The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8
days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, children
go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.
In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the
villages, play and sing Christmas songs.
In the week before Christmas children go from house to house
dressed as shepherds, playing pipes, singing and reciting Christmas poems. They
are given money to buy presents.
A strict feast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve,
and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called
panettone features as well as chocolate.
Presents and empty boxes, are drawn from the Urn of Fate
- lucky dip, which always contains one gift per person. By twilight, candles are
lighted around the family crib known as the Presepio, prayers are said,
and children recite poems.
At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds
gathered in the huge Vatican square.
In Italy the children wait until Epiphany, January 6, for
their presents. According to tradition, the presents are delivered by a kind
ugly witch called Befana on a broomstick. It was said that she was told
by the three kings that the baby Jesus was born, she was busy and delayed
visiting the baby.
She missed the Star lost her way and has been flying around
ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case he is there.
She slides down chimneys, and fills stockings and shoes with good things for
good children and it is said leaves coal for children who are not so good.
On christmas Eve the dinner is called cenone which is a
traditional dish of eel.
Christmas lunch is Tortellini in Brodo which is filled
pasta parcels in broth, also served is cappone which is boiled capon, or
roasts are served in central Italy.
Another famous cake is pandoro which originated from
Verona
