Christmas is celebrated differently in every country and each country has various different traditions that are unique and special. If you have found a vacation rental in Italy and are planning on spending the festive season there this year, then you might want to learn a little about what you can expect from an Italian Christmas. Here are five things you need to know about Christmas in Italy.
1. Santa is a Witch.
Befana is a good witch whose name comes from the Roman dialect's pronunciation of the Italian "epifania" (or Epiphany). Long ago, the three wise men stopped into Befana's house on their way to Bethlehem. She was such a nice hostess that they invited her to come with them to find the newborn Jesus. She initially declined their offer but changed her mind and packed up some toys that had belonged to her deceased child and set out after them.
1. Santa is a Witch.
Befana is a good witch whose name comes from the Roman dialect's pronunciation of the Italian "epifania" (or Epiphany). Long ago, the three wise men stopped into Befana's house on their way to Bethlehem. She was such a nice hostess that they invited her to come with them to find the newborn Jesus. She initially declined their offer but changed her mind and packed up some toys that had belonged to her deceased child and set out after them.
She never caught up with them and, instead, delivers her gifts to Italian children on the 5th of January, the night before Epiphany. She flies on her broom and delivers presents in stockings hanging over the fireplace (sounds familiar!), coming down from the chimney and leaving coal instead of presents and sweets for badly behaved children.
2. Italy is Home to the World's Biggest Christmas Tree (But it's Not a Tree)
The most famous of all Christmas trees in Italy is not even actually a tree. This is the Christmas “tree” at Gubbio on the slopes of Monte Ingino. The Monte Ingino Christmas Tree is, in reality, actually hundreds of lights in the shape of a tree. It was first constructed in 1981, in honour of Saint Ubaldo. 650m tall and 350m wide at its base, it consists of 3000 multicoloured lights and 8.5 kilometres of electrical cable. It can be seen from 50km away.
2. Italy is Home to the World's Biggest Christmas Tree (But it's Not a Tree)
The most famous of all Christmas trees in Italy is not even actually a tree. This is the Christmas “tree” at Gubbio on the slopes of Monte Ingino. The Monte Ingino Christmas Tree is, in reality, actually hundreds of lights in the shape of a tree. It was first constructed in 1981, in honour of Saint Ubaldo. 650m tall and 350m wide at its base, it consists of 3000 multicoloured lights and 8.5 kilometres of electrical cable. It can be seen from 50km away.
In 1991, it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as “The World's Largest Christmas Tree.” Each year, the tree is switched on on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, December 7th and is switched on each evening throughout the holiday season, until the day of Epiphany, January 6th, or later depending on the year. For those who find themselves in Umbria this holiday season, it is a must see.
Read on to our next article for more of the facts you need to know about Christmas in Italy.
Read on to our next article for more of the facts you need to know about Christmas in Italy.
Photo credits
Picture 3: Adri08 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 3: Adri08 / CC BY-SA 3.0
