avermi amato.

A te che sei del mondo il Creatore,

mancano i panni e il fuoco,

o mio Signore.Mancano i panni e il

fuoco, o mio Signore.

Caro eletto pargoletto, quanto questa povertà

più mi innamora, giacchè ti fece amor

povero ancora.Giacchè ti fece amor

povero ancora.

TU SCENDI DALLE STELLE

Astro del ciel, Pargol divin, mite Agnello Redentor!

Tu che i Vati da lungi sognar, tu che angeliche

voci nunziar, luce dona alle genti,

pace infondi nei cuor! luce dona alle genti,

pace infondi nei cuor! Astro del ciel, Pargol divin,

mite Agnello Redentor! Tu sol nato a parlare d'amor, Tu disceso a

scontare l'error,

luce dona alle genti, pace infondi nei cuor! Luce dona alle genti, pace infondi nei cuor!

Astro del ciel, Pargol divin, mite Agnello Redentor!

Tu di stirpe regale decor, Tu virgineo, mistico fior,

luce dona alle genti, pace infondi nei cuor! Luce dona alle genti, pace infondi nei cuor!

Astro del ciel (Stille Nacht)

Quel lieve tuo candor, neve,discende lieto nel mio cuor.

Nella notte santa il cuor esulta d'amor,

è Natale ancor.E viene giù dal ciel

lento,un canto che consola il cuor

che ti dice "Spera anche tu."

Bianco natal (White Christmas)

È Natale, non soffrire più.Oh...oh oh oh oh

E viene giù dal ciel lento,

un canto che consola il cuor

che ti dice "Spera anche tu."

È Natale, non soffrire più.

Din don dandin don dan

din don din don dansuona allegro

il campanil:è Natale in ogni

cuore...Din don dandin don danche felicità!

oggi è nato il buon Gesù

tra la neve che vien giù.

La renna al polo nordscampanellando va,le strenne porterà

a tutti i bimbi buoni

e dalle alpi al mari bimbi di quaggiù

aspettano quei doniche regala il buon Gesù.

Din don dandin don dan

din don din don danil Natale cambierà:

tutti buoni renderà...Din don dandin don danche felicità!

oggi è nato il buon Gesù

tra la neve che vien giù.

Din, don, dan (Jingle bells)

Venite fedeli, l'angelo ci invita,

Venite venite a Betlemme!

Nasce per noi Cristo Salvatore, Venite adoriamo, venite adoriamo, Venite adoriamo il Signore Gesù.

La luce del mondo brilla in una grotta

la fede ci guida a Betlemme!!

Nasce per noi Cristo Salvatore,

Venite adoriamo (Adeste Fideles)venite adoriamo…

La notte risplende, tutto il mondo

attende seguiamo i pastori a

Betlemme! Nasce per noi Cristo

Salvatore. Venite adoriamo…

Il figlio di Dio, Re dell'universo,

si è fatto bambino a Betlemme!

Nasce per noi Cristo Salvatore.

Venite adoriamo…

Merry christmas!