Cities and towns host Epiphany parades, and people sing songs honoring the three kings. Once a day of religious devotion St Stephen's Day is now spent relaxing or visiting friends and family.Īs Christianity spread in Italy in times past the Christmas season was extended to January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. On December 26 a number of Italians celebrate St. Families spend the day together exchanging gifts, playing games, telling stories, and feasting. The tradition of ringing church bells at Christmas is thought to have begun nearly 1,600 years ago by Bishop Paulinas of Nola. In Cortina D'Apezzo, a town in northern Italy, families gather to watch the Alpine guides ski down the mountain carrying flaming torches.Ĭhristmas Day arrives with the pealing of hundreds of church bells. Some Italians attend midnight Christmas Eve services at their local churches. They may enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas and the smells of the Christmas markets. This is a nine-day period of spiritual preparation ending Christmas Eve marked by attending church services.Ĭhristmas Eve is spent with family and for making final preparations for Christmas day. The Christmas season really starts in Italy with Christmas Novena. Lucia's day, a child, usually the oldest daughter of the family, dresses up as Lucia and serves the family breakfast in bed. Lucia then fills the shoes with presents. Children leave their shoes on the doorstep along with food for the donkey. Tradition says that, on the eve of her day, Lucia travels the countryside accompanied by a donkey carrying baskets loaded with gifts for those she visits. On December 13 the people of Sicily celebrate the feast day of Santa Lucia (St. All along the Adriatic coast, children anxiously await the visit of the saint with his gifts and goodies he brings. On December 6 many Italians celebrate the feast day of San Nicola (St. People begin visiting friends and family bringing gifts, sharing good food, and visiting as many magnificent nativity displays as possible. In the schools children put on plays, give recitals, and make decorations. ![]() Families visit vibrant Christmas markets looking for presents, goodies, and new figures to add to the home manger scene. Storekeepers decorate their shops with lights and greenery. People around Sicily also enjoy puppet shows with hand-carved puppets performing fairy tale stories and enacting legendary battle scenes. Preparations for Christmas begin in December. In the mountain regions of northern Italy, Christmases are white with a lot of snow, ice, and cold temperatures. In Rome, Christmas tends to be chilly and damp, almost Spring-like. ![]() In southern Italy Christmas is warm and sunny. Italy enjoys a wide range of weather conditions during the Christmas season. Nearly 300 years later Christmas began to be celebrated in Rome on December 25. As time went on the Roman Empire under Constantine adopted Christianity. Many Romans decorated their houses with wreaths, a symbol of good health, during this time. This festive time ended with the Roman New Year's celebration, the festival of Calends. Starting with Saturnalia, a holiday for Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, the Romans made merry through the feast day of the Roman god Mithra, December 25, and on into January. Over time, however, these customs have evolved to create a truly unique Christmas experience.īeginning in mid-December, the early Romans partied for nearly a month. ![]() Many Italian Christmas customs have their origins in the early Roman mid-winter celebrations. Vote for us and help us move to the top of these lists.
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