3. In Italy, the Christmas season is from December 17
-January 6th, but decorations start going up as
early as December 8th.
4. Eight days before Christmas the
children dress up as shepherds and go
from house to house singing Christmas
songs and reciting poetry. Here they
receive money to buy Christmas
presents.
5. On Christmas Eve they
follow a strict 24 hour fast
where they do not eat
meat. Children also write
letters to their parents
explaining how much they
love them (instead of
writing letters to Santa)
and are read on Christmas
Eve.
6. Lunch on Christmas is Tortellini in
Brodo which is filled pasta parcels
in broth. They also eat cappone
(boiled chicken) or roasts.
7. For dinner, the first course is normally
lasagna, which is followed by a mixed
roast or a roasted beef for the second
course.
8. The cake that is eaten is called panettone (on
the left) which contains raisins and candied
fruit. The other cake they eat is called pandoro
(on the right).
9. On Christmas Babbo
Natale (Father
Christmas) gives
everyone a present,
but this is not the main
day for gift giving.
10. Children normally do not
receive presents until January
6th. On this day an ugly and kind
witch named Befana puts
presents in children’s stockings.
