If you’re planning a magical Italian Christmas holiday, you may be wondering how Italians celebrate. Italians love to commemorate the season with family, traditions, and amazing food.

Expect to spend hours at the table, enjoying long meals that can last six or seven hours. Traditional Christmas foods in Italy include delicious pasta dishes, savory meats, exotic soups, and sweet breads. Learn about some of the common dishes and desserts you’ll see at an Italian Christmas feast. 

How Do Italians Celebrate Christmas?

The Christmas season is festive, and Italians have some special, merry ways to celebrate. If you visit a town square during the holidays, you’ll likely hear folksy carols filling the air. Nobody knows how to do Christmas holidays quite like the Italian families!

Month-Long Festivities! 

Forget the one-day gift bonanza! In Italy, Christmas cheer starts on December 8th and lasts until January 6th. It all begins with the Day of Immaculate Conception, celebrating the Virgin Mary’s conception. Families use this day off to get together and start decorating their Christmas trees. The festive season continues until Epiphany, marking the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem.

Nativity Scenes

One of the most loved Italian Christmas traditions is the presepe, or nativity scene. These scenes, showing the birth of Jesus, are found in homes, churches, and squares all over Italy. Made from wood or terracotta, they come in all shapes and sizes, from simple to very elaborate, sometimes even depicting the whole town of Bethlehem. 

What is the Traditional Italian Christmas Eve Dinner?

La Vigilia di Natale is the Italian term for Christmas Eve. It’s a day of great religious and cultural significance in Italy. The Italian Christmas Eve dinner is known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes

As the name suggests, this Christmas Eve dinner features a seven-course meal with different seafood dishes ONLY—no meat dishes allowed! This tradition, called La Vigilia, follows the custom of eating lean the night before a religious holiday to purify the body. 

The dishes can vary by region, but the menu is usually meatless, with appetizers, first courses, main courses, vegetables, sides, salads, and desserts. Some common dishes include:

• Marinated anchovies or tuna
• Salt cod (baccalà)
• Mussels
• Eel
• Crab
• Octopus salad
• Deep-fried calamari
• Lobster
• Seafood broth

What are Traditional Christmas Foods in Italy?

In Italian Christmas traditions, food is a big deal. From La Vigilia’s meat-free dishes on Christmas Eve to the big family lunch on Natale (Christmas day in Italian) to sweet desserts, the Italian Christmas table is always packed. So, what are the quintessential traditional Italian Christmas food dishes?

Antipasti (Italian Appetizers)

A big Italian antipasto spread is a go-to Christmas starter! Natale’s lunch starts with a feast of dry-cured meats, salumi, fine cheeses, briny olives, artichokes, and more. 

During Christmas, the antipasto spread gets even fancier, showing off the best of each region. Northern Italy boasts creamy cheeses like Gorgonzola and Fontina, plus cold cuts such as prosciutto and salami. The Southern part of Italy adds a Mediterranean touch with olives, marinated artichokes, and seafood. 

Stuffed Calamari in Tomato Sauce

Calamari is a big hit at most Italian families’ Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. This stuffed calamari recipe (calamari ripieni) is a Southern Italian favorite main dish.

The calamari is stuffed with a savory mix of bread, herbs, garlic, and sometimes capers and olives, then simmered in a light tomato sauce. The result is tender, flavorful calamari bursting with Mediterranean goodness. Buon appetito!

Spaghetti alle Vongole

For an Italian Christmas Eve feast, where fish recipes take the spotlight and meat is off the menu, Spaghetti alle Vongole is a perfect choice.

This dish features spaghetti cooked with fresh clams, a classic from southern Italy, especially Naples and the Campania region. It’s flavored with garlic, chili, olive oil, white wine, and parsley. The dish shines with its pure, fresh flavors, celebrating the sea’s bounty while keeping things simple and delicious.

Pumpkin Ravioli

Of course, Christmas in Italy includes fresh homemade pasta, and pumpkin ravioli is a standout! This special dish has deep roots in the Italian tradition. On Christmas Eve, many Italian families enjoy a meatless feast, and pumpkin ravioli fits the bill perfectly. Plus, pumpkin is a symbol of autumn and harvest, making it a great choice for the holiday season.

Originating from Mantova in Lombardy, this dish is a winter favorite among locals. The ravioli, known as “ravioli di zucca,” is filled with a tasty mix of pumpkin pulp, Parmesan cheese, and other delicious ingredients. It’s a delightful tradition that makes Christmas Eve even more special.

Cappone Arrosto

Roasted capon is a classic Emilia-Romagna dish that’s a real treat for Christmas day lunch. This isn’t just any chicken—it’s a special delicacy raised with care to ensure top-notch tenderness and flavor.

The chicken is seasoned with garlic and rosemary, then browned with aromatic herbs and butter before being roasted until it’s golden and juicy. Known for its tender, lean meat, capon is perfect for Christmas or any special meal. For an extra burst of flavor, locals add herbs like sage, bay leaves, or thyme. 

Cappelletti Pasta in Brodo

For all you pasta lovers, here’s an Italian Christmas and New Year classic: Cappelletti in Brodo. This stuffed egg pasta, filled with meat, Parmesan, ricotta, or even pumpkin, has been a regional favorite since the 13th century. Once a dish enjoyed by nobles, it’s now a beloved family meal that brings warmth and love to the Christmas time.

Making cappelletti is a labor of love, involving crafting tiny pasta pockets filled with a rich meat mixture. It’s almost the same as tortellini. This dish shows the effort and care put into creating a special meal. If you get to try this during Italian Christmas, consider yourself lucky—it’s a true taste of tradition and culinary excellence.

Culurgiones de Casu

These aren’t just any ravioli—they’re Sardinian ravioli, and they’re a big deal! Shaped like little ears, they’re packed with a creamy mix of fresh pecorino cheese, potatoes, and sometimes a hint of saffron. It’s like tasting the island in one bite.

Culurgiones de Casu is a Christmas must-have in Sardinia, symbolizing abundance and family. They’re often served with a rich tomato sauce, but the real treat is the cheesy, potato-filled center.

Pampapato di Ferrara

This one’s truly special—a Christmas cake made for the Pope! It’s called pampepato, a traditional Italian fruitcake from Ferrara loaded with whole almonds, hazelnuts, and candied fruit. Flavored with cocoa, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes a hint of black pepper, it’s a real treat.

Legend has it that this cake dates back to the 15th century. The nuns of the Corpus Domini monastery in Ferrara, inspired by a recipe from a Renaissance chef, created it to send to important figures of the time, including high clergy. That’s why it’s also known as “pan del papa” or “bread of the pope.”

Panettone 

Whether you think of it as bread or cake, panettone is a delightful Christmas tradition. Originating from Milan, this large, dome-shaped sweet bread enriched with yeast is a holiday favorite in Italy and beyond. Panettone has a light, airy texture with a rich, buttery flavor and isn’t overly sweet. It’s packed with dried fruits and candied peels, making it one of the Italian Christmas desserts that require a bit of care during the baking process.

With many legends about its origins—from forgotten recipes to lucky accidents—panettone has been a beloved part of Christmas for centuries. Its rich history and delicious taste make it a true symbol of the Italian holiday season. 

Pandoro

Pandoro is a classic Italian Christmas treat that’s like a sweet, soft bread with a cake-like texture. Originating from Verona, this delicious cake is perfect for breakfast or dessert during the holiday season.

Pandoro features a light, fluffy, golden interior with a crispy brown crust. Unlike panettone, it doesn’t have candied fruit or raisins, which many people prefer. Shaped like an eight-pointed star, it’s dusted with snowy white confectioners’ sugar (or icing sugar) and resembles a Christmas tree. Its name means “golden bread” in Italian, reflecting its luxurious taste and festive charm.

What Do Italians Drink on Christmas?

It’s the holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than with some tasty Italian cocktails shared with friends and family? Italy also boasts over 350 grape varieties and is famous for its amazing wines, beers, spirits, and liqueurs. Here are some top Italian Christmas drinks to enjoy:

• Vin Brulé: This classic mulled wine is perfect for warming up during the holidays. With a name that means “burnt wine,” Vin Brulé is spiced and heated, making it a festive favorite in northern Italy, especially at Christmas markets.
• Bombardino: Known as “Little Bomb,” this creamy liqueur is a cozy treat, especially in northern Italy’s chilly weather. Served warm, it’s great as a digestif after a meal or as a comforting nightcap with loved ones.
• Negroni Sbagliato: A fun twist on the classic Negroni, this drink was created by accident in Milan when a bartender swapped gin for sparkling wine. The result? A lighter, bubbly cocktail that’s perfect for holiday parties and pairs well with rich festive foods.
• Caffè Corretto: This classic after-dinner drink is a popular choice among Italians. “Caffè Corretto” means “corrected coffee,” and it’s simply espresso with a splash of grappa or another spirit. A delightful way to end a holiday meal!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Italian Christmas