Customs and traditions Xmas In Naples and Italy

Christmas in Italy is rich in traditions which have, for the most part, a religious history.. The hearth of Naples during Xmas time is San Gregorio Armeno.

The crib in Naples One of the most ancient traditions and characteristics of the celebrations of the Christmas in Naples is the building of the “Crib”, in many houses there is the tradition, starting from December 8th, to start to preparation of a Crib, great, small, simple or elaborate, employing shepherds and sceneries of the ancient Neapolitan tradition.

The great diffusion of the Crib in Naples began in 1700 during the kingdom of Charles III

it is in this time that started the work of “figurinaio” the artist realizes the people in the crib with terracotta and ceramics …. hand paints with great ability and adorns them according to the traditional customs. hand paints with great ability and adorns them according to the traditional customs.

One of the characteristic places of the crib is the tavern, frequented by the strangest people of the town it is the more illuminated place and rich of products typical of the food tradition in Campania. it is the more illuminated place and rich of products typical of the food tradition in Campania.

, in a lot of Neapolitan houses and in the outskirts it assumes a symbolic and cathartic meaning to manage the scene of the nativity filling it with houses, shops, little fountain and shepherds purchased in St. Gregorio Armeno

In this street, in the centre of Naples, the Christmas atmosphere never ends and there is no limit between layman and religious, and there is no limit between layman and religious, sacred and profane sacred and profane

Eating in Christmas It is tradition in Naples on Christmas to eat very much. The Christmas supper (in Italian "cenone"= big supper) is very rich and caloric and changes from family to family; however it is very often based on fish.

For first course usually we prepare : linguine, or rice, or spaghetti with the fish; for second baccalà (code) and fried capitone (large eel ); broccoli of Christmas, mussels, clams, and other fish. Then peanuts, fruit and dry fruit. Then there is the better part of the supper: the sweet.

The Italians are very greedy and consume many sweets In Christmas we have a big choice of them : "mustacciuoli", then the "rococo", and we finish with the "struffoli" our preferred sweets.

Typical Christmas Italian cakes are Panettone, Pandoro and Torrone.

Tradition connected with Christmas On Christmas Eve dinner everyone plays bingo (called tumbulella by Neapolitans) or cards until midnight. When the clock strikes twelve Christmas presents are unwrapped and then everyone goes to Midnight Mass.

On New Year's Day everyone fires petards and fireworks that light up the sky and welcome the new year. Many people throw old things out of the windows hoping to forget all the bad things of the past year and have luck and fortune in the new. At midnight everyone drinks a toast to the New Year but only with Italian sparkling wine!

New Year's Day dinner consists of many courses that differ from region to region. However, the zampone or cotechino with lentils, a typical Christmas dish, is present on every table from the North to the South.

Lentils symbolize money so they are eaten as much as possible! Zampone is a symbol of abundance because it is the foot of the pig, rich in fat!! Lentils symbolize money so they are eaten as much as possible! Zampone is a symbol of abundance because it is the foot of the pig, rich in fat!!

On the Eve of the Epiphany, 6th January, Italian children hang a stocking by the fireplace the old woman will puts sweets and chocolates into the stockings of children who have been good and black coal into the stockings of children who have been naughty ! ! the old woman will puts sweets and chocolates into the stockings of children who have been good and black coal into the stockings of children who have been naughty ! !

Here ends our narration of "Christmas in Italy". We hope you enjoyed reading it and that someday you will join us here in Italy to celebrate this special event ! !

Bye for now ….. Luigi Sonia, Vincenzo, Alessandro, Fabio, Antonio, Pietro, Giovanni, Franca Franceco, Mr Cristina, Simone, Concetta, Salvatore, Michele, Maria Pina, Salvatore, Diego, Tania, Gloria, Raffaele, Mariapia, Federica