Buon Natale 2024

Welcome to the first edition Phil~italy Cultural Newsletter. We will be publishing bi-weekly and exploring the food, culture, music, art, architecture, natural beauty and history of our beloved Italy.

Christmas in Italy is a vibrant and deeply traditional celebration, rich with customs that vary from region to region. The festive season typically begins on December 8th with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, marked by the setting up of nativity scenes, or "presepi," in homes, churches, and public spaces. These intricate displays often include not just the Holy Family but entire villages, complete with running water and lights. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, towns and cities are adorned with lights and decorations, and Christmas markets, or "mercatini di Natale," offer a variety of local crafts, foods, and gifts. On Christmas Eve, many Italians attend midnight Mass, and the evening is often spent with family, enjoying a traditional meal that may include fish dishes, as meat is typically reserved for Christmas Day. The main Christmas meal, "il pranzo di Natale," is a lavish affair featuring multiple courses, including pasta, roasted meats, and desserts like "panettone" or "pandoro." The holiday season extends to January 6th, the Epiphany, when "La Befana," a kindly witch, is said to visit children, leaving sweets for those who have been good and coal for those who were not.

La Befana is a beloved figure in Italian folklore, often depicted as an old woman who delivers gifts to children on the eve of the Epiphany, January 5th. According to the legend, the Three Wise Men, on their journey to visit the newborn Jesus, stopped at Befana's house to ask for directions. They invited her to join them, but she declined, saying she had too much housework. Later, realizing her mistake, she set out to find the Wise Men and the Christ child, bringing with her a bag of gifts for the baby. However, she never found them, and so, to this day, she continues her search, flying on her broomstick and delivering gifts to children in hopes that one of them might be the Christ child. In Italian tradition, well-behaved children receive sweets and toys, while those who have misbehaved might find a lump of coal in their stockings. La Befana's story is a charming blend of Christian and pagan elements, symbolizing the spirit of giving and the hope of redemption.