One of the best Italian Christmas traditions is that they celebrate for much longer than other countries. Their festive season officially starts on December 8 – celebrated with the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. It lasts through January 6, the 12th day of Christmas, known as the Epiphany. 

Traditionally, Italians don’t eat meat on Christmas Eve, or la Vigilia. Instead, they eat a variety of fish dishes – sometimes up to seven courses of seafood! This is typical on the day and night before any religious celebration; you are supposed to ‘eat lean’ and purify your body ahead of the holidays! Popular fish dishes vary across the country. In Rome, they enjoy the local dish of pezzetti: artichoke, zucchini and broccoli fried together – whereas in Naples, seafood and broccoli are sautéed.  Here’s a great recipe if you wish to try out this traditional fare.

In northern Italy people ski down the mountains at midnight, carrying torches as a festive celebration!

In various Italian cities, and especially in Rome – the Eternal city – you are likely to find men playing bagpipes in the squares across town. Known as ‘zampognari’, they dress as shepherds; this is because, traditionally, it was the shepherds who made the journey from their mountain homes into the piazzas to earn some extra money by playing the bagpipes to anyone who would listen. This was based on the story of the shepherds who visited Jesus on the night of his birth and played the bagpipes for him.

The zampognari tradition dates back to ancient Roman times, and it’s so much fun to see it still continuing in Italian cities and hillside towns today. The pipers wear short breeches with leather leggings, a sheepskin vest with a woolly cloak and also a peaked cap.