In Italy Christmas begins on 1st of December. We decorate the tree, or,
more often, we make the "PRESEPE". The Presepe is a sort of
little miniature of what happened on December 25th of the year 0 B.C. We
put a big hut with Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a donkey and a bow. It's said that
Jesus was warmth during the first night by the two animals. One time the
little statues were made of porcelain, but since children have begun
handling them parents decided to buy them of plastic... But in the "presepe"
there's not only the holy family, we put also the three kings that brought
gold, incense, and the other thing that I do not know how you call it in
English... well, we represent the Bible passage about Christ's birth... we
also put shepherds, with sheep of course, fishermen, curious people some
angels, houses, lights animals like gooses, little lakes, usually made of
blue-colored aluminum... presents are usually put under, or in any case as
near as possible to the "presepe" if there are no children in
the house, on the contrary if there is any we wait until 25th's night to
take them out of the wardrobe... The tree is like the usual German or
American one, even if someone decorates it with crystal balls and precious
objects... Italian children do not hang socks in front of the mantelpiece,
in fact they do believe that to their houses comes Jesus Christ in person
to bring them the presents. I remember that my father gave me some corn
for Jesus' camels and a glass of milk and cookies for him... I went really
crazy in the morning when I saw that everything was disappeared...
Anyway... let's talk a bit about the dining... some families (with family
I mean grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles that is to say more
or less 15 persons) take the usual X'mas dining on the night of December
24th, while others take it on midday of 25th... This meal takes more or
less 3/4 hours and it's clue is when the turkey is served... usually the
turkey is not the best dish, but we're all forced to say that it's
absolutely great... well the meal finishes with the usual espresso and
some dried fruits like figs, nuts... after the meal we play bingo, in
which grannies and children always win... oh, I was about to forget!! We
give our presents before the meal begins. Everyone has to have a
present... so there are loads of sweaters, ties, foulards, ski sets and
toys for children. We light up the mantelpiece and teenagers enjoy
themselves with little firecrackers that make the elder relatives start on
their chairs... This is our usual Christmas and the "presepe" is
put away only on January 7th as tradition wants...
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