Italian Christmas Traditions

If you cannot travel to Italy this holiday season and experience first-hand an Italian Christmas, we hope you enjoy this collection of stories that describe some of the most typical traditions recurring every year, some of them really old!

From Christmas markets, which open the holiday season, to the annual "Christmas cakes battle" - Panettone or Pandoro? -, from the sound of bagpipes to the beloved "presepe", find below your favorite Italian Christmas tradition!  

The Three Best Italian Christmas Markets
The holiday season in Italy usually kicks off on December 8, and that's when many towns across the country open their quaint Christmas markets, where you can shop for holiday decorations, artisan items, traditional food, and, above all, you can start to get into the festive atmosphere!
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Zampognari Keep Alive the Tradition of Festive Bagpipe Playing
No Italian Christmas would be complete without the sound of bagpipes. Everywhere from the piazzas of Rome to remote hillside villages, the Zampognari (pipers) continue the tradition of festive bagpipe playing that dates back to ancient Roman times.
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Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at St. Peter's Square Set for December 19
If you're in Rome in mid-December, don't miss the annual Christmas tree and Nativity Scene lighting on St. Peter's Square. Every year, the tree is donated by a different Italian region.
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Italian Christmas Decorations: Il Presepio

A beloved tradition in Italy is putting up "il presepio" (nativity scene) alongside the Chrismas tree, which many Italian families do on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, a national holiday when most people are off from work.

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10 Tips to Enjoy a Visit to a Presepe Vivente - Living Crib
If you are visiting Italy during the Christmas holidays, don't miss the chance to experience a Presepe Vivente (living crib), where locals dress up as Mary, Jesus, the Three Kings, angels and shepherds in a rather theatrical representation of the Biblical story.
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Panettone VS Pandoro - The Christmas Cakes Battle
Will you be serving panettone or pandoro this Christmas? This is a real dilemma returning every year in many Italian families, often split between panettone lovers and pandoro lovers. But we have the solution: just buy both!
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Precious Christmas Cookies: Ricciarelli di Siena
While Panettone and Pandoro are ubiquitous throughout Italy, there are many Christmas desserts that are specific to each Italian region - we particularly like the sweet and crusty Ricciarelli from Siena!
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Christmas Food Traditions: Cotechino and Zampone from Emilia
Spend Christmas at the home of any family in the region of Emilia and you can be sure to find cotechino and zampone at the table!
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A Taste of Christmas
Food is the star during the holidays, but let's not forget about drinks: discover the most popular to be enjoyed in Italy this time of the year.
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How to Say: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Italian
And of course, after learning about all these Italian Christmas traditions, you also need to learn how to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Italian!
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Topic:Culture Christmas Traditions Christmas