Christmas in Italy

The tradition of the nativity scene comes from Italy. What is considered the first nativity scene in history (a living nativity scene) was set up by St. Francis of Assisi in Greccio in 1223.[5] However, nativity scenes were already found in Naples in 1025.[5] In Italy, regional crib traditions then spread, such as that of the Bolognese crib, the Genoese crib and the Neapolitan crib.

The tradition of the Yule log, once widespread, has been attested in Italy since the 11th century. A detailed description of this tradition is given in a book printed in Milan in the fourteenth century.[6] The Yure log appears with different names depending on the region: in Tuscany it is known as "ciocco",[7] while in Lombardy it is known as "zocco".[8] In Val di Chiana, in Tuscany, it was customary for children, blindfolded, to hit the block with pincers, while the rest of the family sang the Ave Maria del Ceppo.[9] That tradition was once deeply rooted in Italy is demonstrated by the fact that Christmas in Tuscany was called the "feast of the log".[7]

Christmas tree in Milan, in front of the Duomo of Milan.

The tradition of the Christmas tree, of Germanic origin, was also widely adopted in Italy during the twentieth century. It seems that the first Christmas tree in Italy was erected at the Quirinal Palace at the behest of Queen Margherita, towards the end of the nineteenth century.[2]

During Fascism this custom was frowned upon and opposed (being considered an imitation of a foreign tradition), preferring the typically Italian nativity scene. In 1991, the Gubbio Christmas tree, 650 meters high and decorated with over 700 lights, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest Christmas tree in the world.[10]

Typically Italian tradition is instead that of the bagpipers, or men dressed as shepherds and equipped with bagpipes, who come down from the mountains, playing Christmas music.[11] This tradition, dating back to the nineteenth century, is particularly widespread in the South of the country.[12]

A description of the Abruzzese bagpipers is provided by Héctor Berlioz in 1832.[11]

Typical bearers of gifts from the Christmas period in Italy are Santa Lucia (December 13), Baby Jesus, Babbo Natale (the name given to Santa Claus), and, on Epiphany, the Befana.[13]

Doll depicting the Befana

Traditional bearer of gifts in some areas of Northern Italy, such as Verona, Lodi, Cremona, Pavia, Brescia, Bergamo and Piacenza is Santa Lucia on the night between 12 and 13 December.[14]

According to the Italian tradition, Saint Lucia shows up on her donkey and the children must leave a cup of tea for the saint and a plate of flour for the animal.[15]

A typical figure of Italian Christmas folklore is the Befana, depicted as an old witch on a broom, who appears as a bearer of gifts on January 6, the day of the Epiphany: according to tradition, this figure brings gifts (usually sweets inside of a sock) to good children and coal to bad children.[16]

The Befana, whose name is a "corruption" of the word "Epifania", is a figure that can be connected to others that are also found in other cultures, such as the German Frau Berchta and the Russian Babuška.[16]

A famous nursery rhyme is dedicated to the figure of the Befana:

Panettone is a typical Italian Christmas cake, a cake with raisins and candied fruit originally from Milan, but widespread throughout the territory.[17] The origins of this dessert probably date back to the 12th century.[18] The name "panettone" perhaps derives from "pan del Ton", referring to one of the legends about the origins of this dessert, which was allegedly created by a scullery boy named Toni in the service of Duke Ludovico.[19] This Christmas cake was particularly appreciated by the writer Alessandro Manzoni and by the composer Giuseppe Verdi.[20][21]

Typical Camerino torrone

Another typical Italian Christmas cake spread throughout the territory is Pandoro, a sweet originally from Verona, created in 1884 by Domenico Melegatti.[18]

The name of this cake derives from "pan de oro", in memory of a conical-shaped cake, which at the time of the Serenissima Republic was covered with pure gold leaves.[22]

Originally from Northern Italy, but widespread throughout the territory, it's also the Torrone. According to tradition, the nougat originated from a dessert served in Cremona on 25 October 1441 on the occasion of the wedding between Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti.[23]

Neapolitan struffoli

From Northern Italy, especially from Cologna Veneta, comes the nougat. The origins of this dessert probably date back to the commercial relations that the Republic of Venice had with the East.[24]

Coming from Southern Italy, especially Naples, but widespread throughout the territory, are the struffoli: already known in the 17th century, their name perhaps derives from the Greek strongoulos, which means "round".[25]

In 1938, under fascism, the so-called "Fascist Befana" was introduced during the Christmas holidays, a demonstration for charitable purposes.[26]