What do Italians do at Christmas? Food, family and faith lie at the heart of the season, creating a rich tapestry of festive customs that vary from region to region. From nativity scenes and candlelit dinners to a friendly Christmas witch and feasts filled with seafood, Italy’s Christmas celebrations are full of charm and history. Here’s your complete guide to the most important Christmas traditions in Italy, including some fascinating festive facts.
- How Christmas is celebrated in Italy
- The Italian Christmas Tree
- The Nativity Scene: Italy’s most important Christmas tradition
- Christmas gifts in Italy: who brings them?
- La Befana: the Italian Christmas witch
- The Feast of the Seven Fishes
- Traditional Italian Christmas food
- How New Year is celebrated in Italy
- What is Christmas called in Italy?
- Where to spend Christmas in Italy
How Christmas is celebrated in Italy
Across Italy, Christmas is celebrated with a mix of time-honoured rituals, local customs, and festive gatherings. From decorating homes with sparkling lights to preparing elaborate meals and setting up intricate nativity scenes, each region adds its own special touch. Let’s take a closer look at how Italians bring the holiday season to life.
The Italian Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree became part of Italian festive culture in the late 1800s when Queen Margherita of Savoy decorated a tree at Rome’s Palazzo del Quirinale. Italians quickly adopted the idea, and the tradition continues today.
When do Italians put up their Christmas tree?
Most families decorate their trees on 8th December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and take them down on 6th January, Epiphany. These dates are followed almost universally across the country.
The Nativity Scene: Italy’s most important Christmas tradition
The nativity scene, or presepe, is a central symbol of Christmas in Italy. The custom dates back to 1223, when St Francis of Assisi created the first live nativity in Greccio, Umbria, to depict the birth of Jesus.
Although it began in central Italy, the tradition flourished under the Kingdom of Naples. Today, the workshops of Via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples are famous for their handcrafted figurines ranging from traditional shepherds to modern characters.
Most Italian families display a nativity scene at home, often on 8th December. In keeping with tradition, however, the baby Jesus is only placed in the manger on Christmas Eve.
Christmas gifts in Italy: who brings them?
Across the country, Father Christmas (Babbo Natale) is now the main bringer of gifts.
However, some regions continue their historical traditions:
- In Brescia, Bergamo, and Verona, Santa Lucia delivers gifts.
- In earlier centuries, before modern influences arrived, Baby Jesus was believed to bring presents to children.
These regional differences remain an important part of Italy’s cultural heritage.
La Befana: the Italian Christmas witch
One of Italy’s most distinctive traditions involves La Befana, a good-hearted witch who brings sweets to children on the morning of 6th January, Epiphany. According to legend, she attempted to visit Baby Jesus but lost her way, so she continues travelling each year, rewarding children along her path. She remains a beloved figure in Italian folklore.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes
The Feast of the Seven Fishes (La Festa dei Sette Pesci) is most common among Italian-American families but has strong roots in Southern Italy. Part of La Vigilia, the Christmas Eve vigil, the meal centres on fish instead of meat as per Catholic tradition.
Common dishes include:
- Baccalà (salted cod)
- Eel
- Shrimp
- Octopus
- Scallops
- Squid
- Clams
While the number seven symbolises spiritual completeness, Italian households may prepare more or fewer dishes depending on local customs.
Traditional Italian Christmas food
Christmas food in Italy varies widely by region. Some families prioritise the Christmas Eve dinner, while others prefer the Christmas Day lunch, but both are central to the celebration.
Typical Christmas dishes by region
- Veneto: Polenta with cod, lesso with sauces
- Piedmont: Agnolotti with rich sauces
- Valle d’Aosta: Carbonade (beef in red wine)
- Trentino: Canederli (bread dumplings)
- Emilia-Romagna: Tortellini, passatelli
- Tuscany: Roast guinea fowl, stuffed capon
- Campania: Spaghetti with clams, capon broth
- Sardinia: Colurgiones, malloreddus
- Sicily: Pasta with sardines (pasta con le sarde)
Italian Christmas desserts
Despite regional variations, Italy shares several festive favourites:
- Panettone
- Pandoro
- Torrone
- Dried fruits and nuts
Almost every Italian home enjoys these traditional sweets throughout the holiday season.
How New Year is celebrated in Italy
New Year’s Eve dinner
New Year’s Eve (Capodanno) is marked by a lavish dinner featuring two classic dishes:
- Zampone (stuffed pig’s trotter)
- Cotechino (slow-cooked pork sausage)
- Served with lentils, believed to bring wealth and prosperity
After dinner, dried fruits and grapes are offered — eating grapes on New Year’s Day is said to attract good fortune.
Italian New Year’s Eve traditions
- Fireworks and firecrackers are lit across Italy.
- In some regions, people throw old items out of windows to symbolise letting go of the past.
- At midnight, people toast with Italian sparkling wine.
- Wearing red underwear is said to bring luck in the year ahead.
Tombola
No Italian New Year’s celebration is complete without Tombola, a traditional game similar to bingo. Each number corresponds to a symbolic meaning, adding humour and excitement to the evening.
What is Christmas called in Italy?
Here are some festive greetings to use:
- Merry Christmas: Buon Natale
- Sicilian: Bon Natali
- *Ladin (South Tyrol): Bon/Bun Nadèl
- Happy New Year: Buon Anno or Felice Anno Nuovo
Where to spend Christmas in Italy
Italy offers a stunning selection of destinations for a festive getaway — from the sparkling streets of Rome to the traditional Christmas markets of Bolzano and the snow-covered charm of the Dolomites. Each region showcases its own customs, events and decorations, making Christmas in Italy an unforgettable experience.
For more inspiration, explore our in-depth guide: Where to spend Christmas in Italy.