Thursday 18 December 2008

Buon Natale - a brief guide to Italian Christmas Traditions...


Buon Natale from everyone at Flavours! We’ve had a fantastic year with plenty of memorable moments in the kitchen and lots of new friends made on our Italian cookery holidays.

Our cooking courses for 2009 are proving very popular, why not make your new years resolution to come away with us and live the dolce vita! New for 2009 is our week long cooking holiday to Tuscany and a brand new villa in Bologna.
Our online gift shop offers some fantastic last minute ideas ranging from nifty gadgets for the home to luxurious cooking holidays in a box filled with Italian treats!

But how is Christmas celebrated in Italy?

Although Babo Natale (Father Christmas) and giving presents on Christmas are becoming more common, the main day for gift giving in Italy is Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men gave Baby Jesus their gifts.

In Italy, presents are brought by La Befana, a kind but ugly witch who arrives in the night to fill children's stockings. Le Befana arrives on her brromstick during the night of Janurary the 5th and fills childrens stockings with sweets, however the bad children get a lump of coal!

The Italian Christmas dinner is traditionally only made with fish! Called the feast of 7 fishes consisting of calamari, shrimp, clams, mussels, crab and of course a show-stopping main course, Stuffed Lobster. The Christmas dinner is traditionally eaten on Christmas eve and is followed by the most fabulous Penettone from the north! Check out our fabulous Panettone recipe on the blog!

Just to let you know our office is closed from the 19th December until the 5th January.

Have a delicous Christmas and a tasty New Year!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

if you're planning to travel to Rome start by visiting vacation rentals in rome
to find an accommodation for your budget and enjoy the free internet connection...ciao