Christmas in Italy

Panettone is an Italian sweet bread and fruitcake that is associated with the city of Milan. It is usually prepared for Christmas and New Year in Western, Southern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as in South America, Eritrea, Australia, and North America. Panettone is tall, with the appearance and texture of bread. Despite such an appearance, panettone is understood in Italy to be a dessert; one that would be out of place in a bread bakery.

thumb|A wooden puppet depicting the Befana In Italian folklore and folk customs, the Befana () is a witch-like old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to Santa Claus or the Three Magi. The Befana is a widespread tradition among Italians and thus has many names. She is a part of both popular national culture and traditional folk culture and is akin to other figures who roam about sometime during the Twelve Days and reward the good, punish the bad, and receive offerings. The Befana is a mysterious, contradictory figure o

'''''' () is an Italian sweet bread, most popular around Christmas and New Year. Typically a product of the city of Verona, traditionally has an eight-pointed shape. It is often dusted with vanilla scented icing sugar, which is said to resemble the snowy peaks of the Alps during Christmas. Its name and origins are attributed to the Italian pastry chef .

Panforte is a chewy Italian dessert containing fruit and nuts. It is similar to a Florentine but is much thicker. Known throughout Italy, it is an Italian Christmas tradition associated especially with the province of Siena.

Pizzelle (; : pizzella) are Italian waffle cookies made with flour, eggs, sugar, butter or vegetable oil, and flavoring (usually anise or anisette, or vanilla or lemon zest). Pizzelle are also known as ferratelle, nevole or catarrette in some parts of Abruzzo, as ferratelle in Lazio, and as ferratelle, cancelle or pizzelle in Molise.

type of pasta

Christmas celebrations and traditions in Italy

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'''''' (Mantuan dialect: or ) is a type of egg-based stuffed pasta originating in the province of Mantua, Italy. It is often eaten in soup or broth.

Cavallucci are an Italian Christmas pastry made with anise, walnuts, candied fruits, coriander, and flour. They are Sienese in origin, and the name translates approximately to 'little horses'. The chewy pastries are similar to a cookie or biscuit and traditionally use Tuscan millefiori honey as an essential ingredient in the dough.

Abbacchio () is an Italian preparation of lamb typical of the Roman cuisine. It is consumed throughout central Italy as an Easter and Christmas dish. Abbacchio is a product protected by the European Union with the PGI mark.

Mustacciuoli, also known as mustaccioli or mostaccioli, is a pastry originating in the Naples region of Italy, usually served at Christmas time.

Christmas tree-formed lighting illumination in Italy

Bisciola () is an Italian sweet leavened bread originating in the Valtellina Valley of Lombardy, Italy. It is typically prepared for Christmas, during which time it is an essential component of Christmas festivities.

Italian meat-filled pasta

Veneziana is a sweet from the Lombard cuisine covered with sugar grains or almond icing. It is served in two versions: the bigger one is consumed during Christmas, like panettone; the smaller one is eaten as breakfast, along with cappuccino, like croissants. Veneziana is butter and flour-based and uses sourdough as leavening; the smaller version is usually plain, sometimes filled with custard, while the bigger version contains candied orange.

Christmas market in Milan