Each country around the world has its own traditions, and foreigners who live in Italy may be interested to know how Christmas is celebrated here.
In Italy, lights and decorations on private residences are typically put up Dec. 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, and removed and stored for the following year after the Epiphany, Jan. 6.
As in the United States, Christmas trees are part of the holiday tradition in Italy. Another important tradition is the display of nativity scenes, due to Italy being a predominantly Catholic nation. The display of nativities is called presepe art, where the scenes are very detailed in their representation.
Every church has a presepe, often found outdoors in a piazza or in public areas. Most families also have a presepe corner in their home. Children and adults enjoy a visit to some of the most picturesque presepe in the areas in which they live.
The main scenes are part of what is called "terre di presepi," a road that runs for 300 kilometers from Pisa to Florence, including Lucca and Siena, featuring the best artistic nativity scenes in Tuscany. According to the official terre di presepi website, more than 200,000 tourists visited last year.
Some local nativities worth a visit are as follows:
The artistic nativity scenes in Cigoli (San Miniato Pisa) are available for viewing from now through Jan.10 in the Pieve di San Giovanni Battista in Cigoli. This is one of the biggest nativity scenes in Tuscany. The church is open daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2:30-8 p.m.
Learn more at their website, www.madrebimbicigoli.it .
Another charming nativity scene is the one in San Romano (Montopoli Valdarno), where the presepe occupies the entire sanctuary cloister. The sanctuary is open daily from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 3 to 6:30 p.m.
In Petroio (near Vinci), the nativity scene is set on the outside of the church and occupies an entire hill for 80 square meters; the scene includes 40 mechanical movements. It is open every day until Jan.11 from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
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