Before going on holiday break, my students asked if I would create some materials to help them practice their Italian and stay engaged with the language during the holidaysā¦
So, hereās a round-up of the most popular Italian Christmas words and phrases. Iāve set it up the same as the āWords of the Weekā (WoWs). WoWs are words we choose and practice each week from the materials weāre working on in class.
Iāve added this weekās WoWs below, to a list I created in Quizlet. If youāre already familiar with Quizlet, then you know how engaging and fun it is to use the many interactive exercises it features to build your vocabulary and strengthen your memory. Click here to access the Quizlet Christmas Round-up list and use the password JODINA.
- Natale: Christmas
- la vigilia di Natale: Christmas Eve
- il presepe, il presepio: Manger, nativity scene
- i regali: gifts, presents
- gli addobbi: Decorations
- le luci: lights (also, āle luminarieā)
- le palline: ornaments (lit. little balls)
- lāalbero di Natale: Christmas tree
- la stella: star
- il vischio: mistletoe
- le castagne: chestnuts
- le caldarroste: roasted chestnuts (also called castagne arrostite)
- il panettone: Italian Christmas cake (dome shaped with candied fruit and raisins)
- le lenticchie: lentils (eaten to ensure good fortune in the new year)
- il cenone: big dinner, from the word cena (dinner) plus the suffix -one, indicating large
- la chiesa: church
- santa messa: holy mass
- GesĆ¹ Bambino: Baby Jesus
- Babbo Natale: Santa Claus (Father Christmas ā babbo is a colloquial word originating in Tuscany and meaning dad, daddy, pops)
- Buon Natale!: Merry Christmas!
- Buone Feste!: Happy Holidays! Ā
- Auguri di stagione!: Seasons Greetings!
- Capodanno: New Yearās Eve or New Yearās Day (lit. the head/end/extremity of the year)
- Buon Anno!: Happy New Year!
- Prospero e felice anno nuovo!: Prosperous and Happy New Year!
- lāEpifania: Epiphany, celebrated Jan 6th
- i Re Magi: the wise men (three kings, magi)
- la Befana: gift-bringing witch (comes on Epiphany)
- la calza: stocking (to hold candies and small gifts la Befana brings)
- i biglietti di auguri: greeting cards
Got any Italian holiday questions or words to add to the list?
Let me know if you like this and find it helpfulā¦ If I know people are using it, Iāll create more practice materials!