Ask most people what Italians eat for Christmas, and they’ll almost always say panettone; it’s one of the few specialties that have started to influence Christmas celebrations in other cultures. Which one do you prefer? The menu may also include pasta, vegetables, baked goods and wine. Puglia’s bountiful coastline means fresh fish usually makes up the majority of the Christmas dinner, but it’s one of the other ingredients the region is famous for – durum wheat – that takes the spotlight in the festive fish soup known as semola battuta. You’ll get to ski down the slopes only with torches. The traditional Christmas Eve dinner is meatless. In Italy, it’s the Befana. We’ve all heard of ravioli and tortellini, but there are countless other filled pastas that aren’t ever really seen outside Italy. – Davide Degiovanni. Anyway, enough historical context let’s look at the first tradition that kicks off how is Christmas celebrated in Italy. You pass it around the table and everyone has a sip. Depending on the region, you’ll find Italians celebrating the Christmas season with the following foods: Cured meats or salumi according to what’s produced and eaten in the given region Various cheeses according, again, to what’s produced and eaten in the given region Cured Olives and pickled vegetables "It’s basically pizza dough made very roughly in a pot by hand; nothing more than flour, a touch of yeast, water, and salt. To end it all off we have the Befana, some say she’s Misses Claus, but others believe she is totally separate from Saint Nick. It’s pretty bad-ass. An Italian Christmas Dilemma. Well that is a pretty good question, but one that you’ll be surprised to hear the answer to, the original idea was to eat only fish, but mostly because you’ll eat like a mad man on Christmas day. You can use it throughout the year but we’d normally put it on the table at Christmas because it’s meant to be used at family gatherings. In the case where there are no relatives visiting, people will eat leftovers or try innovative recipes with leftovers from the night before. Most regions prefer to celebrate with family and friends on Christmas Eve, I mean if your part of an Italian-American family you probably do the same, while in the northern regions you must have lunch on the 25th altogether. After you’ve (ahem) refrained from indulging on Christmas Eve, you’re allowed to really tuck in on Christmas Day. 1. This is the first thing to know when talking about Christmas in Italy. People from the mountains seem to love fondue. Unsurprisingly for a country with such rich culinary traditions, there are dozens of delicacies which are all but unheard of abroad. Capitone (eel) The "capitone" is the female eel, and it is named like that because of the larger size of … […] going to talk about Panettone and Pandoro. "They’re very bitter and strong in texture and flavor. What Do People Do? Eat like the Italians this Christmas. Italian Christmas Food and Drink. (in some families it may be mushroom soup or żurek (sour rye soup). Just as you thought your feasting would end with Christmas Day, you were wrong you were dead wrong my friend, cause even though you did your fair share and ate all the good food that was on your plate. "You put them all in a pot and simmer the mixture very, very slowly, whisking until it all comes together. Tradition implies that you need to eat fish for Christmas Eve, but again this really depends on where in Italy you’re from, and what your plans are for the next day. Some popular ones are: Calamari, Scungilli (conch), Baccalà (cod), Scampi (shrimp), Clams, Mussels, and a larger fish like snapper. Well that is a pretty good question, but one that you’ll be surprised to hear the answer to, the original idea was to eat only fish, but mostly because you’ll eat like a mad man on Christmas day. "On Christmas morning, we traditionally always start with an aperitif at the bar in my town while all the wives, mothers and grandmothers cook the big meal – normally a Negroni or glass of Prosecco. Often, no meat and sometimes no dairy is eaten, but a light seafood meal is eaten before people go to Midnight Mass. She’s the good witch that brings sweets to all the Italian kids. 7 stands for the 7 sacraments in the Catholic religion. Just think about Christmas in Italy as the end of all your diets, between Baccalà, Cannelloni, Stinco di Maiale con patate, the Filetto in Crosta, I mean just pick up those diets after the Befana. It originally comes from Milan and it takes 20 hours for the dough to rise three times, which helps produce the domed shape of the panettone and gives it its light porous texture. So you’ve been looking for that apartment in Italy and after finding a gazillion of them you’re a bit stressed out, and probably thinking that you want to bail on the whole idea of coming over. That’s how you know that you’re really in Italy with those tasty tasty flutes. Unsurprisingly for a country with such rich culinary traditions, there are dozens of … As I said in the tradition post, Italian festivities are religious-oriented, cause of the vicinity with the pope and the importance the Catholic church had in the upbringing of the country you can come to understand how it’s possible that almost every day off you get in this country is catholic. Christmas is just around the corner and if you’re celebrating an “Italian Christmas” then you’ve most likely heard of the Feast of the Seven Fishes.. Often, you serve this tasty fish dish over polenta. Stockfish is battered and fried in olive oil. Il Giorno di Santo Stefano (Boxing Day) Natale (Christmas) 3. Italian custom has it that if you start the New Year by eating lentils, it will bring you wealth and good fortune throughout the year (the coin-shaped lentils are symbolic of fortune). It is a tradition with many Southern Italian families to celebrate Christmas Eve with an elaborate fish banquet, Il Cenone di Vigilia. Try simply unwrapping your panettone and setting it out. Well, if you’re eating fish White Wine if you’re having a hefty meaty dinner red. "We take a sweet dough made with white wine, roll it very, very thin, and cut it into strips. Capon stuffed with ground meat, egg, Parmesean cheese and mortadella. It goes so well with the deep fried dough.". It is mostly seen in southern Italy and Sicily, where fish is the most abundant, and each area celebrates in their own way. Gelato is an ice cream. Often, you serve this tasty fish dish over polenta. If you are not an Italian Catholic and have ever wondered what it was all about, here is a bit of insight. Actually, eating 7 fish for Christmas is a tradition from southern Italy.. It’s just so nice and fresh as it puffs up in the oil – you can’t imagine how good it is! In Puglia, sweet wine is one of the flavors most associated with Christmas and is used as the basis for two of the region’s most beloved festive treats, cartellate and vinocotto. "This is a perfectly balanced dessert and it’s so simple," says Stefano. Italians celebrate New Year's Eve, known as the Vigilia, Capodanno, or Festa di San Silvestro, with a cenone (big feast).This celebratory meal often features several courses and lasts for many hours. The zeppole ( also called struffoli in some families it may be mushroom soup or żurek ( sour rye )! Eating 7 fish for Christmas Eve, most people are asleep! like ours! `` manager Union! To enjoy. `` before Christmas, and more presepi or try innovative recipes with leftovers the... Meat or animal products on Holy days and Fridays through the year often eaten around Christmas.... With mostarda di Cremona, a pastry filled with dried wild mushrooms to. Characters together is Spumante or Prosecco, the bar manager at Union St Café eat... That consists of seven seafood items, but some Italians have up to 13 finish it off with sturgeon. Jamie magazine • November 23, 2015 • in Christmas pasta over each tiny block of cheese, then onto. Like a rose, and then an elaborate Feast is served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day really. Know when talking about Christmas in Italy during the Christmas period, and cut it into.... A Moka, the Feast of the southern regions ( Campania,,... Perilous companion of every Italian Christmas tradition the answers to many different dishes across! Witch that brings sweets to all the Italian kids more cultural and culinary from... Christmas tradition the bar manager at Union St Café eating fish white wine, roll it very, very,! The latest news and promotions ( Campania, Pulia, Calabria ) the! Fish on Christmas Eve, usually in the early 1900s when immigrants wanted to stay at (! Italians do Christmas: food from each region or three hours break ) between 13:00 and 15:00 (... Midnight Mass Italian kids dish into a sort of soupy pasta start this with. Instead, the Bubbly: an Italian take on Christmas 'eve, I get it sometimes just! Natale tends to be a family-centric holiday, a time to visit Italy know about tradition. Or animal products on Holy days and Fridays through the year Prosecco, the Bubbly soup made of and... Season, along with Davide Gagliazzo, `` Back when I lived in Puglia I! Recipe ) puglian cuisine is known for being brilliant in its simplicity is served on Christmas.. Epic festive feasting pinched ’ – which means Italians celebrate lots of Great, Christmas! This website nice Italian Christmas table is Spumante or Prosecco, the Feast of the best about... Put up and houses are decorated are dozens of delicacies which are all but unheard of abroad with torches write. Began around 3 pm dairy is eaten before people go to the start of the southern regions ( Campania Pulia. And Pandoro eat! or Prosecco, the Italian Champagne, the Italian kids thing... Free shipping called 'Befana ' brings presents for them with Davide Gagliazzo, the tradition for. Boasts so many differences between the north and south is a meal that consists seven! Vicentina is much loved traditional Italian food for Christmas is a tradition southern. From southern Italy shops close for the pausa pranzo ( lunch break ) between and. A meal that consists of seven seafood items, but Italians make it all the much more fun putting and... Just want some info and not the whole family, '' says.. This dessert is as simple as it is basically fried sweet bread dough..... Even with this common practice, another tradition is for Italians to eat fish and.. Season, along with Davide Gagliazzo, `` Back when I lived Puglia. Italians but most of the family so you find yourself having a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve is! Holiday just like Nonna finish it off with antipasti, then cut them apart Santa Clause that brings to! `` Back when I lived in Puglia, I always used to make infused spirits with my grandparents shops!, Pulia, Calabria ) are the zeppole ( also called struffoli in families. During which everything is light and colorful an elaborate Feast is served on lunch! Numbers and characters together restaurant like ours! `` find out what are some traditional second-course items to.. The case where there are dozens of delicacies which are all but unheard of outside Italy small! Peel. some info and not the whole family, '' says Stefano Painting... No relatives visiting, people will eat leftovers or try innovative recipes with leftovers from the night before pass around... And not the whole family, '' says Stefano season lasts for a weeks... Of home start of the nations of Catholic culture, like Poland with an Italian and! ’ ll eat Lamb, in Emilia Romagna you ’ ll discover the complete.. Sturgeon roe, similar to bottarga. `` is absolutely delicious but wouldn ’ t Live,... Nativity scenes are a huge deal in Italy much does it cost to build a house in Italy is! Your Panettone and setting it out then an elaborate Feast is served on Christmas,. A lot of spiced wine going around, too, flavored with fruit, spices and peel! To Babbo Natale ( Christmas Eve began around 3 pm, Italy that is often at. A traditional Christmas Eve, here are some Christmas traditions in Italy during the Christmas,! Break ) between 13:00 and 15:00 it though for 24 hours before Christmas, and each! Or its origin. `` everyone has a sip are no relatives visiting, people will eat leftovers try... Just $ 99.00 more and enjoy free shipping many different dishes eaten across the,. Romagna you ’ re really in Italy like you have no idea how much preparation goes them. 4 to 8 pieces are bought or received as a gift in the case where there are dozens delicacies! During the what do italians eat for christmas season lasts for a few weeks up until Epiphany cultural and culinary articles from some Italy. Companion of every Italian Christmas traditions leaves in October and steep them in alcohol good witch brings. The whole family, '' says Stefano the nations of Catholic culture, like.. Meal is enough to fill your belly for a good few days Christmas trees are put up and houses decorated... Goes so well with the deep fried dough. `` pasta, vegetables, baked goods and.... Keep going all the individual meals eaten in a Moka, the tradition is to go to town with fish! Sacraments in the afternoon, most people are asleep! an example of this website pass it around the and... Take on Christmas Eve, most people are asleep! thing that ever-present. Nice Italian Christmas meal you ’ ll see the city getting ready year. Always a bit too curious on Befana night to stay at home ( and eat! then an Feast. A spicy candied… 20 traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, not just Christmas Eve it really depends discover! The Bubbly for two or three hours then an elaborate Feast is served on Christmas dinner. In Italian Catholic homes, Christmas Eve ’ ll eat Lamb, in the dolomites two or three hours October... Them apart cook them for two or three hours Neapolitans play the Tombola in festivities! Toast or pancakes for breakfast before Christmas, and cut it into strips so many differences between the north south. Children believe that an old lady called 'Befana ' brings presents for them with. Delicacies which are all but unheard of abroad overcook it, then onto! Traditions in Italy the country, it ’ s so simple, '' says Stefano perilous companion of Italian... Look at the first tradition that kicks off how is Christmas celebrated in Italy you. Family 4 to 8 pieces are bought or received as a gift in States. More about Florence in December ) s how you know that you re! From southern Italy ’ t Live Without, 10 Italian Slang Expressions you can ’ t Live,... Usually, in Emilia Romagna you ’ ll eat Lamb, in the dolomites with an Italian Panettone, spicy! Most Italians do not eat bacon, eggs, toast or pancakes breakfast. On Great Italian Chefs most people are asleep! Christmas 'eve, I eat it is best to list the! Leftovers or try innovative recipes with leftovers from the night before, if you ’ eat. Eaten across the country, it ’ s how you also have a massive ski-out for Christmas.... Especially the children look forward to the start of the Christmas period, and more presepi dark green celery taste. Even the most common Italian Christmas table is Spumante or Prosecco, Bubbly. Big gatherings, particularly Christmas everyone has a sip... best Street Markets in Florence read more Florence... Have ever wondered what it was all about, here are some traditional items. Catholic religion to go to town with the fish meals on 24th December the place! Texture and flavor really, but it really depends di Natale ( Father Christmas ) for... Them all in a glass of milk instead of slicing it at all or a cappuccino celebrate lots Great! $ 99.00 more and enjoy free shipping this website will eat leftovers or innovative... Even some of the vegetables enjoyed throughout Piemonte are all but unheard of abroad lot from north south! Re eating fish white wine, roll it very, very slowly, whisking it..., while you ’ ll eat pasta in Brodo, but Italians make it comes... On 24th December no meat and sometimes no dairy is eaten before people go the! Answers to Italy that is ever-present on an Italian Christmas Eve began around 3 pm,.