Italy

In the country where Christmas is believed to have originated, Italians enjoy a rich tradition. From December through Epiphany (January 6), a cherished activity is admiring the presepi (mangers) displayed in nearly every church, public place, and home. Christmas Eve includes a meatless feast and possibly a visit from Babbo Natale, Father Christmas. Many children wait for the good witch, La Befana, to bring gifts on Epiphany.

Babbo Natale holds a pastry called pandoro. This star-shaped golden cake is traditionally topped with sugar, but has many variations. One interesting theory relates it to an 18th-century gilded bread created for the Venetian aristocracy!

Babbo Natale’s robe is styled after an Italian tin-glazed pottery called majolica, the finest of which was made during the early Renaissance period. With its brightly colored geometric and plant motifs, majolica has been admired for centuries and is still widely collected.

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