With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to refresh your memory on (or learn) some Italian Christmas vocabulary and traditions, so that you’ll make un figurone (a great impression) when greeting your Italian friends or family at this magical time of year!
Whether you’re simply curious about Italian traditions or want to pick up some useful words or phrases, this guide is just for you. We’ll go through the most important moments of this holiday season while discovering essential expressions and greetings you might come across during your Christmas stay in Italy or when reuniting with your Italian loved ones.
In every section of this guide, you’ll get an insight into some Italian traditions as well as a list of essential vocabulary Keep reading till the end, where you’ll find a quiz to test yourself and see if you’re ready to become the new master of Italian Christmas!
Italian Christmas Greetings and how to write an Italian Christmas greeting card
Let’s start with some Italian Christmas greetings. In Italian, the most common way you’ll hear people say “Merry Christmas” is with: Buon Natale!
You can take this a step further and add “I wish you a…” before it and say: Ti auguro un buon Natale!
One small side note. When greeting someone on Christmas, you’ll probably address a friend or family member or someone you know quite well, in which case it is correct to use “ti” in the expression above. However, you have to use “Le” when addressing someone formally (or someone you don’t know well) and “vi” when addressing a group of people, thus being:
- Le auguro un buon Natale! (I wish you a Merry Christmas!) – Formal
- Vi auguro un buon Natale! (I wish you a Merry Christmas!) – When addressing more than one person
A more neutral alternative to this is the phrase that corresponds to the English “Happy holidays”: Buone feste!
Another option is to use the versatile word “Auguri” or the expression “Tanti Auguri” (literally: wishes / many wishes), which are used on other occasions as well, such as birthdays, anniversaries or to congratulate with someone on having a baby, getting married, graduating and much more.: (Tanti) Auguri!
In Italian, when you want to wish someone a “Happy New Year”, you say Felice anno nuovo!
Other options are: Buon anno! / Auguri per un felice 2025!
To all the expressions above you can respond by repeating the same expression and/or with “altrettanto” (same to you), or “anche a te/Lei/voi” (and to you – informal, formal, all).
Buon Natale Laura! – Buon Natale (anche a te), Cristina!
There are of course other ways to greet someone in the holiday season, many of which are often used in Christmas greeting cards too. Here is an example of how to write to one for your loved ones:
Caro/a/i/e XXX, (Dear XXX,)
Ti scrivo per augurarti un sereno Natale e un felice anno nuovo. (I’m writing to wish you and your family a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year.)
I nostri migliori auguri per un Natale pieno di gioia e amore. (Our very best wishes for a Christmas full of joy and love) /
Tanti auguri per un sereno Natale in compagnia dei vostri cari. (Many wishes for a peaceful Christmas in the company of your loved ones.) /
Io e Carla vi auguriamo un Natale pieno di amore e felicità! (Carla and I wish you all a Christmas full of love and happiness!) /
Buone feste e tante belle cose per il nuovo anno! (Happy holidays and many good things for the new year!)
Saluti (Greetings) / Con affetto (With love)/ Un abbraccio (A hug)
[Your name}
December 8th: Let’s get started!
December 8th, that’s when the Christmas period in Italy officially kicks off! This is the day of the Immaculate Conception and it’s a public holiday in the whole country. On this day, most Italians put up the Christmas tree, with its lights, balls and star on top, and decorate their house with all sorts of ornaments: wreaths, candles, ribbons, hollies, advent crowns (with four candles: one for each Sunday preceding Christmas day), stockings hanging from the fireplace.
On this day Italians also prepare the presepe, that is, the nativity scene with the statues and figures of the Christian tradition: St. Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus (usually placed in the crib at midnight between the 24th and the 25th), the ox, the little donkey, the shepherds. Those are the main ones. Many nativity scenes are placed inside the house next to the Christmas tree but some people put a lot of effort into making huge ones with a lot of statues and details and like to display their nativity scene by putting it outside on the balcony or in the garden so that everyone who passes by can admire it.
Creating a presepe is a very old and important tradition. In Naples, this is a real form of art. As a matter of fact, this city is famous for its handmade nativity scenes and shepherds’ statues created by passionate artisans.
Another very popular tradition that can be found almost everywhere in Italy, is the one of the presepe vivente, a living nativity scene that represents and recreates the time when Jesus was born, in a rural village, with people wearing typical costumes.
In December in Italy, you’ll start to feel the Christmas atmosphere outside: the first snow of the season colours houses and streets white, cities are filled with the magic of Christmas carols and Christmas markets, where you can sip some mulled wine while strolling among the stalls selling typical food and handmade items, and people rush to buy their Christmas presents. The markets nowadays can be found in many Italian cities and towns, especially in the north of the country, where the influence of northern countries like Germany, Switzerland and Austria is more felt.
Christmas holidays are also the perfect occasion to spend a una settimana bianca (literally “a white week”) in the mountains: this is the annual tradition, most popular in northern Italy, to flock to the mountains to ski and frolic on the slopes while also relaxing at the spa, eating delicious winter food and soaking up some vitamin D in the sun.
Italian Christmas vocabulary: Part 1
| L’immacolata concezione | The Immaculate Conception |
| L’atmosfera natalizia | Christmas atmosphere |
| Il giorno festivo | Public holiday |
| L’albero di Natale | Christmas tree |
| Le palline | Christmas balls |
| Le luci | Lights |
| La stella | Star |
| La ghirlanda | Wreath |
| La candela | Candle |
| Il fiocco / Il nastro | Ribbon |
| L’agrifoglio | Holly |
| La corona dell’avvento | Advent crown |
| Il calendario dell’avvento | Advent calendar |
| L’avvento | Advent |
| La calza | Stocking |
| Il camino | Fireplace |
| L’angelo | Angel |
| Gli addobbi | Ornaments |
| Le statue | Statues |
| Maria, San Giuseppe e Gesù Bambino | Mary, St. Joseph and Baby Jesus |
| La culla | Crib |
| I pastori | Shepherds |
| Il bue e l’asinello | Ox and little donkey |
| Il presepe | Nativity scene |
| Il presepe vivente | The living nativity scene |
| I mercatini di Natale | Christmas markets |
| Il vin brûlé | Mulled wine |
| I regali di Natale | Christmas presents |
| Le castagne | Chestnuts |
| Le caldarroste | Roasted chestnuts |
| Le frittelle | Fried pastries |
| Il bastoncino di zucchero | Candy cane |
| Il pan di zenzero | Gingerbread |
| L’artigianato | Handcraft |
| I canti / Le canzoni di Natale | Christmas carols |
| La neve | Snow |
| Il pupazzo di neve | Snowman |
| Il fiocco di neve | Snowflake |
| La settimana bianca | Ski week |
| Il biglietto di auguri | Christmas greeting card |
Who brings the gifts?
È quasi Natale! ( Christmas is coming!) Children (and even some adults) are counting down the days until they finally open their Christmas presents. In Italy, like in many other western countries, Babbo Natale (Santa Claus), coming from the North Pole, brings presents aboard his sleigh pulled by reindeers, on the night between the 24th and the 25th December. However, until a couple of decades ago Baby Jesus was the one bringing gifts to the kids, that is, until Santa Claus was highly commercialized becoming a popular character associated with Christmas.
But that’s not all: in many areas of Italy, there are other important figures who do the honours of gift-giving in December: for example, San Nicola (Saint Nicholas) in Puglia, on the night between the 5th and the 6th. Or Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy), on the night between the 12th and the 13th, who brings presents accompanied by her little donkey in exchange for a glass of milk, some biscuits and some mandarins, which children carefully put on the kitchen table the night before. Beyond being a tradition in Scandinavian countries, Saint Lucy is worshipped in some areas in the north of Italy and in Sicily.
Italian Christmas vocabulary: Part 2
| I regali | Presents |
| I doni | Gifts |
| Babbo Natale | Santa Claus |
| Il Polo Nord | North Pole |
| Le renne | Reindeers |
| La slitta | Sleigh |
| San Nicola | Saint Nicholas |
| Santa Lucia | Saint Lucy |
Christmas is here!
Finally, Christmas has arrived! In Italy, celebrations usually begin on the 24th of December, that is, on la Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve). Most families sit down together for the cenone, literally, a “big dinner” and then wait for midnight to go to the Christmas mass at church. After that, it’s time to head home and wish each other Tanti Auguri or Buon Natale with a toast of sparkling wine and a slice of panettone and pandoro. About that, did you know there’s always been a sort of rivalry between these two Christmas foods?
Panettone is a loaf of sweet bread originating from Milan. Its original recipe is with raisins and candied fruits, but it can now be found in all kinds of variations: with chocolate, hazelnuts, almonds, lemon cream, cinnamon and apples, figs and many more.
Pandoro is another Christmas sweet bread, originally from Verona, but unlike panettone, it has no raisins nor candied fruits inside. It is a buttery yeast bread, which is usually served with icing sugar on top and mascarpone cream, making it insanely sugary and sweet!
So which team are you on? Pandoro or panettone? Let me know in the comments below.
As for the gift-opening, some people unwrap their presents (which are normally found under the Christmas tree) on the 24th (just before the midnight mass) while others prefer to wait for the morning on the 25th to open them.
For lunch, the whole family (normally with relatives as well) reunites and have a massive pranzo (lunch) at a restaurant or at someone’s house. Traditional Christmas dishes include tortellini in brodo, sea food, fish dishes and panettone, pandoro and torrone (a rectangular shaped nougat sweet made of honey, sugar and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts) for dessert.
The afternoon is typically spent playing cards or board games such as tombola (a game similar to bingo), the card game Mercante in fiera (Merchant at the Fair), or watching a Christmas movie.
But, hey, the show is not over yet! The day after Christmas is a public holiday too and celebrations go on for Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen’s Day), the equivalent of Boxing Day in Anglo-Saxon countries. On this day, most Italians gather with family again and eat leftovers from Christmas and just chill out.
Italian Christmas vocabulary: Part 3
| La Vigilia (di Natale) | Christmas Eve |
| La messa di mezzanotte | Midnight mass |
| La chiesa | Church |
| Il cenone | Christmas Eve’s dinner (lit. “the big dinner”) |
| Festeggiare | To celebrate |
| Brindare | To toast |
| Aprire / Scartare i regali | To open / unwrap presents |
| Il pranzo di Natale | Christmas lunch |
| I tortellini in brodo | Tortellini in broth |
| I frutti di mare | Seafood |
| Il pesce | Fish |
| Il panettone e il pandoro | Christmas sweet bread loafs |
| Il torrone | Nougat |
| I film di Natale | Christmas movies |
| Giochi da tavola | Board games |
| Il giorno di Santo Stefano | Saint Stephen’s Day |
| Gli avanzi | Leftovers |
3, 2, 1… Happy New Year!
After Christmas, it is finally time for New Year’s celebrations! December 31st is Saint Sylvester day or l’ultimo dell’anno (literally, “the last one of the year”, referring to the day itself).
There’s always a lot of excitement around New Year’s Eve, which comes with the unmissable New Year’s resolutions. A well-known custom in Italy is to wear red underwear on the 31st of December because this colour is believed to attract good luck.
Italians typically celebrate New Year’s Eve with another cenone, a grand dinner during which it is customary to eat lentils. Wonder why? Their coin-like shape represents money and is, therefore, a symbol of richness and wealth that you wish for the coming year. Find out more about this and many other Italian traditions and superstitions here.
New year’s Eve is normally spent with friends who gather at someone’s house or at the restaurant and then go in the piazza (square) to celebrate and countdown till the new year. Drinking Spumante (sparkling white wine) and watching spectacular fireworks are a must on this day, and, at the stroke of midnight, couples renew their love by kissing under the mistletoe.
Italian Christmas vocabulary: Part 4
| San Silvestro | Saint Sylvester (December 31st) |
| L’ultimo dell’anno / la Vigilia di Capodanno | New Year’s Eve |
| Capodanno | New Year’s Day |
| I buoni propositi (per il nuovo anno) | New Year’s resolutions |
| L’intimo rosso | Red underwear |
| Le lenticchie | Lentils |
| La piazza | Square |
| Il conto alla rovescia | Countdown |
| Lo spumante | Sparkling white wine |
| I fuochi d’artificio | fireworks |
| Il vischio | Mistletoe |
Epiphany and Befana: The end of all feasts
There’s an Italian saying that goes: “l’Epifania tutte le feste si porta via” (Epiphany takes all feasts with her). Like all good things, eventually, this holiday season comes to an end and for Italians this coincides with the 6th January.
According to the Christian tradition, on this day the Three Wise Men (or Kings) also referred to as the Biblical Magi, guided by the comet, travelled to visit Jesus in the nativity hut right after his birth, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Alongside this religious feast (which is also a public holiday in Italy), there’s a pagan tradition that says that, on the night between the 5th and the 6th January, a witch-like character called Befana, travels on her broomstick to bring sweets and small gifts to all well-behaved children. To the naughty ones, however, she would only bring a lump of coal (which is actually a liquorice-flavoured piece of dark sugar).
This folkloristic figure is very popular and well known in Italy and children love her just as much as Santa Claus, however, she is not famous outside Italy.
The day before il giorno della Befana (Befana’s day), children usually prepare the stocking on the fireplace, which they hope will be filled with chocolate, candies, sweets and little toys.
The day of the Epiphany is also the day when the Christmas tree and all Christmas decorations and ornaments are taken down.
Italian Christmas vocabulary: Part 5
| L’Epifania | Epiphany |
| I (tre) Re Magi | The Three Wise Men (or Kings) |
| La capanna | Nativity hut |
| La stella cometa | Comet |
| Oro, incenso e mirra | Gold, frankincense and myrrh |
| La strega | Witch |
| La scopa | Broom |
| Il carbone | Coal |
| Il cioccolato | Chocolate |
| Le caramelle | Candies |
| I dolci / I dolcetti | Sweets |
| I giocattoli | Toys |
| Il giorno della Befana | Befana’s day, January 6th |
Conclusion
Christmas is definitely a big deal in Italy because it stands for long and happy celebrations with family, friends and good food. I hope you enjoyed travelling virtually through these Italian Christmas traditions and customs!
How well do you know your Italian Christmas vocabulary and traditions? Take the quiz!
Before leaving, don’t forget to take the quiz below to test yourself and revise the Italian vocabulary and Christmas traditions you learned!
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Ci vediamo lì! (See you there!)
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