How Italy Celebrates Christmas

Christmas season in italy is traditionally celebrated from december 24 january 6 or christmas eve through epiphany which is often referred to as the twelve days of christmas.
How italy celebrates christmas. Celebrating christmas for 12 days follows the pagan season of celebrations that started with saturnalia a winter solstice festival and ended with. Specifically the kids look forward to the twitch of the christmas time in december when christmas trees are placed up and homes are decorated. When i was a kid my father worked shifts and we didn t have a real christmas tradition. Francis of assisi in 1223 assisi is in mid italy.
Precisely the official celebrations start on the 8th of december public holiday offices are closed one of the calendar days dedicated to holy mary. If my father had to work on christmas day we would celebrate the night before but if he was free on christmas day christmas eve was just a night to stay at home watch tv and relax. This is when decorations go up both on the streets and. Using a nativity scene to help tell the christmas story was made very popular by st.
In the vein of the birth of christ one of the most beautiful celebrations of christmas in italy comes in the form of presepi traditional artisanal nativity scenes that some communities have elevated to an art form making them the cornerstone of their folklore and economy. Not to mention italy s most beautiful villages or its borghi più belli d italia are especially picturesque at christmas when their small alleys and piazzas are decked with decorations and host. In other countries thanksgiving or even halloween signals the start of the christmas season. The christmas season is much anticipated as one of italy s most celebrated holidays.
The previous year he had visited bethlehem and saw where it was thought that jesus was born. Christmas in italy is celebrated over several weeks as italians celebrate from early december until the day of epiphany on the 6th of january. Customs vary from region to region making every part of italy an interesting place to enjoy the christmas holidays. Christmas in italy is a big deal christmas in italy is rejoiced over many weeks as italians rejoice from early december reliant on the region till the day of epiphany on the january 6th.
Proper christmas celebrations begin on christmas eve. Here are some of the most popular christmas traditions in italy and how to celebrate them. One of the most important ways of celebrating christmas in italy is the nativity crib scene. If you re traveling to italy during this festive season you re certain to run into a variety of special events celebrations and holiday markets throughout the country.
Italians kick off the christmas season and start decorating on the day of the immaculate conception december 8. In italy though christmas officially kicks off with the day of the immaculate conception of mary on december 8. Today we ll go through everything you need to know about christmas in italy.