Christmas in Italy is a nearly month-long celebration, beginning on December 8 with the feast of the Immaculate Conception and ending on January 6 with Epiphany. Countless popular Christmas traditions can be traced back to Italy, the most notable of which being the nativity scene. St. Francis of Assisi created the first known living nativity scene in the 13th century, and nowadays, nearly every city, town, and home in Italy has its own nativity scene. Even the Vatican displays a nativity scene in Saint Peter’s Square, along with a Christmas tree. Hundreds of Italians (and many lucky tourists) participate in a midnight Christmas mass performed by the Pope in Vatican City on Christmas Eve.

Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City at Christmas

Nearly every region of Italy also has a special Christmas food. Arguably the most popular Italian Christmas treat is panettone, a yeasted Christmas cake containing candied fruit that originally came from Milan. Today, panettone can be found all around the world, and most grocery stores will sell it during the Christmas season. But if fruit cakes are not for you, there is no shortage of other Italian Christmas treats: pandoro (similar to a pound cake); torrone (nougat with nuts); and struffoli (honey-coated fried dough balls) are all popular around Christmas time as well.