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• The Christmas traditions in Italy are a combination of the Roman Catholic influence on their society and the old pagan customs once associated with Saturnalia. During the holiday season Italians celebrate both the birth of the Christ child and the birth (or return) of the sun from its long journey across the sky.California Mall: Christmas Traditions from Italy

• Fast Facts

  1. Christmas Day is December 25
  2. In 2009 Christmas Day falls on a Friday
  3. Buon Natale is how you say Merry Christmas in ItalianLife in Italy: Christmas
  4. Each year the shepherds descend from the Abruzzo Mountains to begin the holiday procession with their bagpipesCalifornia Mall: Christmas Traditions from Italy
  5. The shepherds are called PiferariCalifornia Mall: Christmas Traditions from Italy
  6. Celebrations begin eight days before Christmas and last until the Feast of Epiphany on January 6Chass: Christmas in Italy
  7. Many Italian Catholics observe a fast from sundown December 23 until sundown December 24Life in Italy: Christmas
  8. A Yule log or Ceppe is burnedChass: Christmas in Italy
  9. Christmas markets in Italy are called Mercatino di NataleChristmas Markets.com: Christmas Markets in Italy
  10. Saturnalia, a holiday in honor of the sun god, Saturn, was celebrated in ancient Rome

• The Legend of La Befana

  There is an old, Italian story that tells of an old woman who denied the Three Wise Men when they arrived at her door and asked her for directions to Bethlehem. Hours later, the old woman felt guilty, so she set out to find the men and show them the way, but she never found them. Legend says the old woman still wanders the countryside at Christmas searching for the Christ child. Known as la Befana, she is a kind but ugly witch who visits children and brings them gifts on the Day of Epiphany.Sask Schools: Christmas in Italy

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Christmas | Italy | Rome | Christmas in Russia | Christmas in the Philippines | Christmas in Japan | Christmas Markets in France | Christmas Markets in Germany | Christmas in England | Christmas in France | Christmas in Australia | Christmas in Mexico | Christmas in Ireland | Christmas in Iraq | Christmas in India | Christmas in Sweden | Christmas Around the World | Christmas in Spain | Christmas in Brazil | Christmas in Switzerland

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