Christmas food and drinks in Italy
My Italian students always ask me: What do people eat in Italy for Christmas?
Natale, or Christmas, is one of Italy’s most beloved holidays, where each region celebrates 3 meals with its own traditional dishes. Take a peek into Italy’s rich tradition and get a few ideas for your own Christmas feast this season.
December 24th—Christmas Eve Dinner
Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally a light meal with no meat. This dinner precedes the Midnight Mass. In the colder and more rural regions, the Mass is often followed by hot chocolate at home and a slice of panettone. In my childhood in Turin, this tradition was a joy for me—a reward for behaving for nearly two long hours in church!
Antipasti are normally based on fish; for example, Carpaccio di pesce spada, tonno or salmone(sword fish, tuna fish, or fresh salmon carpaccio). As a main course, in regions like Lombardia, Piemonte and Emilia-Romagna, agnolotti filled with ricotta and spinach, potatoes or pumpkin are served. These are usually served with butter, sage and Parmigiano-Reggiano. But the originality of some traditions can go to extremes like the cialson prepared in Friuli, which are ravioli filled with ricotta, raisins and/or dried figs, spinach, chocolate and candied citron! In Piemonte, the glorious bagna cauda is often served. Anguilla (eel) orcapitone is very traditional, and is cooked in many different ways all over Italy. In parts of Sicily, they prepare involtini (roulade) of swordfish made with breadcrumbs, orange juice, pinoli, dried raisins, tarragon, ginger, garlic, parsley and basil. This last dish is an example of how Italian regional cuisine can reach an almost stratospheric level!
December 25: Christmas Day Lunch
This is the most important of the three meals associated with Natale and can last for hours. The table has to be beautiful and big to accommodate the many guests; the relatives with the biggest table usually host the party. And EVERYBODY helps with the cooking!
On Christmas day lunch, the first course is often preceded by a classic antipasto with cuts of cured meat, garnished with olives and cheese washed down with a nice Aperol Spritz or Martini cocktail. When the pasta course is brought out, it is just about impossible for any Italian to refuse a second serving of wonderful Pasta al forno—a baked pasta dish. This type of baked pasta is more common in the central southern regions of Italy. In the north, Lasagne verdi alla Bolognese reigns supreme, along with a huge variety of filled pastas. Cannelloni with different fillings, baked with besciamella and ragù, are also popular. Though today’s young families have their own alternatives to these classic choices, most Italians prefer the traditional to the new for the holidays.
As a second course, meat is de rigueur: roasted veal, braised beef or roasted chicken with potatoes.
December 26th—Santo Stefano- Boxing Day lunch
On the 26th of December, the meal will be less sumptuous, but still important. Different kinds of antipasti and other courses are often served.
If a family had guests on Christmas, it’s very likely that on this day, called Santo Stefano, they will return the visit or see other relatives or friends at least to exchange presents and good wishes. This is an important lunch, certainly made with the Christmas spirit, but with no particular culinary traditions of its own. Younger generations will often try some unusual pasta dishes, or a new exotic soup. Also, on this day, restaurants are very popular, offering a refreshing change from days in the kitchen.
Buon Natale!
Why don’t you join one of the Italian for Beginners classes in Manchester, Chorlton or Didsbury. Contact Learn Italian Manchester for more info.
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About Learn Italian Manchester: My name is Amedea and I’m a native Italian language tutor with a real passion for my language. I run Italian language classes in Manchester which are sociable, fun and designed to teach you Italian you will really use. As well as Italian classes in Manchester (Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced), Online Italian classes via Skype or Zoom. I also teach 1 to 1 Italian lessons and cover areas including Manchester City Centre,Didsbury, Chorlton, Sale, Altrincham, Hale, Woodford, Bramhall and others. If you would like to do something new, learn to speak Italian and make new f