Christmas traditions in Italy and Siena
Christmas is one of the most famous holidays in the world, and every country has developed its own Christmas traditions . From the traditional exchange of gifts to the display of nativity scenes and lights in city streets, the Christmas atmosphere is always recognizable.
Here's a list of Italian Christmas traditions and how Christmas arrives in the city of Siena.
Christmas traditions in Italy
The nativity scene
The tradition of the nativity scene is a typical Italian Christmas tradition. The first nativity scene in history, a living nativity scene, was created by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223.
The traditional nativity scene is a vivid and very realistic representation of the Nativity of Jesus Christ . All the traditional characters and places are present in the nativity scene, including: the cave, the manger, Joseph and Mary, the Magi, the shepherds, the sheep, the ox, and the donkey.
Traditionally, the statue of Baby Jesus is placed in the manger at midnight between December 24th and 25th, while the statues of the Three Kings are placed on the day of Epiphany.
Of course, there's no shortage of living nativity scenes, a Christmas tradition that began in the Middle Ages and can still be seen today, especially in large cities.
The Christmas tree
The Christmas tree tradition originally originated in Northern Europe, but has now spread throughout the world.
In Italy, it's traditional for the Christmas tree to be set up on December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The typical decorations on a Christmas tree are baubles and lights, with a beautiful topper crowning the top of the tree.
Baubles are used to decorate the Christmas tree because there is a legend that tells of a juggler who wandered the streets of Bethlehem during the birth of Jesus . The juggler was sad because he couldn't afford to bring a gift to Baby Jesus, so he decided to put his artistic talents to good use. The juggler put on a show just for Baby Jesus, bringing a smile to his face.
Bagpipers
Another Italian Christmas tradition, especially in central and southern Italy, is that of the zampognari, men dressed as shepherds and carrying bagpipes, dating back to the 19th century.
The bagpiper typically comes down from the mountain and goes through the streets of the town to play Christmas music with his wind instrument.
Sometimes it is also possible to see a pair of bagpipers taking part in a living nativity scene, placed near the cave or hut.
Advent calendar
One of children's most beloved Christmas traditions is the Advent calendar. This is a widespread tradition in Northern Italy, where almost every family makes one.
The Advent calendar is made up of 24 boxes, representing the 24 days leading up to Christmas, from December 1st until Christmas Eve. Each day, a box corresponding to the day of the month is opened , and inside are small gifts or sweets.
This tradition has now become so widespread that it is possible to buy Advent calendars in all supermarkets.
Advent calendar boxes can also contain sweets, and among these you might find some Christmas sweets by Nannini, bringing Sienese tradition into our homes.
Christmas traditions in Siena
The illuminations
As in every city, the Christmas period in Siena is characterized by the illuminations, which illuminate the city's squares and main streets starting on December 1st.
If you go to Piazza del Campo, you can admire the Christmas projections on the exterior walls of the Town Hall. From the star to the snowflakes, you can see all the typical Christmas symbols projected onto Siena's famous monument.
Contrade bracelets
This year, the streets that won't be lit up by the city lights will instead be illuminated by the districts' bracelets.
Each district has chosen which streets in its neighborhood to illuminate with their bracelets , to bring more color and joy to the city streets even in this difficult period.
Christmas trees for each district
Christmas trees are set up in Siena's various districts. Depending on the district, the decorations reflect the colors of the district.
For example, if you're walking through the streets of Siena and see a Christmas tree with yellow, red, and blue decorations, you know you're in the Chiocciola (Snail) district. If, however, you find yourself in front of a tree dominated by light blue, red, and white, you're in the Pantera (Panther) district.
Each district thus embellishes the streets of the city of Siena with its own colors and its own Christmas spirit.
The little train
Like every year, a small train will run through the streets of Siena, stopping at the most important sites in the historic center.
This Christmas tradition has been going on for years now, and starting this year there will also be stops near the Contrada Museums, which will be open and open to visitors.
Saint Lucia's Fair
To get into the Christmas spirit, you can't miss the well-known Christmas tradition of markets.
Siena hosts the Santa Lucia Fair every December 13th , where you can buy items to decorate your home and tree for the Christmas holidays. You can also buy various Christmas sweets to enjoy with your family on December 25th.
Gastronomic itineraries
In a city like Siena, food tours are a must, offering visitors the chance to savor traditional Christmas dishes as they stroll through the city streets.
Obviously, along these routes it will be possible to taste the typical Christmas sweets, such as ricciarelli , panforte and cantucci .
This could be an opportunity to taste the artisanal products by Nannini, which every year bring the joy of Christmas to the homes of those who buy their products.