Christmas is celebrated in Italy on December 25th and is focused on family, food, and religion. Families gather to cook meals like fish, and enjoy sweets such as panettone, pandoro, and torrone. The Christmas tree is decorated on December 8th along with nativity scenes. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, families celebrate with special dinners. December 26th is known as Santo Stefano and families often eat leftovers. New Year's Eve celebrations involve dinner with friends and sparkling wine at midnight. Epiphany on January 6th marks the end of the Christmas holidays and the tradition of the Befana bringing gifts.

1. CHRISTMAS IN ITALY
by Beatrice,Cecilia,Eleonora

2. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th and is the most important
festival in Italy.With Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Families, on this day, gather together, cook many things to eat, play
games and exchange gifts.
The children are waiting for Christmas morning to see if Santa
Claus, an old man with a beard sliding over snow, has brought what
they had asked for in their letters.This is a good time for children
because the schools are generally closed from December 23rd to
January 6th. In this period there are those who leave for the
mountains, to go skiing in theAlps that are full of tourists; it is said
that they leave for the white week.
The day before Christmas is called Vigilia (Eve)and the eve dinner
is one of the most important. On Christmas Eve shops close earlier
while everything is closed on 25-26 December.

3. For theChristmas Eveand Christmas dinner,in Italy you
can cook a lot,especially fish.Likewise,during theholiday
period,special sweets areprepared or bought,such as
panettone,pandoro or torrone,and thehouseis decorated.
Thetreeis usually prepared on December 8th which is the
feast of theImmaculateConception.Together with thetree
often NatalevieneTreealso madethenativity scenethat is
therepresentation of thebirth of Jesus.In Italy we
organizemany exhibitions with cribs,even special,and the
most famous is definitely theexhibition in Naples.
On December 26,theday after Christmas,it is called Santo
Stefano,named after thefirst Christian martyr.The
evening of St.Stephen often eat all that is left of thetwo
previous dinners.
For Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, in Italy you can cook a lot,
especially fish. Likewise, during the holiday period, special sweets are
prepared or bought, such as panettone, pandoro or torrone, and the house
is decorated.
The tree is usually prepared on December 8th which is the feast of the
Immaculate Conception.Along with the tree we often prepare the nativity
scene that is the representation of the birth of Jesus. In Italy we organize
many exhibitions with cribs, and the most famous is definitely the
exhibition in Naples.
December 26th, the day after Christmas, is called Santo Stefano, named
after the first Christian martyr. In the evening of St. Stephen we often eat
all that is left of the two previous dinners.

4. On December 31st,NewYear's Eve,weleaveor meet for the
dinner on thelast day of theyear.Shops closeearlier,at 6pm at the
latest.When midnight arrives,wedrink sparkling wine. Theend
of our Christmas holidays is on January 6th,theEpiphany,which
is theday when,for Christians,theM agi seeJesus and recognize
him as their God.January 6th is particularly important for
children becauseour tradition says that an old lady,Befana,goes
from hometo hometo fill thesocks of good children with lots of
sweets.For thebad ones instead thereis coal! It is said that the
Epiphany all parties takeaway!

5. TYPICAL ITALIAN CHRISTMAS
DISHES

6. TORTELLINI
Tortellini in brodo are the typical Christmas dish that usually is
eaten at lunch on December 25th, the stuffing is pork, ham and
mortadella.The fresh egg pasta is prepared at home and pulled
by machine or by hand.The tortellini, also according to the
Bolognese tradition, should be cooked and eaten in a good broth
of capon or hen.

7. Pandoro is oneof thetypical Italian sweets.Hewas born
in Verona.Thedough is soft and smells of vanilla.
Although his birth dates back to the1800s,in 1894
Domenico M elegatti,owner of thehomonymous
company,patented a cone-shaped cakewith theidea of
a star.It is usually sold with powdered sugar that is
sprinkled over pandoro,but now therearemany
variations on sale: covered with chocolate,filled with
chocolateor custard.
PANDORO

8. PANSPEZIALE or CERTOSINO
Thetypical Christmas cakeof Bolognesecuisineis based on
chocolate,honey,Bolognesemustard,candied fruit,pinenuts
and butter.Its namederives from thefact that in theM iddle
Ages it was produced by pharmacists (or apothecaries).Only
in a second timeweretheCarthusian friars to takecareof
his production.To tastethebest thepanspeziel,should becut
into thin slices,thethickness of a noodle.With ingredients
similar to thePan Speziale,but even morenutritious
(hazelnuts,peanuts,almonds,candied cherries and cognac
areadded to thedough),thePanonedi Nataleis another
Christmas cakefrom theBolognesecountrysidethat changes
therecipefrom houseto house.

9. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM
ITALY!!!!!!!!