2. Christmas in Italy By Bastion Pizzutillo

3. Italy Italy is in the continent of Europe. The language of Italian is spoken there. An important holiday in Italy is Christmas.

4. Why do people celebrate Christmas in Italy? The Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Italians spend time with their family on this special day.

5. When does this holiday take place? This holiday starts 8 days before Christmas and is called the Novena. Christmas is Dec. 25. and ends on Jan. 6 which is Epiphany.

6. What are some traditions of this holiday? Children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems. They get dressed up in shepherd costumes. Presents and empty boxes are drawn from the Urn of Fate. There is one present for each person in the Urn. You keep reaching in until you get the one with your name.

7. More traditions On Epiphany a kind and ugly witch called Befana flies around on a broomstick giving presents to good children in case he is there. Who is he? He is baby Jesus. Befana slides down chimneys, and fills stockings and shoes with good things for good children and is said to leave coal for children who are not so good.

8. Are there special decorations for this holiday? What are they? A Christmas tree is one of them and there are special lights too. They light candles and have a tree of light.

9. Are there special foods eaten for this holiday? What are they? A light Milanese cake called panettone is eaten. On Christmas Eve the dinner is called cenone which is a dinner of seven fish including eel!

10. Is there special clothing worn for this holiday? What is it? They wear nice clothes for this holiday. Normally people wouldn’t wear costumes.

11. Fun Fact In Spain and Italy Il Natale is the common name for Christmas.

12. Fun Fact In Italy families set up a nativity scene. The manger is called a presepio.

13. Would I like to celebrate this holiday? Why? Yes. I would like to celebrate this holiday because there are good foods.I would also have time with my family. Hope you would like to celebrate this holiday too!