Italy celebrates the winter holidays with special events and festivals. Italy's winter holiday season generally starts with the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, a national holiday, and runs through Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, on January 6. Then Carnevale, Italian carnival, is celebrated throughout Italy in late winter. Italian National holidays are December 8, 25, and 26 and January 1 and 6.
Find out more about each of these winter holiday traditions by clicking on the links.
© by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to About.comIn addition to nativity scenes, Christmas lights and trees are becoming popular, too. Vatican City erects a huge Christmas tree in Saint Peter's Square along with a life-size nativity scene. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often spent with family, and big meals are prepared. There's often a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas, Saint Stephen's Day, is also a national holiday. You can find out more about special decorations and events with the link above.
If you're looking for an Italian themed Christmas gift, check our Italy Gift Guide for recommended books about Italy, films set in Italy, and Italian music.
I think that Masks carnival in Venice is one of the pearls of winter travel Italy. I went twice to take part in this carnival and enjoyed it very much. I would recommend it to everyone.
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