Winter Holidays in Italy

In addition to nativity scenes, Christmas lights and trees are becoming popular, too. Vatican City erects a huge Christmas tree in Saint Peter's Square along with a life-size nativity scene. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often spent with family, and big meals are prepared. There's often a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas, Saint Stephen's Day, is also a national holiday. You can find out more about special decorations and events with the link above.

If you're looking for an Italian themed Christmas gift, check our Italy Gift Guide for recommended books about Italy, films set in Italy, and Italian music.

Prior to Christmas, Italian Christmas markets (Mercatino di Natale) start popping up in many Italian cities and towns. These range from small local markets to huge daily Christmas markets in Naples that start around December 13, Santa Lucia Day. Some of the best Christmas markets are in the northern regions where there's a German heritage. In Rome, Piazza Navona holds a huge fair with Babbo Natale, Father Christmas. The link above has more about Italy's top Christmas markets.

Traditionally, the main focus of Christmas decorations in Italy is the presepe, a Nativity scene or Christmas crib. The Christmas crib is said to have originated with St. Francis (see Saint Francis in Italy) and the craft of carving nativity figures started in the 13th century. Today Naples is famous for making nativity figures and is the top place to see nativity scenes. Most churches and houses put up some kind of nativity display. Some towns put up elaborate displays in a main piazza, too.