CHRISTMAS IS A CATHOLIC FESTIVITY AND IN OUR COUNTRY WE PREPARE A LOT OF THINGS TO REMEMBER THE NATIVITY OF JESUS CHRIST.

On the 8th of december we decorate the Xmas tree as in many other countries in the world. Balls, candles, comet star,... And under the tree few days before the 25th appear lots of presents for all the family.

We decorate the tree in the garden or at home

We prepare also the crib: The hut Mary and Josef ( Jesus’ parents ) Baby Jesus, in the manger, on straw as a bed The donkey and the ox The angels The shepherds and their sheep

The crib is big.... or very small !!!

Artistic Cribs

Living cribs with villages’ people A very old tradition starting from S. Francis in medieval times

Kids wait for Father Christmas. He comes down the fireplace and... He leaves to good children a lot of presents!!!

He goes around the world with his sleigh and his reindeers

Children try to remain awake till midnight, but at last they fall asleep and in the morning they find their presents!!!

Up to our mountains, in Courmayeur, Father Christmas is “Rhemy de Nöel” His house is under the giant’s tooth ( the big mountain behind him ). From an old legend up to our days Father Xmas offers hot chocolate to kids and hot spicied red wine to parents

But also in Nizza we have our Father Christmas

On the 25th all the family is together for Christmas Lunch Agnolotti Lasagne Cappone Zampone(pig’s trotter) Cheese Fish in south Italy

And a lot of SWEEEEEEEETS

At school we eat PANDORO, we prefer it because it’s without raisins and candied fruit

After that we don’t finish our festivities, we’ve got also the BEFANA An old lady who gives us presents if we were good or black coal if we were bad... On the 6th of January

Now, after the BEFANA, all the family puts on a rigid diet

3rd class children E. Rossignoli Nizza Monferrato