Italy is a country with many traditions and customs. An important tradition is celebrating Christmas in a family circle. This happens while enjoying presents under the tree and lots of treats. An Panettone should not be missed in particular christmas dinner. Traditionally this contains candied fruits and raisins, but nowadays they are available in all shapes and sizes.
Lentils and pork leg
The night of old and new is also called la note di San Silvestro named. Traditionally, you should eat lentils and pork knuckle on December 31.
That brings happiness and prosperity for the coming year. This also applies to wearing new red underwear if you go into New Years night at 12 noon. So don’t take an old set from last year out of the drawer!
And remember: whatever you do on the first day of the year, you will continue to do throughout the year… So think before you start!
Red underwear for New Years Eve in Italy (source: giemmegroupsrl.com)
Superstition
Due to the strong traditions in Italy, many Proverbs and sayings that have to do with Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Many come from superstition. Weather forecasts also play an important role in this.
Some expressions can be translated literally into Dutch, but a free translation has to be left on most of them in order to properly display the meaning.
Om the holidays with an Italian touch To enter, here is a small collection of Italian sayings, with the closest possible translation.
1. Natale con i tuoi e Pasqua con chi vuoi
You celebrate Christmas with your family and Easter with whoever you want
2. Avanti Natale, il freddo non fa male; da Natale in là il freddo se ne va
Come on Christmas, the cold can’t hurt and it will disappear after that time
3. Chi non gioca a Natale, chi non balla a Carnevale, chi non beve a San Martino (11 November) è un amico malandrino
Anyone who doesn’t play at Christmas, who doesn’t dance at Carnival, who doesn’t drink on St. Maarten’s Day (11 November) is a bad friend
4. Per Santa Lucia (13 dicembre) and per il Natale il contadino ammazza il maiale
For Santa Lucia and for Christmas the farmer slaughters the pig
5. Anno nuovo, vita nuova
New year, new life
6. Se le rondini vedi a San Michele (29 settembre), solo a Natale l’inverno viene
If you still see swallows on Sint Michiel (September 29), winter will only come around Christmas
7. Da San Martino a Natale ogni povero sta male
From Sint Maarten to Christmas, the poor have it bad
8. Se a Natale ci sono i moscerini Pasqua ha i ghiacciolini
If there are still flies at Christmas, Easter will bring icicles
9. Chi lavora a Capodanno, lavora tutto l’anno
Anyone who works with old and new works all year round
The witch
And then the last holiday on January 6, which we know as Epiphany. In Italy comes the Epiphany in the night (an old broom-like witch) on a broom.
She brings good gifts, in the form of sweets, to the children who have been kind during the holidays. To the naughty children she brings carbon (coal from sugar).
The Befana (source: YouTube)
There is a nice poem for the Befana:
The Befana comes by night
with broken shoes
con le top alla sottana
viva viva la Befana
The Befana comes in the night
with her shoes completely worn out
with the patches on her slip
long live the Befana
Jokingly, on the day of the Befana, all kinds of jokes are often made by men to (their) women. Here are a few calibrated examples:
Alcuni consigli per oggi: copriti bene, farà freddo; occhio alla nebbia e al traffico aereo; allaccia le cinture anche sei su una scopa! E auguri!
A few tips for today: cover well, it will be cold, watch out for fog and air traffic, fasten your belts even if you are on a broom! First… congratulations!
Amore mio per il 6 gennaio non serve che ti travesti: sei perfect così.
My love, you don’t have to dress up for January 6, you’re perfect like this.
And then the last saying:
Auguro a tutti voi un Buon Natale e un felice e sereno Anno Nuovo.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Serene New Year.