Italy's Christmas

Decorations

• Italy's decorations consist of ornaments, Christmas trees, stockings, and gilt ceppo, so Italy is very decorated during Christmas time.
• Venetian Glass is a very popular Italian decoration, tree toppers are extremely popular too.

Foods

• Italians eat unusual things like "Cassata" during this holiday, but they still eat normal every day foods like chicken.
• Sandwiches with slices of Porchetta are eaten around time for Christmas, but they eat Baked Eel or pasta at Christmas dinner.

Gifts

• Befana, an old witch, is said to bring the children presents whereas the children have to wait excitedly.
• The presents the children get from their parents are hidden under the Christmas tree so that they can open them in the morning.

History of Christmas

• Although Befana was invited by Jesus' parents to come see Baby Jesus, she couldn't get past her schedule to make it.
• While the Shepards got to see Baby Jesus, Befana never ended up getting the chance to see him.

Winter in Italy

• While it snows continuously outside, some children wait patiently inside for it to stop.
• Some Italians can't drive during Christmas since the roads are all frozen up.

Italian Christmas Music

• Children pretend to play along with the Zampognari as though they are one of them.
• When the Pifferari play all together, women hum to their harmonious music.