Christmas in Italy is a month-long celebration, kicking off on December 8th and ending on January 6th with the Feast of the Epiphany.
Traditions emphasize family, faith, and food, with a focus on elaborate nativity scenes (presepe) instead of abundant Christmas trees.
Key celebrations include the meatless Christmas Eve feast (often the Feast of the Seven Fishes), the Midnight Mass, and regional variations in food and music, such as bagpipers (zampognari) playing traditional songs.
Key traditions and celebrations Immaculate Conception (December 8th): The festive season officially begins, and it is a traditional day to put up Christmas trees and decorations.
Nativity scenes (presepe): A central tradition that started with Saint Francis of Assisi, representing the birth of Jesus. Elaborate scenes are a hallmark of the Italian Christmas.
Christmas Eve (La Vigilia) (December 24th): A major event, traditionally a meatless day, celebrated with a large seafood meal known as the "Feast of the Seven Fishes".
Midnight Mass: Attending the Midnight Mass service on Christmas Eve is a common and important tradition for many Catholic families.
Epiphany (January 6th): The official end of the Christmas season, also known as Three Kings' Day.
The arrival of La Befana: The Epiphany marks the arrival of a kindly old witch who is said to deliver gifts to children on her broomstick.
Food and drink Christmas Eve: The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditional, meatless meal featuring various types of fish.
Christmas Day: A large, multi-course meal, often featuring roasted meats like veal, lamb, and beef.
Desserts: Common Christmas treats include panettone (a sweet bread), pandoro, torrone, and panforte.
Christmas Cake: A slice of panettone and a cup of hot chocolate is a traditional way to end the evening after returning from Mass.
Music and entertainment Zampognari: Pipers who play traditional Christmas music on bagpipes, flutes, and oboes, often wearing red jackets and broad-brimmed hats with red tassels. They can be found playing in public spaces like Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps in Rome.
Carol singing: Children sometimes go caroling while playing shepherd's pipes, wearing traditional sandals and hats.
Christmas markets: Many towns host markets with local products, food, and handcrafted goods.
Regional differences: Celebrations vary by region, from the seafood specialties of Sicily to the honey-glazed pastries of Puglia.
