How are the Christmas holidays prepared in Italy?
Italy and Spain have many similarities: climate, language, tastes, culture, open and cheerful character of their citizens… And also the Christmas celebration. Today we want to tell you how is Christmas lived in both Latin countries.
How are the Christmas holidays prepared in Italy?
Spain and Italy are countries of catholic roots, so the fact of putting up the manger with baby Jesus at home is a firm tradition. In both countries, on the 8th of December, the Immaculate Conception is celebrated. On this national holiday, Italian and Spanish homes begin to decorate their homes for Christmas, either with the manger or with the tree. Moreover, in Italy, some vultures are hung around in the house, symbolizing the cleanliness of the spirit.
Furthermore, in the Roman capital, children on the Sunday before the celebration of Christmas Eve, bring the statuette of the baby Jesus from their mangers to St. Peter’s Square for the Pope to bless them during the Angelus prayer.
On the 24th at night, Italian families gather around the table to celebrate the traditional grand dinner, whose menu is different depending on the area of the country you live. Stuffed pasta cooked with capon broth, pasta with clams… Pasta (always) and something else (prawns, vegetables…). That is usually the menu of the Italians that night, in which they do not usually eat meat. As a dessert, typical sweets: pandoro, panettone, torrone, panforte, struffoli, caggionetti, monte bianco…
December 25th is a quiet day, but also a celebration. In this case, the food is usually a little less copious than the one on Christmas Eve and meat is now included in the menu. It is a day to share with the family and exchange Christmas gifts.
In addition, in Italy, on December 26th the day of Saint Stephen is celebrated, and is a national holiday, so the celebrations are prolonged.
New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the 31st. The Italians celebrate it with lentils, while the Spanish celebrate it with grapes. Among their customs, they wear some red underwear to ensure good luck, or to throw old junk out the window as a symbol of ending up with the past. This custom is very firm between the Romans and the Neapolitans.
January 6th is also celebrated differently. In Italy they celebrate the Befana, who is a witch that brings gifts to children who behave well and coal to those who misbehave. However, In Spain the Three Wise Men are the ones who give the presents. They were the ones who offered the new-born baby Jesus gold, incense and myrrh.
In both countries, the holidays are lived as a family. In Ice Tech we also have ours and you are part of it. So we wish you a Merry Christmas and that you celebrate a very good year’s entrance. With plenty of ice, of course!