First, let me wish you a “Buon Natale”, which means Merry Christmas in Italian. In Italy, the Christmas season begins eight days before our Christmas, December 25th. This nine day period, Novena, is a time of special church services ending on Christmas Eve. Italian children have to patiently wait to open their gifts until January 6th, which is the day of “Epiphany.” Delightfully, Epiphany celebrates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men eventually arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus. An Italian Christmas is very exciting and merry.
On Christmas Eve, Italians do not consume meat, instead they feast on seven types of delicious fish, which is the “Feast of Fishes” or the “Feast of Seven Fishes.” This tradition comes from the medieval Roman Catholic tradition of not consuming meat or milk products on Fridays and special holy days. During this feast, families gather around the nativity display and pray together. At noon the following day, the pope gives his blessing to the crowds in the Vatican Square. Christmas Eve is an important night of joyfully celebrating for Italians, who feast only on fish, vegetables, pasta, cookies, and cakes.
In Italy there is no Santa Claus, but there is a St. Nicholas, Santa Lucia, and other regional saints. As a whole, Italians believe in the legend of La Befana, who is a nice, but ugly witch who goes around Italy giving gifts. Legend has it that when Jesus was born, three kings explained to La Befana that the Messiah was born. She wanted to see the Messiah, but she was delayed. Unfortunately, she left on her broom and became miserably lost. It is believed that she is still flying around Italy giving presents to excellent children and coal to awful children, in case Jesus is with them. Although Italians do not celebrate “Santa Claus” their Christmas traditions and legends are closely related to the true meaning of Christmas.
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