CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE !!

CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE !!!

TRADITIONS AND RECIPES !!

FRANCE

Family crèches The appeal of crèches can be seen in France as early as the XVIIIth century. In aristocratic and middle class homes, the forerunners of the domestic crèche began to appear in the form of decorated glass-fronted boxes called grottoes or rockeries.

The crèches depicted the Infant Jesus or scenes from the lives of Christ and the saints. These figures were made of wax, bread dough or spun glass and were set in an imaginary landscape of flowers, waterfalls and animals evocative of paradise.

When Provencal santons appeared in the XVIIIth century, the family crèche became even more widespread and some of them contained up to 40 different

characters.

Santons Originally, the family crèche contained only Nativity figures Then, in the XVIIIth century, a small industry sprang up in the Midi of France which began to make all the characters for the crèche. The santons really became popular when the Revolution banned Midnight Mass and church crèches. The people of Marseilles were very loyal to their crèches and created "public crèches", produced by individuals who displayed them for visitors.

The custom of setting up a crèche in every household thus developed.

Through the work of skilled artisans, the famous santons or small clay figurines of Provence, which appeared for the first time at the Christmas fair in Marseille in 1803, rapidly gained popular favour: they competed with the more sophisticated but also more expensive wax santons. Soon these brightly-coloured little

figures decorated not only Provencal crèches, but also those of Dauphiné, Roussillon and Languedoc.

The classical figures of the crèche were joined every year by pastoral figures, traditional characters representing Provencal town or country trades people: spinners, milkmaids, tambourine players, fishermen, pie sellers, pilgrims and many others.

The Thirteen Christmas Desserts In Provence, the traditional Christmas meal is called le gros souper (the big supper). It ends with a ritual number of 13 desserts symbolizing Christ and his 12 apostles. The deserts must be served all at the same time and each guest must

taste each one of them.

They consist of pastry and fruit.

The 13 desserts are : raisins dried figs, nuts and almonds, plums, apples and pears, citrons, fruits and quince marmelade, white nougat (with nuts) and black nougat (with honey), cream cheese, typical pncake called « fougasse », fritter called « bugnes », milk pancake added with fennel and cumin, typical bread called “pompe à huile”.

The « Marchés de Noël » North-East of France.

The Christmas markets take place at the end of the time called « Avent ».

We can find all what we need for preparing Christmas (decoration, food for the dinner called “the Réveillon”, presents, sweets, candles, dried flowers, Christmas crowns, calendars.)

In the South of France, we can buy « les santons » and all we need for the French crèche .

We can also buy the Christmas tree.

Christmas in the South of France After the « big supper » which ends with a glass of « ratafia » (liqueur), th whole family goes to the church for the Midnight Mass. The door of the house is not closed. The third tablecloth is on the tableAngels and dead personscan come and eat what is stillon the table.

The 3 table clothes are the 3 persons of the Trinity. We have 3 candles. The oldest persons light the candles. We have 7 dishes because of the 7 wounds of Christus. « La pompe à huile” ( oil pump)is a special bread prepared at home and cooked by the baker. It is made with olive oil, paste made with flour, sugar, leaven,brown sugar, orange and lemon zest. We eat it with hot wine. « Les 4 mendiants » (the 4 mendicants)are raisins, dried figs, nuts and almonds

Streets and shops.

Shops of Paris and of every town are beautiful with a lot of lights.

The shop windows of Champs Elysées shops are famous.

The Champs Elysées are wonderful.

Christmas in Greece Christmas Holidays and New Year's Eve in Greece In Greece, Christmas, Easter and the assumption of

the Virgin Mary are the most important religious celebrations in Greece.

See Christmas and New Year's Eve as a Greek holiday with its traditions.

The Greek Christmas has almost no difference from celebrations in the rest of the Christian world. Most importantly, like everywhere else, Christmas is the best holiday for the children. It means 2 weeks away from school, presents, sweets, Christmas tree and Carols (Kalanta or Kalanda) .Of course something we miss most in southern Greece is the white Christmas but the northern regions have no problem with that as many northern areas of Greece snowy winters every year.

For the Greek mother or wife, Christmas is a very busy time in the kitchen. Almost one week before Christmas, in every Greek house, you can smell the cloves, cinnamon and baked almonds from the Kourambiedes and Melomakarona- the famous Greek Christmas cookies .

Big trays with Kourambies,

Melomakarona, Nuts, Oranges and Mandarins are part of the Christmas decoration of a Greek living room.

(CHRISTMAS EVENT IN OUR SCHOOL) The decorated Christmas tree, artificial or natural, is in many houses many weeks before Xmas with Christmas lights, stars ,angels, and any kind of shining Christmas ornaments. Also, most Greek houses will decorate the exterior of their house with Christmas lights, deers, Carol singing Santas and the latest Xmas decorations. In Athens (our capital city) almost every balcony is decorated with small illuminated Christmas trees and singing Santa Clauses which are give a unique atmosphere that Athens can have only during Christmas and New Year's Eve. All this can be more magical if Athens is covered with snow

(something very rare and very short) .

Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration. From the crack of dawn, children all over Greece

(CASINO OF RHODES) get ready for their Carols, equipped with their triangles they go all over the neighbourhoods singing the Kalanda, the Greek Christmas Carol, "Kalin Imera Arhontes an in o Orismos sas Hristou ti Theia Gennisi na Po sto Arhontiko sas" . This means "Good Morning Sovereigns if you allow me in your Mansion I will tell you about the Holy Birth of our Christ".

After they finish their song people will give them some money and both sides will say the wish "Ke tou Hronou" (Next year again). It is truth that the most beautiful sound of Christmas is the sound of children singing accompanying themselves with their little triangles. On Xmas Eve many families, as in many western countries, will celebrate with friends with a big feast and, later on, will play board games.

Traditionally however, the majority will play the popular Christmas card game "Triantamia". In big towns many Greeks will spend the evening in restaurants, music clubs or hotels with live music and floor shows. On Christmas Day the Greek house will be busy with the dinner preparation. The main dish is roast turkey, stuffed with rice and chestnuts.

The holiday continues with the New Year's Eve celebrations, where the home gathering is the same as in Christmas only, this time, the main food will be mostly roast pork or lamb.

On New Year's Eve the children will sing again but this time the New Year Carols "Arhiminia ki Arhihronia........Agios Vasilis erhete" (beginning of the month beginning of the year.....Saint Basil is coming).

On this point I must mention that for the Greeks, Father Christmas is St. Basil of Caesarea or Agios Vasilios and not the western Santa from the North Pole. In both cases though the figures are the same: with red clothes and a long white beard and carrying presents for the children.

On New Year's Eve the home entertainments concentrates mainly on card games. The reason probably for this is the so called Guri (Luck). Which means that if you win that night the new year will bring you luck. At 12 O'clock the lights will be switched off for a few seconds and every one will go out to light fireworks. If it happens that the town or the village has a port the sounds from the ships are amazing, especially in the Port of Piraeus where all the ships and ferries hoot their sirens while the whole sky of Athens is shining from multicoloured fireworks. Traditionally, as the New Year arrives the head of the house, usually the man, will step out of the door and smash a pomegranate for good luck and afterwards he will cut the "Vasilopita", the Greek New Year's cake.

In the Vasilopita cake from tradition the Greeks put a coin inside. Depending on your wealth it can be a gold sovereign or a simple coin. The one that finds it in his piece will be the new Year's lucky one.

The Christmas season ends on 6 of January with the celebration of Epiphany and the blessing of the waters. Traditionally during this day (Fota) the Christmas goblins "Kalikantzaroi" ,after having annoyed the mortals for 12 days, go back to the centre of the Earth, but that is another story ………………………………………

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!

ENGLAND Orange Chocolate Christmas Shapes

Ingredients 1 orange 250g milk chocolate broken into pieces ¼ teaspoon mixed spice Coloured sugar ball to decorate 1. Finely grate the zest of an orange.

2. Melt chocolate in the microwave or in bowl of hot water.

3. Add the zest and spice to the mixture and stir.

4. Drop some sugar balls into an ice-cube tray and spoon in the chocolate.

5. Chill for at least one hour and then pop out the chocolates.

Enjoy!!

Shortbread Stars 100g softened butter 60g caster sugar 100g plain flour 60g plain semolina Pre-heat oven to 150 °C /300°F/Gas mark 2 1. Put butter and sugar in mixing bowl and mix together to make smoothe paste.

2. Pour flour through sieve into bowl.

3. Add semolina and stir the mixture well.

4. Knead it with your hands until the mixture is smooth and stuck together.

5. Place mixture on top of greaseproof paper. Place more paper on top and roll until about 3mm thick.

6. Line baking tray with greaseproof and cut out shapes to lay on tray.

7. Bake for 17 minutes and then carefully put on wire rack. Sprinkle with sugar to make them sparkle.

Enjoy!!

Christmas in England Christmas preparations start on 1st December with Advent. Children have Advent calendars and each day they open a window to reveal a picture (or a chocolate) – in this way they count down the days until Christmas Day. Some families also have a candle and burn a little each evening until Christmas Day.

People, during December, put up Christmas trees (real or artificial) in their homes and decorate them with ornaments, tinsel and lights. Sometimes people also put lights outside their house.

Everyone sends Christmas cards to one another – friends send them to one another at school, family members exchange cards, and of course we send them to family and friends.

At school young children perform a Christmas play or nativity and they also have a Christmas party. There is usually a school Christmas Service at the local church and carols are sung. Sometimes people sing carols outside the houses and raise money for local charities. (carol singers) Mince Pies are very popular at Christmas time.

They are small pies filled with mincemeat – not meat at all but a filling of raisins, sultanas, apricots, glace cherries, citrus peel, nuts and spices. They are also Father Christmas’ favourite food so children often leave him a mince pie with a glass of sherry, and of course carrots for his reindeer.

Christmas Eve is a very exciting time for children. Some people go to midnight mass at the church. Children hang their Christmas stockings/bags at the end of their bed or by the fireplace before they go to bed, remembering to leave Father

Christmas and his reindeer a little snack. They know Father Christmas will only

visit if they have been good.

Christmas Day Children wake up very early to see if Father Christmas has been. They excitedly unwrap their presents before going down for breakfast. Later in the morning or in the early afternoon everyone gathers together and opens their presents under the Christmas tree. Some people go to church and sing carols and celebrate the birth of Jesus. In the afternoon some people listen to the Queen’s speech on the radio or on television.

Christmas Dinner Traditional Christmas dinner is served at midday or in the early afternoon and includes roast turkey or goose, roast potatoes, sprouts, carrots and other vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy and chipolatas wrapped in bacon (small sausages).

A Christmas cracker is placed next to each dinner plate. As the cracker is pulled, a party hat falls out together with a Christmas joke and a small toy.

Christmas pudding is then served. This is a very rich pudding with raisins, cherries and nuts and served with custard or cream.

Boxing Day The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day and is also a National Holiday.

People spend time with their families.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Christmas recipe from Czech Republic Perníčky vánoční GingerbreadChristmas 400 grams flour 120 grams powdered sugar 160 grams honey 60 grams fat 2 eggs ½ teaspoon soda 2 teaspoons seasoning

Procedure: * Let the dough rest for the night * Roll * Preheat oven to 150 degrees *

Carve shapes on the sheet

* Roast long enough to light brown gingerbread * More hot crushed egg beaten with a spoon of water that glistened.

Swedish Christmas Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor)

1/4 cup molasses 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 8 ounces butter 2/3 cup water 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 egg 1 tablespoon light (or dark) corn syrup 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda The dough should be well-chilled before baking. You can either start a day early and chill overnight, or start preparing 1-2 hours before the cookies will be needed. In a heavy pot, combine the molasses, sugars, spices and water. Turn the heat up and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring frequently. Add the butter to the mixture (in pads or chunks) and remove the pot from the heat.

Continue stirring the mixture until the butter has melted and the mixture is uniform in consistency.

Pour the hot mixture into a large mixing bowl.In another bowl, combine the flour, corn syrup, egg and baking soda and whisk until well-blended. Combine with the hot mixture and stir until the dough has formed.Place the dough on a lightly floured board and knead for 1-2 minutes. Wrap the dough in waxed paper and chill until the dough is firm (1-2 hours or overnight).

On a lightly floured board, roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch in thickness (the thinner, the crisper) and either cut into shapes or make round cookies about 2 inches in diameter. Put the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake for 8-10 minutes until they are golden brown.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool. Decorate them with KRISTYR (2 ¾ dl Icing sugar + 1 egg white + ½ tsp vinegar essence). You can also make beautiful decorations of the “kristyr” – see above!

About the only thing left to do is to enjoy these fabulous Swedish Christmas cookies with the ones you love... Enjoy! Or use them as decoration in the Christmas tree, in your windows or wherever you want.

GOD JUL! Happy Christmas! / Agneta in Fredrika, Sweden

SPAIN Mantecados de Navidad The mantecados is a very typical dessert in Spain at Christmas time. They are a kind of flour sweet pastry, very easy to make, and its elaboration can be part of the party.

Ingredients for 6 servings: • • • • •

Iberic lard (a kind of pork butter): 175 g Sugar: 250 g Ground almond: 125 g Flour : 350 g Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon (10 g)

Preparación: Time: about 25 minutes • • • • • •

Put the flour in a saucepan and toast it at low heat while stirring with a wooden spoon.

When the flour is golden, take i tour from heat and put it in a bowl together with the ground almond. Let it cool down.

Meanwhile churn the lard until it looks like ointment. Then add the sugar and cinnamon and stir hard until everything is mixed up.

Once the mixture is done add, little by little (without stopping stirring) the flour and the ground almond.

Spread the mixture out on a flat surface, trying to keep it 2 centimetres high. Cut the mixture or make small balls.

Finally put the mantecados in the oven until they are toasted and let them cool down.

Sweet Christmas balls (Easy! No oven, just fridge) Quick and easy recipe. Good to make it with children.En este caso, hemos hecho la receta rebozando las bolas con virutas de chocolate aunque se pueden rebozar con multitud de ingredientes como: cacao en polvo, coco rallado, virutas de colores, frutos secos molidos o troceados, etc. y así, formar una gran variedad de golosas y vistosas bolas dulces de navidad.

Una receta que os sorprenderá por su facilidad y su gran resultado!

Ingredients: • • •

Grated coconut: 200 g Condensed milk: 150 g Chocolate powder, chocolate shaving, or others: 150 g

Preparación: • • • • • •

Putt he grated coconut in a bowl Add the condensed milk, Mix very well Make small balls with a teaspoon.

Coat with chocolate shaving and put them on a dish.

Put the coconut balls into the fridge until they are very cold. It’s better to put the balls in small paper baskets (like in the image) like chocolates, not to stick among them

Coconut balls.

Another recipe. Oven needed.

100 g. grated coconut 100 g. sugar 1 egg 1 trickle of oil Whip the egg, mix it with the coconut and the sugar, and knead with your hands Make small balls trying to make them of similar size. Spread the oil on an oven tray and put the coconut balls. Heat at 180º and take them away when they are Brown.

The 13 Desserts.

France.

In Provence, the traditional Christmas meal is called le gros souper (the big supper). It ends with a ritual number of 13 desserts symbolizing Christ and his 12 apostles. The deserts must be served all at the same time and each guest must taste each one of them.

They consist of pastry and fruit: dried fruit called les quatre mendiants (the four beggars), by analogy with the habits of the mendicant orders: raisins for the Dominicans, dried figs for the Franciscans, nuts for the Augustines, and almonds for the Carmelites; • • •

• •

the pompe à huile (pastry made with olive oil); light and dark fudge; candied or fresh fruit, particularly apples and grapes saved especially for Christmas; candies like calissons (marzipan) or biscotins (cookies) from Aix; and, more recently, the Yule log. 

PORTUGAL Pudim de mel . 3 colheres de sopa de amido de milho . 2 xícaras de chá de leite . 3 colheres de sopa de mel Preparação: Coloque amido numa panela, aos poucos vá juntando meia xícara de leite, mexendo bem.

Coloque o mel e o leite que sobrou. Cozinhe em fogo médio mexendo até que engrosse.

Continue mexendo por mais um minuto. Despeje em quatro formas molhadas em água fria.

Coloque na geleira até ficar firme. Desenforme e coloque em pratos de sobremesa.

Pudding of honey

. 3 tablespoons of cornstarch . 2 cups of milk tea . 3 tablespoons of milk soup

Preparation: Place starch in a pan, slowly gradually add half cup of milk stirring well. Place the honey and the milk that left. Cook in medium fire stirring until that thickens. Continue stirring for one more minute. Pour in four wet cold forms. Put in glacier until still firm. Unmold and put in dishes of dessert.

Manjar dos Deuses Ingredientes: . 500gr de açúcar . 125gr de amêndoas 125gr de arroz cozido . 12 gemas . Raspas de limão

Preparação: Leve o açúcar ao lume com um copo de água e deixe ferver durante 2 minutos com a raspa de limão.

Retire do lume e junte as amêndoas picadas, o arroz escorrido, as gemas e mexa. Leve novamente ao lume para engrossar, mexendo sempre para não queimar. Sirva em taças ou numa travessa.

Flummery of gods Ingredients: . 500gr of sugar . 125gr of almonds . 125gr of boiled rice . 12 egg yolks . splits of lemon

Preparation: Take the sugar to the fire a glass of water and let boil 2 minutes with the zest of lemon. Remove from the and add the chopped almonds, drained rice, and stir. Bring back to the to thicken, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Serve in bowls or on a platter.

with over fire yolks fire

Greek Christmas Cookies (Kourambiedes) Ingredients • • •

• • • • •

3 sticks unsalted butter, soft 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 cup powdered sugar , plus additional for coating 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons brandy 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour , sifted About 45 whole cloves

Directions In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter and salt and whip until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar, egg, brandy, and vanilla and beat until all of the ingredients are integrated. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add sifted flour to the butter mixture. Using a rubber spatula, remove the dough and transfer it onto a piece of waxed paper or parchment. Refrigerate for about 45 minutes before rolling.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. After the dough has cooled, pinch off small pieces and roll them into about 1-inch balls. Place them in a single layer with space in between each, on a greased baking sheet. Repeat the process until all of the cookie dough has been rolled. Place a clove in the center of each cookie. Alternatively, shape the ball into half moons with a clove in the center of each.

Place the sheets in the oven and bake until the cookies are just slightly brown, about 15 minutes. Allow them to cool thoroughly, and then roll them in powdered sugar.

Vasilopita, New Year's Cake in Greece

vasilopita Vasilopita is the Greek New Year's cake. Vasilopita is associated with Saint Basil's day on January 1 in Greece.

On New Year's Day families cut the Vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year.

It is traditional to bake a coin into the Vasilopita (St. Basil's cake). The one who receives the coin is considered to be especially blessed for the year. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family and any visitors present at the time. Slices are also cut for various other people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. They may include St. Basil and other saints, the Virgin Mary, the Church and the poor.

Vasilopita is made in honor of a beautiful act of charity by St. Basil to the poor and needy of his flock. In order to insure that the needy would have money for life's necessities, and knowing that the needy were also proud people, St. Basil had the ladies of his church bake sweet bread with coins baked into them. In this way he could give them money without demeaning them at all.

Vasilopita Recipe INGREDIENTS : 1 cup fresh milk 2 teaspoons yeast 4 eggs, separated 1 cup milk-butter, melted 1 ½ cup sugar 1 envelope mahlepi, crushed Zest of 1 lemon 1 level teaspoon salt 1 kilo flour Handful of blanched almonds

Preheat oven to 180c • In a large tub pour half a cup of lukewarm milk and dissolve the yeast in it. Add ½ cup flour and stir to mix.

Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for about an hour.

• While the dough is rising, beat the egg yokes with the sugar in an electric mixer or food processor and set aside.

Beat the egg whites into a meringue. To the risen dough, add yoke/sugar mixture, the remainder of the milk, the meringue, butter, mahlepi and zest.

Knead until all is well mixed, adding the remainder of the flour a little at a time so the dough won't be too tight.

Shape the dough into several balls, place in a bowl, cover it with a towel and leave in a warm place for about 3 hours until it doubles in size.

• Knead the dough for 5 minutes more and place in a large round oiled pan (or two smaller ones) and leave covered in a warm place until it doubles in size again.

• Before placing in oven, beat the yoke of 1 egg with a teaspoon of water and brush it on the dough with a pastry brush. Then, using the blanched almonds, form the "new" date on the top of the dough. Bake for about 30/40 minutes, or until Vasilopita looks well browned.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Amaretti Traditionally served at Christmas time in Italy.

2 egg whites 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 1 cup chopped blanched almonds 3/4 teaspoon almond extract 1. Add salt to egg whites and beat until frothy. 2. Add sugar gradually, beating until mixture is stiff but not dry. 3. Add almonds and almond extract and fold in gently. 4. Drop almond mixture on buttered and floured baking sheet by the teaspoon, shape into small mounds, leaving room between each mound. 5.

Let stand 2 hours. 6. Bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes or until they are delicately brown in colour.

Panettone Recipe Recipe for Italian Christmas Cake

•

1 teaspoon sugar

•

1 tablespoon dried yeast

•

4 tablespoons milk (or buttermilk)

•

100g (4oz) butter

•

50g (2oz) caster sugar

•

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

•

3 (free range if possible) eggs, beaten

•

finely grated rind of ½ a lemon

•

finely grated rind of ½ an orange

•

400g (14oz) plain (all purpose) flour or white bread flour, sifted

•

1 teaspoon salt

•

100g (4oz) raisins or sultanas

•

75g (3oz) chopped mixed peel

Method - to make the panettone 1. Preheat the oven to 400F, 200C, Gas Mark 6. Butter a 20cm (8 in) cake tin and line with lightly buttered greaseproof paper.

2. Pour the milk (or buttermilk) into a bowl, then sprinkle on the sugar and yeast. Leave for around 10 minutes – it should start to go frothy.

3. Combine the butter and caster sugar in a bowl and beat them together until they are very fluffy. Then beat in the eggs gradually, followed by the lemon and orange rind (and the vanilla extract if you’re using it).

4. Place the flour and salt in a large bowl. Now gently fold in the milky/yeast fluid, followed by the creamed butter/sugar mixture. Mix them all together until you have a soft dough.

5. Put the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth.

6. Then place the dough into an oiled plastic bag (or cover with a tea-towel and leave in a warm place).

Leave it for about an hour until it has doubled in size.

7. Sprinkle the raisins/sultanas and mixed peel over the dough. Knead until they are completely mixed in.

Place the mixture in the cake tin and leave it in a warm place, until it has doubled in size again. It will take about 45 minutes.

8. When it has risen, bake it in the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350F, 180C, Gas Mark 4 and bake it for another 30 minutes. When it’s done it should be golden brown and firm to the touch.

Cool the panettone, and dust it with icing sugar.

Christmas traditions in Italy Italian traditions are based heavily on the religion of Christianity. The Christmas season goes for three weeks, starting eight days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, bagpipe players, dress up as shepherds and go into the villages to play outside churches and in popular city squares.

Christmas food The essence of Christmas Day in Italy is family, love and food.

Italian festive food varies from region to region, although there are some common dishes. In the Italian Catholic tradition, Christmas Eve is a day for abstinence from meat so a celebratory banquet frequently features fish: some families even prepare as many as different fish dishes!

In Rome and southern Italy a dish made with fried eels is a firm favourite.

After dinner Italians head off for midnight mass.

Lunch on Christmas Day is the most important of all Christmas feasts and it is a length affair.

Tortellini in chicken broth and a pig’s foot filled with mince meat are particular popular in northern Italy.Lamb and vegetables are common in southern Italy.

Christmas cakes The most popular dessert is Panettone cake filled with candied fruit and raisins.

The main, traditional cake is gold bread,called Pandoro, which is very similar but without the candied fruit or raisins.

Christmas decorations Lights and decorations are often seen starting around December 8th.

Italians have adopted some of the northern European traditions.

Nowadays, especially in northern Italy, a fair number of families decorate an evergreen tree in their home. Baby Jesus or Father Christmas put the presents under the Christmas Tree.

Children open their presents on Christmas Day morning or after lunch.

The Crib The main focus of decorations is the crib.

It represents The Holy Family in the stable. The crib consists of figurines, in clay or plaster , of the infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph. An ox and ass are nearby because legend has it that they warmed the child with their breath.

It is around this basic focal point that there are intricate landscapes.

There may be grottoes, small trees, lakes, rivers, the lights of "Bethlehem" in the background.

The crib is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones and miniature colored pennants. A star or a small angel is hung at the top of it.

Many people set up a small Christmas crib in their house.

The Befana She is a kindly old witch who rides around on a broomstick.

The legend is that the Three Wise Men stopped at Befana’s hut to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem and asked her to join them.

She said no. Later when it was dark and she saw a great light in the sky, she thought perhaps she should have gone with the Wise Men. So, she gathered some toys that belonged to her own baby, who died, and ran to find the three kings. But Befana couldn’t find them or the stable where Christ Child laid.

Now each year she looks for the Christ child. She visits every house where there are children and leaves gifts just in case one of them happens to be the Christ Child.

For the naughty children it is said she only leaves coals, but that is very rare since there are very seldom any really naughty children, especially during Christmas time, when they know Befana is on her way!