Today we kick start our 12 Days of Christmas giveaway and we want to get into the Christmas spirit and give you some inspiration for Italian holidays during the festive session. Here's what the American travel writer Margie Miklas has to say about Christmas celebrations and traditions in Italy:
Christmas is the
biggest holiday in Italy and families, businesses, and cities and towns begin
celebrating the season several weeks prior to Christmas through January 6, the
Feast of the Epiphany. As in most things Italian, traditions that date back
many centuries continue to play an important role. Each region has its own
traditions and here are just a few of the most well-known Christmas traditions
celebrated in Italy.
Christmas Eve Celebration of the Seven Fishes
The Christmas
Eve dinner has traditionally been celebrated with various fish dishes, usually
seven but in some instances, up to thirteen. These could include baccala,
clams, whitefish, eel, shrimp, mussels and calamari. Christmas Eve is the vigil
of the solemn feast, Christmas, and typically, meat is avoided.
Although this
custom originated in southern Italy, not all areas adhere to this tradition. My
Sicilian friend, Angela Savoca tells me that her family has never celebrated
Christmas Eve dinner with the traditional seven fishes. Angela was born and
raised in Cesarò, Sicily, an inland mountainous area. She clarified that the
mountainous inland regions do not have access to the fresh seafood. Only the
coastal towns and cities have fresh seafood available, and in these places is
where this tradition is more frequently practiced.
Christmas Eve Bonfires
Many towns and
villages in Italy celebrate Christmas Eve by lighting grand bonfires and
burning them all night, symbolic of the fire that warmed Baby Jesus. The
northern ski town of Cervinia in Valle d’Aosta celebrates Christmas Eve with a
torch-lit procession by skiers as they come down the mountain. The well-known
resort town of Taormina lights a large bonfire, and the locals refer to this
night as the Night of the Luminaria.
In the Molise
region of central Italy, the town of Agnone in celebrates La `Nocciata,
an ancient festival held on December 24th. Italian men dress in traditional
costumes and carry thirteen-foot-high torches made from silver fir pinewood
throughout the town. The procession, commonly called “La Fracolare” concludes
with a gigantic bonfire known as “Bonfire of the Brotherhood.” A Nativity scene is also on display at the
square, and thousands of visitors from neighboring towns come to Agnone to be
part of this experience.
Nativity Cribs or Presepe
Beginning
December 8 families start to prepare their presepe, or Christmas crèche. It is
not enough to simply bring the one out from last year. In Napoli, the entire
family gets involved, including the children. Naples has an entire pedestrian
street, via San Gregorio Armeno, where artisans create beautiful presepe all
year. Every family has one and they can
be very elaborate with lighting, and different figures, not just religious
ones. The Baby Jesus is never placed in the manger until Christmas Eve.
Italy has many
other Christmas traditions and these are only a few. The season is very special
in Italy and if you ever the chance to spend the Christmas season there, I
highly recommend it.
Margie Miklas is an American writer with a passion for travel and I particular, Italy. She is the author of Memoirs of a Solo Traveler – My Love Affair with Sicily .
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