CELEBRATION
For Americans, the Thanksgiving Holiday normally centers around food and football. The traditional Thanksgiving basics of Roasted Turkey and pumpkin pie are found on most tables that day. While Italians do not typically celebrate Thanksgiving as Americans do, there are many religious holidays celebrated throughout the year.
TRADITIONS
The first time I saw Venice it was Carnival. Like an aristocratic lady – aware of her opulent beauty – Venice that year too donned her boldest and most luxurious attire, with the intention of leaving an even more indelible memory into whoever was lucky enough to behold her.
TRADITIONS
Italians love to talk about food. Men and women alike. At some point in our conversation, whether we’re in Beijing or on an African Safari, either with friends or mere acquaintances, food becomes the main topic, and we engage in lengthy and detailed descriptions of how to make a dish, or nostalgic talks on how much we miss our food back …
ITALY TRADITIONS
In the United States, New Year’s Day is the climax and the end of the Christmas holidays while in Italy we have an extra bonus – so to speak – of about a week. On January 6 we celebrate the Epiphany, a Christian celebration that symbolizes the Three Kings’ arrival at the Baby Jesus’ manger, and that only recently has been officially recognized as a national holiday.
SEASONAL FESTIVITIES
I Mercatini di Natale (Christmas Markets) are a big tradition in Europe and Italy hosts many of those in either big cities or small villages. They may last for a couple of days to a month or even go on after Epiphany on January 6th.
CULTURES AND TRADITIONS
The spectacular New Year’s Day parade – now a wonderful Roman tradition – is bursting back to give the city a rousing start to 2020.
More than a thousand musicians, including young students from the most prestigious high school bands in the United States, majorettes from Italy and Croatia, folk groups and Roman historical re-enactors, will perform through the historic centre of the capital. The free to watch spectacular Parade, which starts at 3,30 pm from Piazza del Popolo, comes courtesy of Destination Events, which for years has also been responsible for the successful similar event in London (London New Year Parade).
DAY TRIP
Presepe (the Nativity Scene) takes its origins from the Christian tradition and represents nothing else but the Holy Night when baby Jesus was born. The biggest Presepe is in Manarola, Cinque Terre in Liguria. Listed by Guinness Book of Records, it covers the entire Tre Croci hill and consists of 300 real-scale statuettes, 17 thousand light bulbs and over 8 km of electric cables. Truly impressive!
WINTER ACTIVITIES
While summer travel draws crowds to Italy with warm weather and outdoor activities, winter vacations can be magical with holiday celebrations, winter activities and fewer tourists. Christmas in Italy is just as big if not bigger than in the United States.