Donate SIGN UP

Christmas in Italy

Avatar Image
vittoria | 08:45 Mon 24th Dec 2001 | Travel
2 Answers
I'd like to correct your otherwise very interesting article on Christmas around Europe. In Italy, the Befana - not Strega Buffana - flies around and delivers presents on 6 January rather than 26 December. Children leave a stocking out on the evening of 5 January. Good children receive sweetmeats and a present, bad children get ash and coal (you can buy fake coal made of sugar and leave a piece out to signify they have been good, but not without a few tantrums). Presents on Christmas Day and the Christmas tree came to Italy after the Second World War. Before that, there was no tree or decorations - only the crib and a present on 6 January - nothing on Christmas day. My generation was luckier, however: we got both the crib and the tree, and presents both on Christmas day and on 6 Jan!

Answers

1 to 2 of 2rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by vittoria. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
thanks for your comments on Christmas in Italy - do you still get presents twice on 25 december and 6 january?
Question Author
My sister and I (born 1963 and 1965) always did, and as far as I know children still do (though not adults) and I intend to give my daughter (b. 1998) double celebrations although we live in London, UK!

1 to 2 of 2rss feed