Christmas in Florence by Amanda J. Bowen
Buon Natale! Find out more about Christmas activities in Florence and Italian Christmas traditions!
As a foreigner spending the holidays in Italy, you will immediately notice the interesting differneces in your customs and those here. While you might not see elaborate multi-colored lights and ornaments dotting the streets of Florence, you will see strings of white lights, detailed Nativity scenes, and even a Christmas tree in Piazza della Repubblica.
In Italy, the most important Christmas decoration is the prescepe or Nativity scene. This was first created by St. Francis of Assisi to better illustrate the story of the birth of Jesus to the masses. Churches all around town will have different versions, and on Christmas Eve, there will even be live versions on display. Christmas trees are a newer tradition in Italy. If you’re missing the massive Christmas tree display of your hometown don’t fret, there is a lit display in Piazza della Repubblica. Perugia boasts the largest Christmas tree in the world, as quoted by Guinness Book of World Records and is displayed from December 7 • January 11.
Another interesting difference in traditions is that children write letters to their parents expressing their love for them rather than Santa Claus. While Santa is also beloved in Italy, children here wait in anticipation for La Befana, represented as an old woman, a witch, or a fairy. Tradition states that La Befana was asked twice to go with the shepards and the Wise Men to see the Baby Jesus, but she wouldn’t leave her house until it was clean. By the time she was ready and had a present for the child, she wasn’t able to find the manger. Every year, she is unable to find the Nativity, and so she brings presents to the children of Italy. La Befana brings candy to good children and coal to naughty ones on Ephipany (January 6th).
Typical Italian food eaten during the holiday season include: baked pastas, a salted dried cod fish called baccala, dried fruits, panetonne, a dessert bread filled with candied fruit and nuts, torrone, a nougat candy, panforte, gingerbread with hazelnuts, honey, and almonds, and spumetti, meringines with chocolate.
Enjoy the holiday season Florentine style, with simple decorations, live nativities, and a slice of panetonne. Buon Natale!!!
Don’t Miss!
The Eight: Reindeer Monologue (Dark Comedy Christmas Play) • November 30, December 1st • 3rd, December 7th • 10th, and December 14th • 17th at 9:00 pm. Santa goes on trial for being a naughty boy, and the reindeer are spilling the beans! The play is at the Be Bop Stage. For tickets and more information, come to Florence For Fun or call 055.2399949
Mostra Mercato di Natale (Christmas Market) • November 18th • 26th, Viale Fratelli Rosselli #5 in Stazione Leopolda. Hours are as follows: Friday • Sunday, 10 am • 10 pm, Monday • Thursday, 3 pm • 10 pm. Cost of entrance Monday • Thursday is €6, for entrance with chocolate tasting is €8. Cost of entrance Friday • Sunday is €8, for entrance with chocolate tasting is €10. For more information: www.stazione-leopolda.com.
Heidelberg Weinhactsmarkt (German Christmas Market) - Located in Santa Croce, these 40 small wooden huts offer German Christmas treats like studel and Christmas decorations. The market opens on Wednesday, November 29th at 6 pm and closes on December 17th.
Mercato Scozzesse (Scottish Christmas Market) • The Scottish invade Piazza Santa Maria Novella from December 2nd • 10th 10 am • 7:30 pm. Scottish products like malt whiskey and other specialities are available for purchase. Opening day commences with a traditional Scottish band parade and Scottish dancing.
Stagione Concertistica 2006 (Christmas concert) • December 10th and 17th, both at 10:30 am at the Auditorium della Clinica Medica di Careggi. For more info: www.agimusfirenze.it
Concerto di Natale della Filarmonica Rossigni (Christmas Concert)• Free Christmas concert, but no assigned date yet. Located at Via Villamagna 41. For more info: www.filarmonicarossini.it.
St. Mark’s Anglician Church (Christmas Concert)• “Nine Lessons and Carols”, December 17th at 6:30 pm, located at Via Maggio 16-18. For more info: http://www.stmarksitaly.com/
For information on other Christmas concert listings, call 055.2645356.
Christmas Readings, Music, and Mince Pies • Celebate Christmas Brit style on December 13th at 6:30 pm, at the British Institute’s Library and Cultural Center located at Lungarno Guicciardini 9. For more info: www.britishinstitute.it.
Ice Skating - Lace up your ice skates from December 3rd • January 8th at the Parterre at Piazza Liberta. For more info: www.invernoafirenze.it
Ponte Vecchio Challenge • Come watch an international golfing event here in Florence on the Ponte Vecchio from December 16th • 17th. International pro golfers and amateurs compete for 125,000 €. For more info: www.pontevecchiochallenge.it.
Babbo Natale in Barca • See Santa coming to town via rowboat courtesy of the Canottieri Firenze (Florence Rowing Club). For more info: http://www.canottierifirenze.it
*Dates and times of events are subject to change.
By Amanda J. Bowen, intern extraordinare for Florence For Fun