Italian Holiday Traditions, Part 3

KEY WORDS

The Days:

La vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve)

Natale (Christmas)

Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen, Dec. 26th)

Capo d’anno (New Year’s Eve)

Epifania (Epiphany, 6^th Jan.)

Greetings:

Buon Natale (Merry Christmas)

Buone Feste (Happy Holidays)

Felice/Prospero Anno Nuovo (Happy/Prosperous New Year)

The Characters:

Babbo Natale (Santa Claus or ‘Father Christmas’)

Gesu’ Bambino (Baby Jesus)

Tre magi (3 wise men)

La Befana (A present-delivering old woman, on a broom!)

The Setting:

Presepe, presepio (Nativity scene)

Regali (Presents)

Calza (Stocking)

L’albero di natale (Christmas tree)

Panettone (Dome-shaped Christmas cake with candied fruit, originated in Milano)

Cenone (big dinner)

Chiesa (Church), Santa messa (Holy mass)

Lenticchie (Lentils)