Have festive plans got your head in a tailspin? Are there too many parties, commitments, things to buy, rooms to clean and decorate, foods to prepare? Have you been considering just escaping this Holiday Season? Well, we think that’s a great idea! Especially if you have been thinking about a vacation rental in Italy, as we would argue that it is one of the best possible destinations at this time of the year.
Whether you personally celebrate Christmas or not, those who find themselves on holiday in Italy over the Holidays will discover many of the permanent charms of the country with a pretty, festive, exciting Christmas veneer on top. Many cities and towns are at their most beautiful at this time of the year, there are even more things to see and do, as well as lots of incredible seasonal dishes to enjoy, so its an excellent time to visit!
Those who do celebrate Christmas and want to do so in a different way and experience something new and those who don’t but simply like to learn about different cultures will both find that the Christmas traditions specific to Italy are quite unique and interesting. So, leave all the stresses of the season behind and come enjoy a wonderful villa in Italy and an escape instead while getting involved in some special local traditions.
Ditch The Turkey For Seafood
Turkeys, other fowl, game, and various other roast meats as well as plenty of sides of vegetables and ample sauce slathered all over are central to many Christmas meals around the world. Historically, this makes sense, as the meal was meant to mark one great feast during the lower supplies and spirits of the depth of winter. Many people, therefore, really want to indulge in lots of rich foods and this meal is one of the great highlights of the celebrations.
Some, however, tire of the same meal year in, year out or don’t particularly like the components very much anyway. In Italy, Christmas Day meals can be incredibly varied depending on the region and the household. On Christmas Eve, meanwhile, fish is very much on the menu, particularly in the south of Italy. This tradition is called the Cenone della Vigilia (“The Feast of the Seven Fishes”), and is a big seafood-based dinner that involves seven courses! We recommend going out for dinner this night as you will have to fend for yourself on Christmas Day, with a majority of restaurants closing for the day but do keep in mind that many people go out for this meal as an annual family tradition so you will need to book a place and formal attire will most likely be required.
Then, on Christmas Day itself you can do as the locals do and have multiple courses, as is common for many meals in Italy, with all sorts of dishes including roast pork, lasagne, sausages, baked chicken, ravioli, roast chestnuts, and more. Stock up before everything closes with a combination of the ones you like best from local supermarkets and traditions markets and then have a Christmas Day meal in your vacation rental in Italy comprised of only the things you actually want to eat – paired with some excellent Italian wines, of course!
Celebrate At Midnight
Many Italian traditions at this time of the year involve going somewhere or doing an activity around midnight or by night and there is something quite magical about being out so late at night in the winter and doing things by candlelight. This includes everything from midnight masses on Christmas Eve absolutely all over the country, to midnight skiing in the northern regions of the country on Christmas Day while following torch-bearers, to strolling along the torchlit via Francigena through the Tuscan woods from the castle in Monteriggioni to the Abbey of Santi Salvatore and Cirino for the Christmas Eve mass there, to the huge fireworks displays at midnight in New Year’s Eve all over the country, to markets and concerts and events going late into the evening over the season. Italians often choose to go out into the long winter nights and light them up with cheer, excitement, and lights instead of staying in. We suggest doing the same during your holiday in Italy.
Admiring Elaborate Nativity Scenes
Similarly, while Nativity scenes are not uncommon around the world, the Nativity scenes – or presepi – in Italy are rather special. Most Christian homes will have one on display and they are often given as gifts. As Italian examples are rather lovely, this is a wonderful place to buy one at a market or in a store and to bring home as a little piece of Italian Christmas in your own home for years to come.
Outside the home, however, presepi are often elaborate works of art. Churches and decorated town squares display large-scale scenes with numerous figures that have been exquisitely rendered. Sometimes there are even life-size examples with actual people dressed up as the figures and with real animals. Again, this is something that even those who don’t practice the religion can admire as the long history and tradition of these objects in Italy has created wonderful works of art that are sure to impress.
Following on from this, if you hear lots of noise outside, it might just be a shepherd from ancient times playing the bagpipes! Zampognari are musicians dressed in traditional shepherd clothing who echo the shepherds who visited the baby Jesus when he was born. They can be spotted around towns throughout the holiday season and are another part of the festive excitement of Italy at this time of the year.
Christmas Doesn’t End On The 25th
If you’re the type of person who gets sad when Christmas is over and even sadder once New Years celebrations have finished, then you need to spend the season in Italy because there is one more key date in the festive calendar after that – the 6th of January! This is the Epiphany, a national holiday in Italy and the 12th day of Christmas. Commemorating the day that the Magi, or three wise men, came and presented gifts to Christ, it is a religious feast celebrated in many countries still. In Italy, however, it continues to be a big celebration and is often the last hurrah of the Holidays. On this day, people gather and many give gifts, mimicking the Magi. So, if you want one last excuse to give little tokens to those you love and to keep the party going, it is one more reason to book a vacation rental in Italy!
Plus, this is when Befana, the Christmas witch, visits. While she has largely been overshadowed by Santa in the hearts of many Italian kids in recent years, she is still a special Italian tradition and, historically, was the one who did all the hard labour of delivering presents to children at this time of the year.
Join in all of the fun, enjoy a break, and leave all of the stress and busyness behind by booking your holiday rental in Italy and escaping this Holiday Season! It’s not too late, just check out our last-minute rentals in Italy now.