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
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
Featured Video
How to Make a Christmas Wreath
Learn how to make fun and easy arts & crafts for Christmas. Keltie Colleen guides you through the steps of making a Christmas wreath. This video is part of a wider series of Christmas related videos available for free at the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
How to Gift Wrap a Christmas Present
Keltie Colleen provides all the support and guidance you will need to learn how to gift wrap a Christmas present. Full step by step instructions are provided by Colleen in this 6:47 video. This is part of a much wider range of craft and Christmas related instructional videos available for free on the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
How to Make Christmas Tree Ornaments
Learn to make Christmas ornaments in this Mahalo tutorial led by Keltie Colleen. Ms Colleen demonstrates making globe ornaments for the Christmas tree using Styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, stickers, and rhinestones. To secure the stickers on the ornament, use a glue gun. The pipe cleaners form the ornament hanger. This is part of a wider series of Christmas related videos, which are published on the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
How to Play We Wish You A Merry Christmas on Guitar
Guitarist, Thomas Gilbert returns on Mahalo.com to play another Christmas classic on Guitar. This time the focus is how to play we wish you a merry Christmas on Guitar. Thomas guides viewers through all the required chords as well as providing an assortment of tips and advice on how to master playing this song. This video is part of a much wider series of learn how to play Christmas songs on the Guitar, which are published on the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
How to Make a Christmas Bow
Learn how to make fun and easy Christmas arts & crafts. This video will guide you through the steps of making a Christmas bow. This is part of a wider series of Christmas related videos published on the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
How to Make a Christmas Card
Crafter Keltie Colleen presents a tutorial on how to make a Christmas card. She discusses the supplies needed and the simple steps needed to create a homemade card. This crafting guide is part of a larger series of Christmas tutorials offered on the Mahalo.com YouTube channel.
Christmas Gifts Under $25
If you are struggling to afford to pay for all your Christmas presents this year then why not shop for some Christmas gifts under $25. This video shows that with careful research and planning you can buy affordable gifts, which look a lot more expensive than they actually cost.
How to Play Frosty The Snowman on Guitar
Frosty the Snowman is a well known Christmas songs and in this Mahalo.com video, Guitarist and Vocalist Jen Trani teachers viewers how to play the song. This video is part of a series of learn how to play Christmas songs on Guitar published on the Mahalo channel of YouTube.
How to Play White Christmas on Guitar
Jen Trani returns for another Mahalo.com video, this time she teaches viewers how to play the Christmas classic, "White Christmas". Watch the video to learn all the Guitar chords and everything you will need to master this song. This video is part of a series of learn how to play Christmas songs on Guitar published on the Mahalo channel of YouTube.
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Christmas Day is December 25
-
Fact:
In 2009 Christmas Day falls on a Friday
-
Fact:
Buon Natale is how you say Merry Christmas in ItalianLife in Italy: Christmas
-
Fact:
Each year the shepherds descend from the Abruzzo Mountains to begin the holiday procession with their bagpipesCalifornia Mall: Christmas Traditions from Italy
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Celebrations begin eight days before Christmas and last until the Feast of Epiphany on January 6Chass: Christmas in Italy
-
Fact:
Many Italian Catholics observe a fast from sundown December 23 until sundown December 24Life in Italy: Christmas
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Christmas markets in Italy are called Mercatino di NataleChristmas Markets.com: Christmas Markets in Italy
-
Fact:
Saturnalia, a holiday in honor of the sun god, Saturn, was celebrated in ancient Rome
