Il Christmas it is a magical period, made of lights, Christmas carols and happiness in the air (which for a while makes you forget the sadness of these months). Christmas is also synonymous with property, family, food and not only. There are many Christmas traditions in Italy, some even centuries old. So how is this festive period celebrated in our country? They are common customs, such as theChristmas tree, il crib or the inevitable Panettone/Pandoro on the tables on the evening of the eve and during the lunch of December 25th. On the other hand, Christmas in Italy is also made of local traditions very diversified (in many northern regions these are related to rites of fire). Here are some examples of Christmas traditions, from north to south of the boot (including islands).

Northwest regions

In Valle d'Aosta the unmissable appointment for Christmas lovers are the markets, such as the famous one Marché Vert Noel of Aosta (November 20 - January 6). While typical dishes of this period are the Valpellinentze soup, made with cabbage and fontina cheese, the carbonade from Valle d'Aosta, or a beef stew with spices, and the famous mont blanc, sweet chestnuts with whipped cream. In Piemonte, one of the most particular Christmas traditions is the Bonfire of Abundance. This is celebrated in the churchyard of the church of Sant'Orso a Rongio Superiore (Masserano) a few days before Christmas. They are also very common i living nativity scenes (made in small villages). Another tradition is that of the theatrical text of freezing (a shepherd who from Monferrato arrives in Bethlehem and meets the Holy Family). Unmissable on the Piedmontese tables at Christmas are the plin agnolotti, braised in Barolo and Bonetti, cocoa cake and amaretti biscuits.

In Liguria tradition has it that Christmas day comes lit a large stump (olive or laurel) on the hearth in every house, as a propitiatory sign. Another Christmas ritual linked to fire is the I confess di GenoVa. It consists in lighting a large tree trunk decorated with ribbons in the public square on Christmas Eve as a sign of good wishes. Among the typical dishes on the Ligurian tables at Christmas there is no shortage of ravioli with u tuccu (meat sauce), la top (stuffed veal belly) and the pandolce genovese. Also the Lombardia keeps the tradition of the burning log in homes like in Liguria. Instead, they are typical fair of the obe obe in Milan (for Sant'Ambrogio) and the feast of Saint Lucia (who brings gifts to the children) on the night between 12 and 13th December. Typical regional dishes of this period are the random Bergamo, the Stuffed capon and the inevitable Milanese panettone.

Christmas Traditions in North East Italy

In Trentino Alto Adige, 5th December we celebrate the feast of San Nicolò (Santa Claus giving gifts to good children). On the streets of the villages, however, also the Krampus, monsters in search of "bad children". Another tradition is that of procession of singers, who go from house to house with a spinning star on the night ofEpiphany. At Christmas the tables in Trentino are laden with dishes like the famous ones dumplings, but also, venison in juniper sauce with polenta e strudel. Neighbors Friulians they follow the same tradition of the procession of singers, of the lit log, but the "Missus"(Christmas novena). On the tables there is no lack of i cjarsons (ravioli with sweet filling), la brovade and muset (turnip soup) and the gubana (focaccia stuffed with dried fruit).

In Veneto, a Christmas event of great importance is the inevitable Market of Saint Lucia in Piazza Bra a Verona, 12 e 13th December. On Christmas day, the Venetians bring traditional dishes to the tables, such as the rice and peas (between risotto and soup), the cod Vicentina (creamed in milk) and the famous Pandoro. In Emilia Romagna instead, after the ignition of the strain in the family, thearimblen, or rather a "peach" with the aim of guessing the trend of the new year. Traditional dishes of the region are i cappelletti in broth of capon, mixed bun and Christmas panone (typical of Bologna).

Christmas traditions - Krampus

Center of Italy

In Toscana, in addition to the typical tree, nativity scene, and stump, present in every house,San Salvatore Abbey (Abbadia San Salvatore) it is an ancient tradition to set fire to piles of wood on the night of December 24th. Typical Tuscan Christmas dishes are the cappelletti in broth, caciucco (Livorno) and the old ladies (boiled chestnuts eaten on Christmas Eve a Grosseto). In Umbria, on the mountain of Gubbio, on 7 December a mammoth Christmas tree lights up. This is "high" 750 meters, with a surface of 130 thousand square meters and is composed of 700 light bodies. Norcia on the other hand, the Feast of the Bells, with bonfires at midnight on 9th December to announce the passage of the Holy House Madonna of Loreto. On Umbrian tables there is no shortage of Spaghetti Alla Nursina with truffle, the roast pigeon and Panpepato (fruitcake with black pepper).

in Marche you can visit the living nativity scene of Genga (the largest in the world) in the Gorge of Frasassi. It is also not to be missed Via dei Cribs of Urbino (i.e. an exhibition with various nativity scenes). Among the Christmas dishes of the Marche are the vincisgrassi (a kind of lasagna), the weather in pasticciata (similar to roast) and the Christmas sweet pizza. In Lazio are found different Christmas markets e living nativity scenes. The most famous of these is that of Greccio in the province of Rieti. The Christmas lunch in Lazio includes the chicken broth,abacchio with potatoes and pangiallo (dried fruit, honey and saffron).

Christmas traditions - living nativity scene

Center-Sud

In Abruzzo it is tradition to turn on a propitiatory stock in family. TO Tufillo (Chieti) on the afternoon of 24th December the is also turned on farchy (a long trunk) whose tradition is linked to rites of fire. On Christmas tables in Abruzzo you can find the meat broth with cardone, skewers and Parrozzo (sweet bread with almond flour). Also in Molise Christmas traditions are related to fire. Two of these are there 'Ndocciata (Agnone) and the Fault (Oratino), or two torchlight processions which take place during this period. Typical Molise dishes are the Franz's pizza (a broth of thistles with a mixture of parmesan, eggs and cheese called "pizza"), the cod au gratin and Milk Pan (zuccotto with liqueur cream).

Christmas in Southern Italy

La Campania, Naples in particular, is famous for its nativity scene (via San Gregorio Armeno). Also in the homes of Neapolitans it is traditional to do the procession of the little child (between the rooms of the house) before this is placed in the crib. Finally, the inevitable tombola. The Campanian Christmas lunch includes (among other dishes), the fried capon,reinforcement salad and struffoli. Also Puglia are famous for the nativity scene, living or of papier mache. There is no shortage of pipers, who go around the streets playing the bagpipe. The Christmas table in Puglia is usually laden with breasts (fried yeast dough), seafood e mess of Altamura.

In Basilicata Christmas means crib. Famous are the one in Sassi of Matera need Rather (the fourth largest nativity scene in Europe). Even in the Lucanian lands it is possible to hear the sound of pipers during the Christmas novena, especially a Pollino Newfoundland e Pepper. The Lucanian Christmas dinner includes trailed (similar to orecchiette, but longer), the cod with cruschi peppers e U 'piccilatiedd, sweet almond bread with hard-boiled eggs. Finally in Calabria is famous the Ninth played by pilus band and turning on the strain in front of her he asked before midnight mass. During the dinner and Christmas lunch the Calabrians eat crispelle (leavened fried dough), the cod (fried or stewed) and the closed pitta (sweet with flour, sugar, olive oil, raisins, spices, honey and nuts).

Christmas traditions in the islands

Just like the other regions of Southern Italy, the Christmas traditions in Sicilia they are made above all of nativity scenes (living and not) and bagpipers through the streets of the towns. However, there is no lack of typical games with Sicilian cards or French. For the dinner and the Christmas lunch, in Sicily it is prepared sfincione, pasta 'ncasciata (baked pasta typical of the Agrigento area), the Fake slim (stuffed beef) and the inevitable cassata. Finally in Sardinia is typical Sa noct'è and xena, the night of Christmas Eve, when dinner with the whole family. In the area of Alghero, again on the evening of December 24, the Song of the Sibyl, or a medieval song in Catalan focused on Universal judgment. The Sardinian table at Christmas is laden with casual butts (Cagliari), of the traditional porceddu and Pabassinas (fried shortcrust pastry with dried fruit).

Christmas traditions - Sicilian cards
Photo: © Lydser - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

As already mentioned, those mentioned above are just some examples of the Christmas traditions (culinary and otherwise) present in ours Peninsula. Naturally each area has its own customs, quite varied and unique. The only way to fully understand what Christmas means in the various Italian regions is to live it, visiting cities and villages that offer more particular events and, of course, eating the typical dishes of the area, whether it is venison and polenta from Trentino or the sfincione from Palermo. Merry Christmas!

Christmas traditions in Italy, from north to south of the boot last edit: 2021-12-23T09:00:52+01:00 da Antonello Ciccarello

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