Discover La Dolce Vita: Top 10 Fun Facts About Christmas in Italy You'll Adore

1. Housekeeping Witch Befana

Move over, Santa Claus, and make way for the original "cleaning up" legend: In Italy, the tradition of La Befana has an old woman delivering gifts to children on Epiphany Eve, who originally declined to join the biblical Magi in their journey to find baby Jesus because she was too busy with housework, only to change her mind later and began visiting children on Epiphany since she couldn't locate the astrologers and Jesus.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Gift-Bearing Wooden Pyramids

Who needs a Christmas tree when you can have a wooden gift-bearing pyramid? Behold, the Italian architectural marvel known as "ceppo": This festive, multi-tiered structure derived from the Tuscan region is adorned with small gifts, candy, fruit, and occasionally, candles. The pièce de résistance, a miniature nativity scene, graces its bottom shelf, making it a beloved holiday staple in Italian homes.
Source => citywonders.com

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=> Fun Facts about Christmas-In-Spain

3. Italy's Five Gift Bearers

Who needs Santa Claus when you've got a whole crew of Christmas couriers soaring through the Italian skies, leaving a wake of gifts and cheer behind them: Italy celebrates its festive season with not one, but five gift bearers! That's right, meet San Nicolo', Santa Lucia, Bambino Gesu', Babbo Natale, and Befana - each with their own regional specialties, timing, and transportation like an old lady on a broom delivering gifts from January 5th to 6th, while Baby Jesus simply rocks the manger.
Source => rossiwrites.com

4. Feast of the Seven Fishes

When Italians need a break from "swimming with the fishes," they dine on them instead: The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a cherished Christmas Eve event in Southern Italy, featuring a vast array of seafood dishes whipped up by families across generations. Though the number seven carries symbolism in Catholicism, the actual name and tradition can be credited to Italian-American invention.
Source => foodnetwork.com

5. Epiphany Witch Steals Spotlight

Move over Santa, there's a witch in town: In Italy, the Befana, also known as the "Epiphany Witch," swoops in on her broomstick on January 5th to shower gifts upon children, stealing the spotlight from old St. Nick and bringing joy and a touch of magic to Epiphany Eve celebrations.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Bagpipe-Playing Italian Shepherds

Ever heard of Italian shepherds dropping sick beats with their bagpipes? Well, you're in for a treat this Christmas: In Italy, traditional bagpipe-playing shepherds known as zampognari perform hypnotic and loud music using an ancient wind instrument made of animal hide, donning their sheepskin and woollen cloaks with peaked hats, and playing a significant role in folklore and Christmas traditions in regions like Naples.
Source => wantedinrome.com

7. Italy's Gift-Giving Witch

Call off the search party for Harry Potter's long-lost relative: It turns out Italy has its very own gift-giving witch, La Befana, who rides her broomstick on Epiphany Eve. But don't expect Baby Jesus to be her sidekick – La Befana goes solo, seeking the Christ Child in every youngster she comes across during her magical journey.
Source => aesu.com

8. Befana, the Sorceress of Christmas

Move over Santa, it's time for an enchanting Italian escapade with the original "Witch, please!": La Befana delivers Italian children their Christmas gifts from atop her broomstick, trading jingle bells for a touch of spellbinding sorcery. Unlike Santa, she's out to search for the baby Jesus, making her annual visit on Epiphany Eve (January 5th) and filling stockings or shoes with delicious candies to spread her magical charm across the nation.
Source => everybodylovesitalian.com

9. Month-Long Italian Christmas

Who needs a one-horse open sleigh when you've got an Italian Christmas extravaganza that lasts longer than a Mariah Carey high note: spanning from December 8th's Feast of the Immaculate Conception to January 6th's Epiphany, Italy's Christmas celebrations are rooted in Catholic traditions and feature novenas, nativity scenes, Yule logs, and gift-giving characters like Santa Lucia and the Befana, making spirits bright and jolly throughout the festive season.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Miniature Bethlehem Extravaganzas

In Italy, you might expect the nativity scene to resemble a grand production of "Real Housewives of Bethlehem", but hold your donkeys: Italian nativity scenes, called presepe or presepio, typically feature elaborate miniature versions of Bethlehem with hundreds of figurines, but live actors are rarely, if ever, brought on stage for this sacred spectacle.
Source => rossiwrites.com