Festive celebrations
Familie, Familie, Familie. Kein Fest wird so sehr mit den Liebsten verbunden, wie Weihnachten. So weit, so gut. Was aber ist ganz anders zwischen Genua und Ragusa? Folgen Sie uns zu den schönsten italienischen Traditionen rund um die Feiertage.
O Christmas tree
The Christmas tree takes root as early as December 8 and stays until January 6. Indeed, it is often not cut but instead brought indoors complete with soil and pot. Its arrival coincides with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione) on December 8, an important public holiday. This day is also traditionally set aside for decorating the Christmas tree.
Nativity scenes in every home
Naples is not the only place to demand a crib scene: the nativity features in living rooms throughout Italy. Of course, the baby Jesus is only placed in the manger on Christmas Eve. The carved figures probably originated in Umbria. Francis of Assisi, no less, is said to have set up the first crib scene in Greccio in 1223 as a way of bringing the Christmas story to life.
It all begins with Midnight Mass ...
Nothing happens in advance. Christmas officially begins at Midnight Mass on December 24. The whole family gathers beforehand for a traditional meat-free evening meal. Christmas Eve was once deemed to be a day of fasting. Antipasti, fish and seafood are served. Christmas Day itself starts with the sharing of gifts, followed by a hearty Christmas dinner that includes a pasta course, roasted veal or wild boar and a traditional Panettone.
... and ends with La Befana
Italian children receive gifts twice over: first on Christmas Day and again on January 6, known as La Befana (Epiphany). Legend has it that La Befana, a witch-like old woman, heard the joyful news but set out too late. Having missed the star, she is still to this day looking for the Christ child. In the night from January 5 to 6, she is said to fly on a broomstick from house to house bringing presents – or rather, stuffing sweet treats into shoes and socks. Naughty children only get “coal”, fudge that has been coloured black. All the Christmas decorations stay up until January 6. La Befana signifies the end of the Christmas period.
