THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE: Christmas time in Italy

Christmas is an important event all over the world and in our region too. When Christmas arrives, cities, streets and houses change. Everywhere, there are lights, Christmas trees and decorations that create a dream atmosphere. Most of the people spend their free time walking, going shopping and buying presents for parents and friends. People also decorate their houses. They prepare a beautiful and colourful tree and the crib, which represents the nativity. Students have concerts in school for their parents and relatives. Christmas can be considered a family feast, and an occasion to be with those we love. On Christmas eve, people usually go to the church at midnight to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On Christmas day, people usually have a traditional lunch. Traditional food includes home-made pasta, “pittule” and “pandoro” or “panettone”, “cartellate” and “purcedduzzi”, which are the typical Christmas sweets. In the evening, people go to the cinema to watch Christmas films or visit relatives to wish them a “Merry Christmas”.

( By Musarò Michela, Abaterusso Elisa, Surano Lucia- class 2A)

At night on New Year’s Eve we stay with our friends and relatives. We have a typical dinner: “Cotechino and lenticchie”. For dessert there are Panettone, Torrone, Cartellate, Purceddhuzzi, …
Before midnight we do the countdown, that is also on television. During the wait, we play “tombola” and other board games. When midnight arrives, we open the champagne and we eat the “PANETTONE”, and then there are lots of multicoloured fireworks. It is really funny and fantastic! On first January there is a big meal. We stay with our family, and we have a big lunch.
On Epiphany Day we hang lots of socks on the fireplace because “BEFANA” (on old woman like a witch) comes with socks full of sweets and chocolates for good children. For bad children she fills the socks with black coal.
In our area we also have “live nativity”. They are fantastic: you can see photos.