1. Christmas in Italy!
Let’s find out how much we need to pay for our tickets, and write our checks!
We’re headed to Rome, Italy!

2. Merry Christmas in Italian is Buon Natale!
Christmas in Italy!
Merry Christmas in Italian is Buon Natale!
Christmastime is merry for the people of Italy, but their long religious history also makes it a solemn occasion. The first manger scene was made it Italy by St. Francis of Assisi so that others might worship the infant Jesus. Italy is also known for its deeply religious paintings of the Holy Family.

3. Christmas in Italy!
Christmas in Italy begins on the first Sunday in Advent. The period of nine days before Christmas Day is called the novena.
Novena is a very festive time. Bagpipers dressed in sheepskin perform in the streets. Children walk from house to house reciting Christmas verses in exchange for coins. There are lively Christmas fairs complete with fireworks, bonfires, carols sung by shepherds, and an abundance of lights.

4. Christmas in Italy!

5. The Italian manger scene is called a presepio.
Christmas in Italy!
The Italian manger scene is called a presepio.
Presepios are set up in the weeks before Christmas in every church and most homes.

6. At ten o’clock in the evening, Christmas Eve masses begin.
Christmas in Italy!
At ten o’clock in the evening, Christmas Eve masses begin.
Although most children receive gifts on January 6, some families have adopted the custom of receiving gifts on Christmas Eve as well. To maintain religious aspects, the gifts are said to come from Gesu Bambino (Baby Jesus).

7. Christmas Day is for church, family and feasting.
Christmas in Italy!
Christmas Day is for church, family and feasting.
Pasta dishes and turkey are served. Panettone, a Christmas cake filled with raisins, citron and other fruits is eaten at the end of the meal. Italians also eat panaforte, cassata, pizelles and macaroons.

8. Christmas in Italy!
New Year’s Day is a day of merry parties and friends. It is also the day for adults to exchange gifts.

9. Christmas in Italy!
Children traditionally wait until Epiphany (January 6) to receive their gifts from La Befana. Legend describes Befana as a tiny old woman dressed in black and riding a broomstick from house to house on the Eve of Epiphany.
She leaves gifts in the shoes of good children, a piece of firewood for the poor, and lumps of coal or bags of ashes for the bad children. (She may even take the really wicked children with her!)

10. Christmas in Italy!
Befana travels in search of the Christ Child. The story says she was busy sweeping when the Three Kings came searching for Jesus. They stopped at Befana’s house and asked her to go along, but she refused because she had so much work to do.

11. Christmas in Italy!
She said she would join them when she finished, and they went on without her. After she finished cleaning, she gathered some gifts and set out to find them, but instead she got lost. She is still searching for him today and leaves a gift in every child’s home on Epiphany Eve.

12. Christmas in Italy!
Christmas lasts for 3 weeks in Italy, From December 18th (Novena) to January 6th (Twelfth-Night or Feast of Epiphany)
December 8: L’Immacolata Concezione
December 13: La Festa di Santa Lucia
December 24: La Vigilia di Natale
December 25: Natale
December 26: La Festa di Santo Stefano
December 31: La Festa di San Silvestro
January 1: Il Capodanno
January 6: La Festa dell’Epifania

13. Another Christmas in Italy!
Let’s watch a video to see how a family in Italy celebrates the holidays.
Christmas in Italy!
Another Christmas in Italy!

14. Some famous Italian carols:
Christmas in Italy!
Some famous Italian carols:
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Carol of the Bagpipers

15. Christmas in Italy!
Let’s write about everything we learned and enjoy our biscotti from Italy!
We will be making La Befana to remember Italy.