Comments on: Papà Natale è brutto e cattivo

By: Serena

Serena — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:31:05 +0000

Thank you everybody for all your nice comments. I’ll try to answer them all. Let’s start with the Presepe or Presepio: both forms were already present in Latin; according to my Italian dictionary Presepe is generally less common, but I looked in the leaflet published by the town council for the Christmas festivities and all the times it said “Presepe”.

I published a “poesia di Natale” on the 24th December: “Natale by Giuseppe Ungaretti”. This is the most famous Italian Christmas poem, but there are many other poems more suitable for young children talking about Gesu Bambino and the sheperds, etc. simply, I can’t remember them.

Yes, la Befana is very important in the Italian tradition and you’ll find out about her in a couple of days.

On Christmas Eve we traditionally eat fish, like in the days preceding Sunday Easter, but as some of you have mentioned, there are many different recipes and variations on the same recipe.

About Easter traditions in the south of Italy, I’m not from the south, I’m from Tuscany in the center, but I’ll try my best.

Felice Anno Nuovo a tutti da Serena

By: Rose Faherty

Rose Faherty — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:14:42 +0000

Thank you very much for your article about Christmas in Italy. My father came from Italy in 1921 and it only last year that we got to meet our family over there. They are wonderful people, however, we dont’ speak Italian so that is a problem. We are going to Italy in April to celebrate Easter with them. I would appreciate it if you could write an article about the Easter traditions in the south of Italy.

By: Rollando Spadaccini

Rollando Spadaccini — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 10:16:03 +0000

I have wondered for many years. For Christmas Eve, dinners in Italy, what are the traditional meals served? Or at least, what dishes on average from various regions of Italy that are traditionally served? My Father’s father came from Milan and lived in Bologna for many years before moving to the States. He had said the family had always served various fishes. So, while growing up here in Erie, PA, we always had several different fish dishes or anything related to the sea. Such as, lobster tails, shrimp, scallops, squid, snails, sardines, smelts, salted cod, oysters, sardines, etc. Plus there would be other dishes, such as salads, deli dish etc. One were always stuffed to the gills. Both of my grandmothers were from opposite end of Pisa. They also have told me various fishes were served as traditional meal or feast for Christmas Eve. But they prepared them a little differently from the other. Different it was but just as delicious. My mother’s father was of German descent. Now that was of a different ball game. The main dish for Christmas Eve was a meat that was available, either beef or poultry. A few side dishes of fish were served, but German style. So, as a boy, I was exposed to a wide variety of dishes. LOL! Today, my wife side of the family …. her father’s family is from the Naples area. And he is very strict with different dishes. When he heard about meat being served by my mother’s father for Christmas Eve, he felt slightly insulted. He said to me…” Rollando, you are mostly of Italian descent, a Catholic! How could you even sit down at the table on Christmas Eve when meat is being served?!?!” His voice got louder at the end of his remark. My wife was mumbling “Here we go again!”

By: anthony

anthony — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:36:50 +0000

What about La Befana? My grandma said that’s who gives the gifts.

I’m a new reader of this blog, what part of Italy are you from?

By: Liz

Liz — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:49:17 +0000

Thank you so much for all your posts but now you have whetted my appetite to know what
‘ la poesia di Natale’ is? If already posted, my apology… I have not seen it. Thanks again.

By: eden

eden — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:36:31 +0000

Hi, my very first day discovering this website and I am thrilled I did! I took a few moments to read article regarding Christmas in Italy and how the celebration varies from that of the US. Having been raised in a Boarding School by Italian Nuns, it brought back many fond memories for me and I personally want to say “thank you” for the post and I can’t wait for the next one.
Like most of your readers, I aspire to become fluent in speaking Italian especially since that was technically my first language. And my thought personally toward my comment: simple! My first language will always be my first love & the “Italian” language will always have a special place in my heart

By: Judith Pusateri

Judith Pusateri — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:09:09 +0000

Thank you for your reply to my question regarding Christmas traditions in Italy. We only ate our Panettone today. We cooked it as “French toast” which was wonderful. I will buy another one and eat it regular though. It is delicious.

By: natasha

natasha — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:04:36 +0000

Great post as usual! In my travels to Italy, I have never heard “Presepe”, but “Presepio”, is that a regional form?