The Italian Christmas

THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

Have you ever spent Christmas in Italy?
Christmas in Italy is a big affair, with lots of celebrating, visiting family and, of course, lots of food (with meals lasting for hours!).
Officially Christmas in Italy starts on the 8th of December with the “Immacolata” and with the first of the special Christmas meal. Typical dishes of the Immacolata are, especially in the south, “Pettole“(or zeppole), and also the famous “Baccala`” that could be fried, marinated or steamed.
In terms of food, the biggest meal is definitely the Christmas Eve one.
This is probably the most important night for few reason. First of all the religious side, at midnight Jesus will born. Also because is the biggest meal of all the celebrations (something you`ve been looking forward to) and the presents are opened on that night too. Sometimes during the meal between the first and second course.
The Christian tradition would not allowed to eat meat on that night and that`s why on the Christmas Eve,
Italians use to eat only fish based dishes (sometimes a stuffed turkey could appear on the table). Typycal dishes are “Linguine with vongole” and “Capitone” and maybe other 8/10 contorni.

The meal is followed by a variety of Christmas desserts like Panettone, Panforte or Torrone and obviously a nice glass of Spumante.

Il panettone

The big meal ends just in time for the midnight celebration (when Jesus borns) with fireworks and with the baby Jesus placed in the Presepe. The night will end playing “Tombola” or other cards game.
Then you will go to bed exhausted but looking forward to the next day’s big Christmas lunch.

On the 25th the lunch will definitely be “Pasta al forno or Cannelloni” followed by Agnello arrostito and vegetables. Again Panettone, panforte and torrone are the desserts.
The lunch meal will last until dinner time and will probably end start eating again.

In every home you`ll get in, you`ll find on the table a big pot with dried fruits like dates and figs,
the Christmas threes with boxes of chocolate and panettone under it.

For the new year`s eve how to forget the Zampone e Lenticchie, the dish supposed to bring richness. Every party around the country will serve this dish at midnight.

Zampone e lenticchie

Italy is a country with many ethnic and cultural influences, so Christmas traditions are diverse and cannot be generalized.

All the celebrations will last until the 6th of January, day when the “Befana” comes and brings the last presents. Italy doesn’t have the tradition of Father Christmas. Instead they have this good witch like woman (Befana) who leaves presents for children on the night of Epiphany if they are good – or black coal (il carbone) if they have been bad.
You will see ‘coal’ sweets all around Italy at this time of year made from black sugar.

So be good this Christmas otherwise you`ll have “Tanto Carbone alla Befana”!!!

Itri wishes you all a merry merry Christmas.

See you soon!

Glossary
- Immacolata(Immaculate conception): the Immaculate Conception is, according to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain (macula in Latin) of original sin. It`s celebrated on the 8th of December.
- Pettole: deep fried pizza dough sometimes stuffed with anchovies (depending on the area).
- Baccala`: salted cod.
- Vongole: clams.
- Capitone: big female eel.
- Contorni: contorni means side dishes. Typical are calamari fritti (fried squid), insalata di mare(sea food salad), fritto misto di verdure (deep fried mixed vegetables), mandarini e castagne(mandarin and chestnut),
- Panettone: is the tall, fruit-filled Italian sweet bread that is served only at Christmas.
- Panforte: a heavenly mixture of honey, spices, candied fruit, and almonds.
- Torrone: is a nougat candy, typically made of honey, sugar, and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts, and usually shaped into either a rectangular tablet or a round cake.
- Spumante: Italian sweet Champagne.
- Presepe: creche, Christmas nativity.
- Tombola: bingo.
- Zampone e linticchie: stuffed pigs trotter with lentils.

Written by Itri on 16 December 2009 | Posted in All News Entries, Did you know that..., Events