We are appreciating the opportunity to experience Christmas in Italy this year. It helps that our daughter Annie is here visiting with us, but we wish we could share this with the rest of our family and friends. From our limited perspective, it seems like Christmas is still very much a religious holiday here in Italy. There are nativity scenes (called "Christmas cribs") in many public places and most of the lighting displays are of religious scenes. There is less emphasis on home holiday decorating and gift giving and more on family gatherings and traditional meals.
The holiday break extends all the way to Epiphany on January 6th. Italian children receive toys on the eve of Epiphany from "La Befana". She is an old woman who legend says missed the birth of Jesus and since then has been looking for good children worthy of receiving gifts.
We will attend the midnight Christmas Eve service tonight in our neighborhood and then tomorrow go to an agriturismo (farm restaurant) for a traditional holiday meal. Buon Natale!
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| Piazza del Duomo |
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| Mass being held in the middle of the Milano Cadorna train station (21 Dec.) |
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| Simple but beautiful decorations |
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| Outdoor market stalls with local goods. |
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| Temporary skating rink set up near the lake |
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| Fun in the pedestrian streets |
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| Holiday light projections |
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| Traditional Christmas cake (Panettone), a sweet bread. |
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| Piazza del Duomo |
Sounds nice, Gianna! Perhaps less stressed than an American Christmas!? Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Jeanne. Glad that Annie and her partner could be there with you! Love, Carol
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