Christmas Celebration in Italy
The Christmas in Italy celebrated for three weeks. The festival and celebration of Christmas starts 8 days before Christmas known as Novena. Novena is the period of eight days before Christmas and it is the time to carry out all the necessary preparation of Christmas. During this period it is traditional that group of local musician go around the town playing music, singing carols and reciting poems in honor of Lord Jesus Christ. This group of musician dressed up in rustic style of shepherd. These performers get monetary gifts in exchange as reward of their performance.
In Italy the scene of nativity are very popular and can be seen displayed almost in every households. This has becomes a norm in Italy and now people use their creative skill for designing and decorating the nativity. At some places in Italy these scenes are arranged on a wooden pyramidal platform ranging several feet high and it is known as a Ceppo. At the top of this structure is the manger scene or ‘Presepio’ called in Italy. It is decorated skillfully with handmade paintings of human and animal figure. In these mangers one can witness the beautiful artistic decoration. . On the shelves of the ceppo below packaged gifts and sweets are displayed. The decoration of manger varies according to taste and skills but it is decorated in a fashion, which attract attention of viewers.
Italian holds a strict fast a day before Christmas and ends later on the Christmas Eve with an elaborate celebratory Christmas feast. While the Christmas Eve dinner items is based mainly on fish. Menu varies from place to place and from region to region but the first course of a Christmas feast is Lasagna, Cannelloni or a timbale of pasta. Mixed roast or roast beef form the main item for the second course. These are served with various types of cheeses, fruits (dried and ripe) and lots of sweets, all soaked in a good quality red or white wine. Grappa, Whiskey and other hard liquors are also served during the feast. The most typical of the Christmas sweets is Torrone, it is s available with honey or chocolate almonds or pistachios and served with delight to everyone.
At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square. People also visit church to attend prayer and to sing carol.
Unlike the Christmas custom that is followed in the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other parts of the world, the main exchange of Christmas gifts in Italy takes place on the Feast of the Epiphany. This event of exchanging gifts takes place on January 6.
On the previous night of Epiphany Italian children hang up their stockings in order to get gifts from La Befana. La Befana is a female character similar to Santa Claus and according to legend Befana lived on the route the Three Magi took when they set out to visit the Infant Jesus. They stopped at her house to ask her for directions to Bethlehem as well as for food and shelter but Befana refused them but later on had a change of heart and decided she wouldn't mind in helping peoples. Like The Three Magi she also followed the bright Star shining in the Sky, but she was unable to find the stable of the Christ Child. Befana however wasn't the sort to give up and is still flying around looking through windows and down chimney tops. She visits every house where there are children and leaves gifts just in case one of them happens to be the Christ Child.
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