Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

Did you know the Santa Claus legend originates from Southern Italy? The bones of St. Nicholas, bishop lived in the Lycia region of the Roman Empire, died in A.D. 343, are buried in Bari.

St. Nicholas was also revered for acts of generosity, in particular for his anonymous gift-giving to children. From that, St. Nicholas was associated with the tradition of the gifts to children. He became the patron saint of many cities across Christian Europe, became Sankt Nikolaus in Germany and then Santa Claus.

However, Santa Claus’ tradition is relatively new for Italians.
Babbo Natale, so Santa Claus is called in Italy, in bearing gifts has a strong competitor in the Befana, — Epiphany, the Magi feast day, on January 6, a more ancient and popular tradition for Italians.

The medieval town of Gubbio is one of the centers of Umbria, where Christmas decorations and celebrations are bigger.
Here is the the largest Christmas tree in the world; thanks to it the town has earned in 1991 a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Actually, it is not a tree, but 12 kilometres of extensive decorations illuminating all the way up the slopes of Mount Ingino and that give this towering mountain dominating Gubbio, a shape of Christmas tree.
So in the night you can see a huge Christmas tree dominating the city from more than 50 kilometres away. It has become one of the icons of Gubbio.

Where: Gubbio - Umbria (see on the map).

A quick guide for those who are visiting art cities in Italy this holiday season.

The Christmas markets are the places where in this time you can better get a taste of local Christmas traditions. Some advice on the most typical ones you could visit.

In Venice, the Christmas market of Campo Santo Stefano, historic square near the Accademia and the Palazzo Grassi, where you can buy typical hand-made Venetian products such as glass, lace, paper, perfumes, toys, cribs, frames and leather objects, as well as gastronomic products from all Italian regions.

In Naples, a Christmas village is being set up in the Chiaia district, where local artisans and craftsmen display their craft-making skills to visitors.

In Rome, the Christmas market in Piazza Navona is the most typical of the city, an ideal place to experience the flavour of the festivities in Rome.

The Christmas markets usually run through January 6, the Epifania day.

When it comes to Christmas decorations for the home, Italian households usally are divided into two groups: those who prefer Nativity Scene and those who prefer setting up a Christmas tree. Saying it In Italian, “presepe o albero“.

However, the Presepe ( the Nativity Scene), is strongly rooted in the Italian Christmas tradition.

Even though the Crib is usually the favorite in Southern Italy, you can see cribs and representations of the Nativity Scene in squares as well as inside churches everywhere across Italy. Beginning early December the city of Verona, Veneto, is hosting a International Christmas Cribs exhibition, including more than 400 different Nativity Scene, from countries all over the world.
The show runs through January 20, 2007.
Find out details about this event here.