Christmas Adventures Around the World Advent Calendar
3rd Edition Updated Plan
December 1
In Italy, there are many days within December that have special meaning, and traditions. Let's learn about some of them. December 6 is St. Nicolas Day, where kids will wirte letters to santa, and hang up a stocking. Christmas decorations go up on December 8, on the Day of the Immaculate Conception. Decmeber 13th is Saint Lucia Day, and those who celebrate this, open gifts in the morning brought to them by the blind Saint Lucia. Other families may wait until January 6. Christmas Eve is a day where they eat only fish and vegetables. Christmas Day is filled with a very long lunch, filled with all sorts of wonderful foods and gifts too! Celebrations continue into the new year with the Epiphany on January 6. Families prepare a large dinner to mark the end of the holiday season. The Epiphany is when la Befana, a kind of “good witch” who is believed to have followed the wise men, but got lost, drops off presents. La Befana is a particular tradition in Rome, where the main piazzas often host fun activities for children! And in Venice, locals believe that la Befana arrives every year by Gondola!
