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Unlike the United States, that generally recognizes Thanksgiving as the day that ushers in the nation’s Christmas holiday season, in Italy “the season opener” can vary depending where in Italy you are, it can be anywhere from the first Sunday of Advent, which this year fell on Nov. 28, Saint Nicholas Day on Dec. 6 or Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For the most part the Feast of Immaculate Conception (l’Immacolata Concezione) is the most recognized day as the season’s beginning. Though a Catholic holy day, it is also recognized as a national Italian holiday, with all public offi ces and schools closed.
The second most popular day for welcoming in the Christmas season in Italy is the Feast of St. Nicholas (La Festa di San Nicola). In areas where he is venerated, on that day old traditions are played out to honor him and ring in the season. The most well-known tradition is on the eve of St. Nicholas Day when children place their shoes by the fi replace (vicino il focolare), or under their bed (sotto il letto). The next morning the children fi nd their shoes fi lled with little presents from the great saint.
From the season’s onset to the last day of the season Jan. 6, the Epiphany (l’Epifania) other Christmas related-holidays take place Dec. 13, Festa di Santa Lucia; Dec. 24, La Vigilia di Natale; Dec. 26, Festa di Santo Stefano; Dec. 28, Festa degl’Innocenti and Dec. 31, La Festa di San Silvestro or La Vigilia di Capo d’Anno. Some Italians still hold the tradition of the Festa del Candelora on Feb. 2 when they take down the presepio. Another day, though not a holiday per se, is Dec. 16, known as La Novena di Natale. Novena, Latin for the ordinal number, ninth, indicates the 9-day period prior to Christmas Day. Activities begin in full force, especially the visit to the presepi by the zampognari to serenade il Bambino Gesu`.
If you want to increase or improve your Italian Christmas vocabulary, here are some words and expressions to practice before the big day arrives!
Let’s start with greetings for the season.
Buon Natale – Merry Christmas
Buon Capo d’Anno or Buon Anno Nuovo – Merry Christmas Happy New Year
Buone Feste – Happy Holidays
Now let’s move onto other useful Christmas holiday time expressions:
addobbo / addobbi
decoration / decorations
albero / alberi di Natale
Christmas tree / trees
angelo / angeli
angel / angels
Babbo Natale
Santa Claus
la Befana
the Befana Christmas witch
calza / calze
stocking / stockings
camino / camini
chimney / chimneys
campanella / campanelle
bell / bells
candela / candele
candle / candles
canto natalizio / canti natalizi
Christmas carol / carols
carta da regalo
wrapping paper
chiesa / chiese
church / churches
elfo / elfi
elf / elves
festeggiare
to celebrate
Gesù Bambino
Baby Jesus
il giorno di Natale
Christmas Day
il giorno di Santo Stefano
Feast of St. Stephen
(Boxing Day)
Giuseppe
Joseph
inverno
winter
luce / luci
light / lights
stella / stelle
star / stars
Maria
Mary
mercatino / mercatini di Natale
Christmas market / markets
la messa di Mezzanott
midnight mass
Natale
Christmas
neve
snow
pallina / palline
ball / balls
pandoro
a traditional Italian cake for the Christmas season
panettone
an traditional Italian cake for the Christmas season
pranzo di Natale
Christmas lunch
pregare
to pray
presepe / presepi
Nativity scene / scenes
pupazzo / pupazzi di neve
snowman / snowmen
regalo / regali
gift / gifts
renna / renne
reindeer / reindeers
San Nicola
St. Nicholas
slitta / slitte
sleigh / sleighs
i Tre Re Magi
the Three Kings
la vigilia di Natale
Christmas Eve
vin brulè
mulled wine
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