Christmas, as it is celebrated in Italy, has two origins: the familiar traditions of Christianity blended with the pagan traditions predating the Christmas era. The greatest feast of the ancient Roman Empire, "Saturnalia" (a Winter Solstice celebration), just happens to coincide with the Christmas celebrations of the Advent. Consequently, Christmas fairs, merry-making, and torch processions honor not only the birth of Christ, but also the birth of the "Unconquered Sun".

  

Il Presepio (The Manger or Crib)

Elaborate manger scenes (presepi) are found in almost every church and home: clay or plaster figurines of the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. An ox and ass are nearby because legend has it that they warmed the child with their breath.  The tradition of putting nativity sculptures in church dates back to the Middle Ages, even though before this period there were images and representations of the birth of Jesus. It was Saint Francis of Assisi, though, who popularized the image of the crib and thereby started the tradition of the presepe. In a cave in the village of Greccio in the Rieti Valley in central Italy on Christmas Eve of 1223, Saint Francis recreated the scene of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. He prepared a straw-filled manger set between a live donkey and an ox in a cave, added a statue of the Holy Child, and held Christmas Eve mass. Since then, the representation of the nativity has spread all over Italy in many ways. The stylistic shapes and the use of materials are deeply influenced by geographical place and popular traditions. In the 15th century the idea of placing large statues of saints in churches began the tradition of situating nativities in sacred places. One of the oldest is the monumental presepe in the Basilica of Santo Stefano in Bologna.

  

Another tradition is the burning of the Ceppo or Yule log, which must stay alight until New Year's Day. This again is an example of the pagan and Christian blending. The pagan belief explains the purifying and revitalizing power of fire, and that with the burning log, the old year and its evils are destroyed. Christian legend tells how the Virgin Mary enters the homes of the humble at midnight while the people are away at Midnight Mass and warms her newborn child before the blazing log. 

 

 

 _____________________________________________________

Because La Befana felt so bad, she continues to travel throughout the country at Christmas time, searching for the Christ Child. Italian children believe they get a visit from La Befana , the kind but ugly witch. She brings gifts to each child on January 6th, which is the Epiphany (Feast of the Wise Men). La Befana flies from house to house on a broomstick, slides down the chimney and fills the stockings and the pockets of clothes hanging nearby with gifts and sweets for the good children, but leaves a lump of coal for the bad.

"La Befana vien di notte, con le scarpe tutte rotte, col vestito alla romana: Viva viva la Befana!" 

_________________________________________________