Christmas time in Italy Christmas holidays are from 23rd Dicember to 7th January

The Crib in Bonefro The days before Christmas children go to the woods around Bonefro to find moss. They use it in the Christmas Crib to make the field.

Christmas traditions in Colletorto On 23rd December women from different families meet and prepare the typical Christmas cakes. They are mainly fried in olive oil with honey on top. They also make ‘‘mostaccioli’’: biscuits with almonds, honey and chocolate. In the past children went door to door and asked for Christmas cakes.

Christmas Eve On the 24 th December night, families meet together and have dinner. They usually eat fish (cod, eel, …) and fried vegetables, they never eat meat. At midnight they go to church and exchange greetings.

Christmas Day At Christmas after a very big lunch children receive presents from parents and grandparents. Then they usually play bingo all together. They have a nice time!

Nativity Live Scene On 26th December we have a ChristmasCrib with real people and animals. They can not talk. They can just act. It is in Medieval style and the atmosphere is great.

6 th January: The “Befana” Day The “Befana” is an old good woman. She looks like a good witch. She flies on a broom at night. Like Santa Claus at Christmas, she goes to children’s houses where they hanged socks. She leaves sweets and chocolate if they are good, but if they aren’t she leaves coal and ash.