For anyone from an Italian family Christmastime is hands down the best time of the year. There's an endless amount of food, kids are running around, and it is by far the loudest thing that you will ever witness in your life. Italians understand the true meaning of Christmas and that’s getting together with family, laughing as much as possible, and enjoying the comfort of each other. There are definitely quite a few traditions for an Italian Christmas. Here are some of them.
1. Every family brings Christmas cookies to the party.
Usually it's all the same types of cookies (pignolis, pizelles, struffoli, whatever mom found hidden in her cookbooks this year), but no one complains because, let's be real, you can never have enough cookies. TIP: If you're going to an Italian Christmas party do not show up with store bought cookies. The response will not be a good one.
2. You have to listen to Christmas music while baking cookies--specifically "Dominick the Donkey."
The staple of an Italian-American Christmas, "Dominick the Donkey" is always good for a humorous sing along. It has even been played on popular radio stations!
3. Christmas Eve is when the party actually happens.
All the fun occurs on Christmas Eve in an Italian family. That's when the presents are opened, the pictures are taken, and the party goes on (sometimes all the way into Christmas morning).
4. The house smells like fish for days.
Italian tradition states that meat cannot be consumed on Christmas Eve out of religious respect. So every type of fish is cooked up instead. Crab, shrimp, clams--you name it, it's on the table. If you like fish this is like hitting the lottery.
5. You'll be full before the fish even gets on the table.
The best part of Christmas dinner is the antipasto. Cheese, bread, veggies, warm and cold--the table is covered in little appetizers to feast on. However, this is always the tastiest part of the dinner, so by the time that the main course comes out no one is hungry anymore. But it's so worth it.
6. Dinner is followed by the best thing ever: panettone.
Panettone is a sweet Italian bread usually eaten on Christmas and New Year's. It's wonderful to dip in your espresso or cappuccino after dinner is finished while you're opening gifts!
7. The panettone is usually followed by a game of cards.
It's not a party unless Nonno whips out the cards and challenges everyone to a game for a few dollars!
8. But, most importantly, the table is full of familiar faces all night.
Even though there is yelling and arguing, that's just the way that Italians say that they love each other. There is nothing better than being all together and surrounded by food, music, and love.
