Brisbane, Italian Culture, Italian Language
Bluey discovers Italian Christmas Traditions
Nov
Carissimo Diario (Dearest Diario),
The cold season has arrived (Bingo told me is has been quiet warm, though rainy in Brisbane!) and here, I BAMBINI (the children) wear scarves, beanies and jackets to go to school.
How strange is that! My Australian friends are going to the beach and here we must rug up.
The other day I learnt this expression: NON STO NELLA PELLE (literally I can’ stay in my skin) and I guess this is exactly how I feel about my first experience of UN NATALE AL FREDDO (a Christmas in cold weather) and the opportunity to discover how children in Italy typically celebrate Christmas.
I also learnt that, unlike in many countries, where children write letters to Santa Claus, Italian children write letters to GESÙ BAMBINO (Baby Jesus).
In their letters, they tell GESÙ BAMBINO how good they have been and what gifts they wish for and their parents leave these letters under the pillow or near the Christmas tree, adding to the anticipation of Christmas Day. LO SAI CHE ANCH’IO HO SCRITTO UNA LETTERINA A GESÙ BAMBINO? (Do you know that I wrote a letter to Baby Jesus too?)
Like us, children here have IL CALANDARIO DELL’ AVVENTO (the Advent calendars) filled with CIOCCOLATTINI (little chocolates) or CARAMELLE (lollies) that they open every day until Christmas.
Families here start decorating their homes on the 8th of December, and children help put up the ALBERO DI NATALE (Christmas tree) and IL PRESEPE (the nativity scene), a tradition that dates back to Saint Francis of Assisi.
At school, our teacher told us that different regions have different traditions: for example on the 6th of December some regions in Northern Italy celebrate IL GIORNO DI SAN NICOLÒ (Saint Nicholas Day), where children leave out their SCARPE (shoes) in hopes of receiving REGALINI (small gifts) and DOLCINI (sweets) from SAN NICOLÒ (Saint Nicholas) while in other regions children await the arrival of Santa Lucia on the 13th of December and leave out CAROTE (carrots) for Santa Lucia’s ASINO (donkey) and are rewarded with candies and small gifts if they’ve been good.
LA VIGLIA DI NATALE (Christmas Eve) is a special time for all Italian families.
Many children stay up late to attend LA MESSA DI MEZZANOTTE (Midnight Mass) with their families. Before heading to church, they enjoy a festive meal, often featuring fish dishes, pasta, and sweets like PANETTONE or PANDORO (Itlalian Christmas cakes).
LA MATTINA DI NATALE (On Christmas morning), children wake up to check if BABBO NATALE has left REGALI (gifts) SOTTO (under) L’ALBERO (the tree).
My friends have told me that it is a day filled with family gatherings, big meals, and lots of laughter and that children get to play with their new toys and enjoy traditional Italian Christmas desserts like TORRONE (nougat).
The Christmas season in Italy doesn’t end on the 25th of December. One of the most exciting parts for children comes on the 6th of January with the celebration of Epiphany and the arrival of LA BEFANA, a kind old witch that flies on her broomstick, delivering sweets to good children and lumps of coal (often just candy) to those who have been naughty.
The night before, children hang up LE CALZE (stockings) for LA BEFANA to fill, making it a beloved tradition that marks the end of the holiday season.
Christmas in Italy seems to be is a time of joy and deep-rooted traditions which highlight the importance of family.
I am getting a bit sad know because I miss my family but I will forever be grateful for such an amazing opportunity.
Ciao Dario,
Bluey.
