If you’re curious to learn about the Italian Christmas traditions and celebrations, we’ve got your back.
When Christmas trees are hung on December 8th in celebration of the Immaculate Conception, it means the season of Natale – Christmas in Italy – has officially kicked off. Christmas in Italy concludes on January 6th, which is a day known as the Epiphany (Epifania).
The Italians don’t just celebrate Christmas for a month; they do it in ways you won’t see anywhere else. Visitors to Italy in December are in for a real treat if they decide to spend Christmas here.
Read on and discover everything you need to know about Christmas in Italy, from the distinctly Italian customs to the scrumptious food.
Christmas in Italy: Fun Facts
When it comes to Christmas, the Italians go all out. Here are some fun facts about Christmas in Italy and how Italians do Christmas.
• “Merry Christmas” in Italian
The holiday greetings in Italian include “Buon Natale” (Merry Christmas) and “Felice Natale,” which both stem from the Latin Natalis (Happy Christmas).
• Babbo Natale
“Babbo Natale” is what kids in Northern Italy call Father Christmas or Santa Claus, the gift-bearing jolly old man.
• St. Nicholas Day
December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. It is the day when Santa Claus visits kids in Northern Italy, so little Italians hang socks and stockings where Santa (St. Nicholas) puts the small treats. It also marks the beginning of the season of Christmas in Italy.
• L’Immacolata Concezione
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th is a public holiday in Italy. This is the day when Italians start putting up Nativity scenes and decorating their Christmas trees.
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic dogma claiming that Mary was preserved free from the effects of the “original sin” (Adam’s sin) from the first instant of her conception of Jesus.
• Christmas Gifts
In Italy, children have not just one but four chances to receive gifts. This is because Christmas in Italy features four distinct gift-giving days:
- On December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, St. Nicholas visits Italy’s northern regions to give gifts.
- On December 13th, Santa Lucia, the patron saint of the blind, leaves gifts for children who have been good this year.
- On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) brings gifts to youngsters in Italy from all around the country.
- Then there’s the fairy witch Befana, who fills stockings with gifts on the 6th of January – the Epiphany.
• Christmas Carol
Italy is the birthplace of the Christmas carol. It was St. Francis of Assisi who introduced this Christmas tradition.
• Presepi / Nativity Scenes
Presepi, or Nativity scenes, predominate over all other types of Christmas decorations in Italy. Presepi (singular: presepe) are set up throughout the season in churches and town squares, as well as in homes.
There are Living Nativity scenes at Christmas in Italy as well, organized by groups of local volunteers in elaborate presentations.
The oldest Nativity scene that exists is a marble carving created in 1290 by a famous Gothic sculptor and architect called Arnolfo di Cambio. You can see it in the museum of Rome’s Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
• Christmas Tree
Decorated pine trees (Christmas trees) are a very recent addition to the Italian Christmas tradition.
In 1982, a Christmas tree was put up in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican for the first time. When Pope John Paul II was serving as pontiff, he decided to bring this Christmas tradition from the north to Rome.
At Christmas, St. Peter’s Square transforms into a magical place. The Pope delivers his Christmas message at noon on December 25th in St. Peter’s Square, which is decked with a big Christmas tree.
Unique Christmas Traditions in Italy
From a little Nativity tower to costumed bagpipe players, here are some distinctly Italian Christmas traditions.
• Yule Log
The Yule Log plays an essential role in many Italian households, and until the New Year has begun, many families keep it blazing uninterrupted.
During the Festival of the Log, which takes place in Tuscany, a massive log is lit on fire.
• Arena di Verona’s Annual Shooting Star
Verona’s ancient amphitheater, the Arena di Verona, has an annual white iron shooting star affixed to it.
The 70-meter-tall structure has a mass of 78 tonnes and represents the guiding light that brought the Three Wise Men to the spot where Jesus was born.
Piazza Bra has been home to the metal star since 1984, making it an integral component of the Verona Christmas celebration.
• No-meat Christmas Eve Feast
Celebrating Christmas in Italy traditionally entails activities such as going to mass at midnight and observing a Christmas Eve feast without meat and dairy.
Families often sit down to a supper consisting of seven different fish in certain regions of southern Italy.
In Naples, shrimp and broccoli are sautéed together. In the traditional cuisine of Rome, this is called pezzetti, and it consists of artichoke hearts, zucchini, and broccoli that have all been fried together.
• Ceppo
During the holiday season, a ceppo is proudly displayed in the majority of Italian homes.
A ceppo is a frame made of wood that is constructed in the shape of a pyramid and can reach heights of several feet.
There are shelves included within the frame; the one at the bottom will hold a miniature Nativity scene, and the shelves above it will have candies, fruit, and tiny gifts displayed on them.
Everyone makes their ceppo slightly differently, but the basic premise is the same, and they are a popular decoration in Italian homes during the holiday season.
• Urn of Fate
Another beautiful Christmas tradition in Italy is the exchange of gifts, and it’s all part of the holiday season.
A variety of nicely wrapped little presents are placed into a bowl that is referred to as the “Urn of Fate.”
On Christmas Day, when everyone in the family gets together, they take turns picking out presents for each other.
• Midnight Mass with the Pope
Visiting the Vatican for Christmas Eve midnight mass with the Pope is a common Christmas custom for individuals who live or are visiting Rome at this time of year. This is a free event that begins at 9:30 PM instead of midnight.
Those who can’t make it into the basilica to see the Pope or take part in mass up close can watch it on television in St. Peter’s Square.
• Zampognari
A common sight in the squares of Italian cities, particularly in Rome, is a group of men playing bagpipes. They are known as zampognari, the shepherds who travel from their mountain houses to the piazzas to make some extra money by playing the bagpipes for anyone who would listen.
According to legend, shepherds came to visit Jesus on his first night of life and played the bagpipes for him.
• Christmas Food Drives
Throughout December, Italians participate in food drives to help those in need. Empty bags are distributed by volunteers in local supermarkets, and customers fill them up with food purchases from the store and return them to the volunteers. There are no hidden costs, and no one checks inside the bag when it is returned, making this a more personal way to donate.
Christmas in Italy: How Italians Celebrate Christmas
Even though the holiday spirit is felt throughout Italy by late November, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th marks the start of the Christmas season. The festive spirit will only intensify from here on until the 25th of December.
Many Italian streets are decked out with Christmas trees, ornaments, and Nativity scenes, and the aroma of chestnuts, fireplaces, mulled wine, and Italian delights fill the air.
Different regions of Italy celebrate Christmas Day and Christmas Eve (Vigilia di Natale) differently. Many Italian families gather for a large Christmas eve supper, while others wait until the next day to begin their celebrations.
It’s a tradition that stretches from the north to the south, though, for people to attend midnight Mass at their local church. Immediately following it, the festivities begin with a drink of spumante, a slice of panettone and pandoro, and an opportunity to unwrap the gifts. Santa arrives, and the children prepare a drink of milk, some almonds, and a piece of Christmas cake to thank him for the gifts.
Festivities culminate on December 25th, which is the ideal opportunity to gather with your family, spend time around the table, and indulge in a sumptuous spread. Playing board games, sampling Italian specialties and fine wines, and opening all of the presents add to the magic of this special day.
After all the joy and happiness of Christmas, the celebrations continue as Italians celebrate the national holiday of Santo Stefano Day on December 26th. It’s a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones and sample some of the country’s many homemade treats.
Christmas Food in Italy
As a country with a rich culinary tradition, it is no surprise that Italy has some unique offerings in its Christmas spread.
Here are the Christmas food in Italy.
• Panettone
It’s traditional to serve panettone, a delicious Italian bread coming from Milan, following Christmas Eve mass.
Panettone’s distinctive dome-shaped form has a sugary dough stuffed with candied fruits and raisins.
• Pandoro
Another traditional Christmas treat in Italy is pandoro or “golden bread”, which is Verona’s take on panettone.
The eggs used to make pandoro give it its golden hue. Slices of the cake are garnished with icing sugar to look like the snow-covered peaks of the Dolomite mountain range.
Chocolate and custard fillings are now available in certain newer versions of pandoro.
• Pasta
On Christmas Eve, the Italians serve pasta dishes. Different regions have different takes on these pasta meals.
People in Northern Italy’s Piedmont and Lombardy regions enjoy anchovy-filled lasagna, whereas, in Naples, you’re more likely to find vermicelli topped with mussels or clams.
• Other Christmas Foods in Italy
When it comes to celebrating the holiday season in Italy, it’s all about getting the family together and indulging in some of the best food around. These include cotechino sausage, liver pâté crostini, tortellini in chicken broth, and roast lamb.
Best Places To Visit During Christmas in Italy
Want to see how different parts of Italy celebrate Christmas? Here are some places you may want to visit:
• Santa Claus Regatta in Venice
From San Marco to Ca Foscari, a Santa Claus Regatta takes place where people dressed as Santa race in miniature traditional Venetian boats. Children can meet Santa and his elves on Santa’s boat, and a water parade will be held in conjunction with the event.
• Giant Christmas Tree in Gubbio
The world’s largest Christmas tree has been on display in Italy since 1981.
Each year, on the mountainside near the town of Gubbio in the Umbria region, a Christmas tree-shaped light installation is erected. The tree is 650 meters (2,130 ft.) tall and 350 meters wide, made up of 3,000 multi-colored lights.
Every year, the Alberaioli, a group of volunteers, donate their free time for around three months for Gubbio’s Christmas tree to illuminate the Umbrian countryside on December 7.
“The World’s Largest Christmas Tree” was awarded to Gubbio in 1991 by the Guinness World Records. Since 2010, the Christmas tree lights are powered by solar energy.
• Holiday Markets in Rome
The majority of Rome’s most popular attractions are open every day of the year, except Christmas and New Year’s Day.
A Christmas market may be found in Piazza Navona from the end of November to the beginning of January. It has become rather touristy and does not adhere to the genuine customs that are associated with Italian markets.
If you want a more traditional, local experience, head to Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini.
• Christmas alla Napoletana
Christmas in Naples is quite special. Making presepi or Nativity scenes is an art form here. This is where the best makers of presepi are from.
Nativity scenes adorn the city, with hundreds constructed all over. The Via San Gregorio Armeno offers a presepi market.
If you want to see the largest collection of Nativity scenes and figurines, you can visit the city’s Museo Nazionale di San Martino any time of the year. It houses an 1800s presepi collection.
When it comes to Neapolitan holiday celebrations, there will always be struffoli or honey balls (baked dough sprinkled with honey), roccocò (hard biscotti), mostacciuoli (Christmas pastry made with soft spice cakes dusted with cocoa powder), and susamielli, (a nutty, honey-based S-shaped cookie) to indulge in.