{"id":1105,"date":"2016-12-14T11:30:17","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T11:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bookingsforyou.com\/blog\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2025-01-24T08:56:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T08:56:58","slug":"how-to-have-an-italian-inspired-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookingsforyou.com\/blog\/how-to-have-an-italian-inspired-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"How to have an Italian-inspired Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The Italian Christmas season starts on the Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary \u2014 otherwise known as December 8th \u2014 and lasts for around four weeks, until Epiphany. Decorations go up, both in the streets and in homes, and some of the Italian Christmas markets start around this time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We\u2019ve compiled a list of Italian festive traditions, if you\u2019re looking for some continental inspiration for your Christmas celebrations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Nativity Crib Scene<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The crib scene is an important part of Italian Christmas heritage; it was made popular in the 13th Century by St. Francis of Assisi, who visited Bethlehem to see the stable where Jesus was born.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Italian city of Naples is\u00a0world-famous for its crib-making, where they\u2019re known as \u2018Presepe Napoletano\u2019 \u2014 it even has a whole street dedicated to hand made crib decorations and figures, called the \u2018Via San Gregorio Armeno\u2019. The image above is of a Neapolitan crib displayed in Rome. The tradition of displaying cribs in the house became popular in the 16th Century \u2014 they\u2019re put out on December 8th and then baby Jesus is added during the evening of Christmas Eve. Neapolitan cribs are famed for displaying a vast array of characters and objects, from waterfalls to famous people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

St Nicholas Day<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Celebrated on December 6th, many families commemorate St Nicholas Day. Children write letters to St Nicholas, asking for gifts, and hang up a sock or put out a plate on St Nicholas Day\u2019s eve. Good children will wake up to sweets, nuts and fruits \u2014 whereas naughty ones will also get sweets, but shaped like coal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

St Nicholas is the patron Saint of the Italian city of Bari, which is where it\u2019s believed he is buried.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Carols and Bagpipers<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

During Novena \u2014 the eight days before Christmas Day \u2014 the streets are filled with carol-singers, singing traditional songs to passers-by. If you\u2019re in Rome, Sicily or southern Italy you might even stumble across bagpipe players \u2014 the \u2018zampognari\u2019 \u2014 who travel to the towns and cities to play their carols.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Urn of Fate<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Another old Italian tradition is the urn of fate. Families gather together and take turns to remove wrapped presents from a large ornamental bowl. This continues until all the presents are distributed. We can only imagine the challenge involved in sourcing presents which are truly family-friendly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Epiphany Stockings<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many Italian families celebrate La Befana, on January 6th. Similar to Santa Claus, La Befana is a witch who flies around the world on broomstick flying in and out of chimneys to fill children\u2019s stockings with candy and gifts. Before she leaves, she also sweeps the floors \u2014 representing the metaphorical sweeping away of problems. In return, the families leave her wine and food.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

According to Italian legend, Befana was approached by the three wise men a few days before Jesus\u2019s birth. They asked for directions, but she was unable to help. After staying the night, they invited her on the journey but she declined. Later, she realised she wanted to go \u2014 but was unable to find them or the infant Jesus. So she still flies around today, looking for them everywhere she goes.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Italian Christmas season starts on the Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary \u2014 otherwise known as December 8th \u2014 and lasts for around four weeks, until Epiphany. Decorations go up, both in the streets and in homes, and some of the Italian Christmas markets start around this time. We\u2019ve compiled a list of Italian festive traditions, if you\u2019re looking for some continental inspiration for your Christmas celebrations. Nativity Crib Scene The crib scene is an important part of Italian Christmas heritage; it was made popular in the 13th Century by St. Francis of Assisi, who visited Bethlehem to see the stable where Jesus was born. The Italian city of Naples is\u00a0world-famous for its crib-making, where they\u2019re known as \u2018Presepe Napoletano\u2019 \u2014 it even has a whole street dedicated to hand made crib decorations and figures, called the \u2018Via San Gregorio Armeno\u2019. The image above is of a Neapolitan crib displayed in Rome. The tradition of displaying cribs in the house became popular in the 16th Century \u2014 they\u2019re put out on December 8th and then baby Jesus is added during the evening of Christmas Eve. Neapolitan cribs are famed for displaying a vast array of characters and objects, from waterfalls to famous people. St Nicholas Day Celebrated on December 6th, many families commemorate St Nicholas Day. Children write letters to St Nicholas, asking for gifts, and hang up a sock or put out a plate on St Nicholas Day\u2019s eve. Good children will wake up to sweets, nuts and fruits \u2014 whereas naughty ones will also get sweets, but shaped like coal. St Nicholas is the patron Saint of the Italian city of Bari, which is where it\u2019s believed he is buried. Carols and Bagpipers During Novena \u2014 the eight days before Christmas Day \u2014 the streets are filled with carol-singers, singing traditional songs to passers-by. If you\u2019re in Rome, Sicily or southern Italy you might even stumble across bagpipe players \u2014 the \u2018zampognari\u2019 \u2014 who travel to the towns and cities to play their carols. The Urn of Fate Another old Italian tradition is the urn of fate. Families gather together and take turns to remove wrapped presents from a large ornamental bowl. This continues until all the presents are distributed. We can only imagine the challenge involved in sourcing presents which are truly family-friendly. Epiphany Stockings Many Italian families celebrate La Befana, on January 6th. Similar to Santa Claus, La Befana is a witch who flies around the world on broomstick flying in and out of chimneys to fill children\u2019s stockings with candy and gifts. Before she leaves, she also sweeps the floors \u2014 representing the metaphorical sweeping away of problems. In return, the families leave her wine and food. According to Italian legend, Befana was approached by the three wise men a few days before Jesus\u2019s birth. They asked for directions, but she was unable to help. After staying the night, they invited her on the journey but she declined. Later, she realised she wanted to go \u2014 but was unable to find them or the infant Jesus. So she still flies around today, looking for them everywhere she goes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9616,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-right-sidebar.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[416,411,173],"tags":[493],"class_list":["post-1105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookings-for-you","category-inspiration","category-italy","tag-christmas"],"yoast_head":"\nEnjoy an Italian-inspired Christmas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how to have an Italian-inspired Christmas thanks to the Bookings For You guide to enjoy Christmas the Italian way\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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