Customs and traditions Customs and traditions Xmas In Naples and Italy Xmas In Naples and Italy

Christmas in Christmas in Italy is rich in Italy is rich in

traditions traditions which have, which have, for the most for the most

part, a part, a religious religious history.history.

.. The hearth of Naples The hearth of Naples during Xmas time is San Gregorio Armeno.during Xmas time is San Gregorio Armeno.

The crib in NaplesThe crib in Naples

One of the most ancient traditions and One of the most ancient traditions and characteristics of the celebrations of the characteristics of the celebrations of the Christmas in Naples is the building of the “Crib”, Christmas in Naples is the building of the “Crib”, in many houses there is the tradition, starting in many houses there is the tradition, starting from December 8th, to start to preparation of a from December 8th, to start to preparation of a Crib, Crib, great, small, simple or elaborate, employing great, small, simple or elaborate, employing shepherds and sceneries of the ancient shepherds and sceneries of the ancient Neapolitan tradition. Neapolitan tradition.

The great diffusion of the Crib in Naples The great diffusion of the Crib in Naples began in 1700 during the kingdom of began in 1700 during the kingdom of

Charles IIICharles III

it is in this time that started the work of it is in this time that started the work of “figurinaio”“figurinaio”

the artist realizes the the artist realizes the people in the crib with people in the crib with terracotta and terracotta and ceramics ….ceramics …. hand paints with hand paints with great ability and great ability and adorns them adorns them according to the according to the traditional customs. traditional customs.

One of the One of the characteristic characteristic places of the crib is places of the crib is the tavern, the tavern, frequented by the frequented by the strangest people of strangest people of the townthe town it is the more it is the more illuminated place illuminated place and rich of products and rich of products typical of the food typical of the food tradition in tradition in Campania . Campania .

, in a lot of Neapolitan , in a lot of Neapolitan houses and in the houses and in the outskirts it assumes a outskirts it assumes a symbolic and symbolic and cathartic meaning to cathartic meaning to manage the scene of manage the scene of the nativity the nativity filling it with houses, filling it with houses, shops, little fountain shops, little fountain and shepherds and shepherds purchased in St. purchased in St. Gregorio Armeno Gregorio Armeno

In this street, in the centre of Naples,In this street, in the centre of Naples,the Christmas atmosphere never endsthe Christmas atmosphere never ends and there is no limit between layman and religious,and there is no limit between layman and religious, sacred and profane sacred and profane

Eating in ChristmasEating in ChristmasIt is tradition in Naples It is tradition in Naples on Christmas to eat on Christmas to eat very much. very much. The Christmas supper The Christmas supper (in Italian "cenone"= (in Italian "cenone"= big supper) is very big supper) is very rich and caloric and rich and caloric and changes from family changes from family to family;to family;however it is very however it is very often based on fish.often based on fish.

For first course usually we For first course usually we prepare : linguine, or rice, or prepare : linguine, or rice, or spaghetti with the fish; for spaghetti with the fish; for second baccalà (code) and second baccalà (code) and fried capitone (large eel ); fried capitone (large eel ); broccoli of Christmas, mussels, broccoli of Christmas, mussels, clams, and other fish. clams, and other fish. Then peanuts, fruit and dry Then peanuts, fruit and dry fruit. Then there is the better fruit. Then there is the better part of the supper: the sweet.part of the supper: the sweet.

The Italians are very The Italians are very greedy and consume greedy and consume many sweetsmany sweets In In Christmas we have Christmas we have a big choice of thema big choice of them : :"mustacciuoli", then the "mustacciuoli", then the "rococo", and we finish "rococo", and we finish with the "struffoli" our with the "struffoli" our preferred sweets.preferred sweets.

Typical Christmas Italian cakes are Typical Christmas Italian cakes are Panettone, Pandoro and Torrone. Panettone, Pandoro and Torrone.

Tradition connected with ChristmasTradition connected with Christmas

On Christmas Eve dinner On Christmas Eve dinner everyone plays bingo everyone plays bingo (called tumbulella by (called tumbulella by Neapolitans) or cards Neapolitans) or cards until midnight. until midnight. When the clock strikes When the clock strikes twelve Christmas twelve Christmas presents are unwrapped presents are unwrapped and then everyone goes and then everyone goes to Midnight Mass. to Midnight Mass.

On New Year's Day On New Year's Day everyone fires petards and everyone fires petards and fireworks that light up the fireworks that light up the sky and welcome the new sky and welcome the new year. year.

Many people throw old Many people throw old things out of the windows things out of the windows hoping to forget all the bad hoping to forget all the bad things of the past year and things of the past year and have luck and fortune in have luck and fortune in the new .the new .

At midnight everyone At midnight everyone drinks a toast to the New drinks a toast to the New Year but only with Italian Year but only with Italian sparkling wine!sparkling wine!

New Year's Day dinner consists of many New Year's Day dinner consists of many courses that differ from region to region. courses that differ from region to region.

However, the zampone or cotechino with However, the zampone or cotechino with lentils, a typical Christmas dish, is present lentils, a typical Christmas dish, is present on every table from the North to the South.on every table from the North to the South.

Lentils symbolize Lentils symbolize money so they are money so they are eaten as much as eaten as much as possible!possible!Zampone is a Zampone is a symbol of symbol of abundance abundance because it is the because it is the foot of the pig, rich foot of the pig, rich in fat!!in fat!!

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the Epiphany, 6th January, Epiphany, 6th January, Italian children hang a Italian children hang a stocking by the stocking by the fireplacefireplace the old woman will puts the old woman will puts sweets and chocolates sweets and chocolates into the stockings of into the stockings of children who have been children who have been good and black coal good and black coal into the stockings of into the stockings of children who have been children who have been naughty ! !naughty ! !

Here ends our Here ends our narration of narration of "Christmas in "Christmas in Italy". Italy".

We hope you We hope you enjoyed reading it enjoyed reading it and that someday and that someday you will join us you will join us here in Italy to here in Italy to celebrate this celebrate this special event ! ! special event ! !

Bye for nowBye for now ….. …..Luigi Sonia , Vincenzo ,

Alessandro , Fabio, Antonio, Pietro , Giovanni , Franca Franceco , Mr Cristina , Simone , Concetta , Salvatore , Michele , Maria Pina , Salvatore, Diego , Tania , Gloria , Raffaele , Mariapia , Federica