THE CHRONICLES OF LEO & FRIENDS: CHRISTMAS AROUND EUROPE

CHRISTMAS IN ITALY PART II: EMILIA ROMAGNA, CESENA (FC)

In Italy, Christmas is likely to be the most important celebration of the year, not for religious reasons only of course. All the cities are decorated with colored lights; Christmas trees are everywhere and herds of people move shop by shop buying presents for their beloved ones. Very important, both pious people and atheist ones share the idea of Christmas as an occasion for spending time with family.

Different parts of Italy celebrated Christmas in different ways. As I come from the eastern part of Emilia Romagna, I will try to give you some news about how we mean Christmas time.

Actually, in my land, Christmas is not as important as the rest of the World. Traditionally Epiphany is more important and directly related with gifts allocation. Nonetheless, everyone cares about Christmas.

In overall terms, people use to set up the Christmas tree on 8^th December and the Nativity Scene as well, if they are very pious. Christmas eve’s dinner uses to be fish-based while meat is the protagonist of the following day lunch. Cappelletti in meat soup (kind of small pierorgi), boiled meat accompanied by sauces, boiled vegetables and panettone as dessert.

Gifts chapter. As I said, the tradition attributes Befana (the old lady coming on 6^th January) the charge of allocating gifts and sweets (or coal, for naughty children). Nonetheless, over the years, because of the globalization, of the mass media ecc, Santa Claus rose and took this role. Then, right now, children (and me too, when I was young) are used to get gifts both during Christmas eve night and Christmas morning. They pampered us!

On behalf of MLC staff, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

LEO