Some think that seven represents the seven days of creation in the Bible, other say it represents the seven holy sacraments of the Catholic Church. But some families have more than seven dishes! You might have nine to represent the Christian trinity times three , 13 to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples or 11 for the 11 disciples without Jesus or Judas! The Christmas celebrations start eight days before Christmas with special 'Novenas' or a series of prayers and church services.
Some families have a 'Ceppo' or Yule Log which is burnt through the Christmas season. Epiphany is also important in Italy. On Epiphany night, children believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings presents for them. The story about Befana bringing presents is very similar to the story of Babushka. Children put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to fill.
As well as fish, of course, the people of Italy have pasta dishes on Christmas Eve. Again, the specific pasta dishes vary depending on whereabouts in the country you are. Places like Piedmont and Lombardy in the north will eat lasagna filled with anchovies, while in Naples you are more likely to be served vermicelli with mussels or clams. A popular Christmas tradition for those who live or are staying in Rome is visiting the Vatican for midnight mass with the Pope on Christmas Eve.
This actually happens at 9. It is also televised in St. If you have been on a guided Vatican tour , then you will know big the square is; it is even more magical at Christmas time, with its huge tree and nativity scene, and people celebrating the holidays as one. While some Italians are attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve, others are whizzing down the slopes on Christmas Day. In northern Italy people ski down the mountains at midnight, carrying torches as a festive celebration!
In various Italian cities, and especially in Rome - the Eternal city - you are likely to find men playing bagpipes in the squares across town. This was based on the story of the shepherds who visited Jesus on the night of his birth and played the bagpipes for him. The pipers wear short breeches with leather leggings, a sheepskin vest with a woolly cloak and also a peaked cap.
You might be able to catch the pipers on a Rome walking tour! In Italy, Christmas celebration lasts about one month, starting on December 8th, the day of the Immacolata, on which traditionally the presepe Nativity scene and the Christmas tree are set up, and lasting until the Epiphany , celebrating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, on January 6th.
December 8: Setting up a Christmas tree and the Nativity scene. Traditionally the Christmas tree and Nativity scene are set up on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. The popular custom of creating the Nativity scene during Christmas actually originated in Italy.
On December 24, St. Francis of Assisi commissioned Giovanni Vellita, a villager of Greccio, in the province of Lazio , to create what was to be the first Nativity scene in the world. It was created in one of the caves of the local monastery. A layer of straw had been spread on the stone floor and a primitive crib had been placed in a corner. Around it were a donkey, an ox and a dozen of peasants.
From that moment on, the creation of the figures or pastori became a very popular genre of Italian folk art. However, the Italian presepe often consists of more than just a traditional nativity crib with the Holy Family and baby Jesus in the stable. With a brown outer surface and a fluffy, yeast-risen golden interior, star-shaped Pandoro looks like a craggy mountain topped with snow-white powdered sugar. Struffoli are tiny balls of crisp-fried dough, dipped in honey and decorated with colorful candy sprinkles.
They are an absolute requirement at the end of a traditional Christmas Lunch in Naples. Torrone is a kind of nougat made of honey, sugar, almonds or hazelnuts. The recipe varies depending on whether you are in the south or north of the country. It pairs the warming, aromatic spices of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and black peppercorns with red wine. Cosa fai a Capodanno? Most Italians continue to hold on to traditional customs and rituals, which promise to bring good fortune and banish bad luck in the coming year.
Most festivities in Italy seem to naturally revolve around food, and San Silvestro is no exception. Italians usually celebrate Capodanno with a cenone with friends and family.
The delicacies served during the cenone are symbolic of good wishes for the new year. With their golden brown color and round, flat shape, lentils resemble gold coins and are traditionally believed to bring wealth and financial prosperity in the coming year. They are usually cooked with herbs, tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil. Pork symbolizes the bountifulness and richness of life in the coming year.
Cotechino , a delicious, savory, large pork sausage from Modena, in the Emilia Romagna region, is the classic accompaniment for lenticchie all over Italy.
Just like cotechino , it is boiled and sliced into rounds before serving. Most Italian supermarkets start selling pre-packed zampone in November. Pasta is made from scratch. It is hand rolled, filled with a mix of beef, pork and chicken, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and nutmeg, and shaped into little hats.
As for the dessert, it usually is one of the famous Christmas cakes, Panettone or Pandoro dusted with powdered sugar. It also ensures you will be prudent with your new-found wealth. Italian folklore claims that wearing red underwear brings luck, good fortune and fertility in the coming year.
This goes for both men and women. To work properly, red undergarments should be new and a gift from someone else, and have to be thrown away the day after. In Italy, the end of one year and beginning of another is celebrated with a lot of noise to frighten away evil spirits. The celebratory explosions light up the sky after the clock strikes The New Year is celebrated with Italian sparkling wine spumante or Prosecco. When the clock strikes midnight, you are supposed to have a glass of spumante in hand to toast with your loved ones.
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