1. CHRISTMAS IN ITALY Class 5 Primary School Dervio Italy Class 5 Primary school Dervio 2. ITALIAN TRADITIONS DURING THE PERIOD PRECEDING THE HOLIDAYS, TRADITION CALLS FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE PRESEPE (CRIB) AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE. BOTH ARE USUALLY PREPARED ON THE 8th OF DECEMBER AND REMOVED ON THE 6th OF JANUARY. 3. THE CHRISTMAS TREE THE TREE IS USUALLY A FIR, REAL OR FAKE, DECORATED WITH COLOURED ORNAMENTS AND MULTICOLOURED LIGHTS. 4. THE CRIB THE FOCAL POINT OF DECORATION IS THE CRIB. THE "PRESEPE" IS THE EXACT REPRODUCTION OF THE SCENE OF JESUS'BIRTH AND ITS SURROUNDING, RENDERED WITH BEAUTIFUL STATUETTES. THE TRADITION OF THE CRIB IS PARTICULARLY STRONG IN NAPLES. 5. ZAMPOGNARI AND PIFFERAI BAGPIPES ARE THE MOST COMMON ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SOUND. IN MOST ITALIAN CITIES BAGPIPERS AND FLUTE PLAYERS PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC IN TOWN AS YOU DO YOUR SHOPPING. 6. CHRISTMAS SWEETS EVEN IF THE MENU VARIES FROM REGION TO REGION, PANETTONE, PANDORO AND TORRONE ARE ALWAYS PRESENT ON THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS TABLE. 7. PANETTONE PANETTONE IS A LIGHT, YET RICH CAKE CONTAINING RAISINS AND CANDIED FRUIT. 8. PANDORO PANDORO IS A DELICIOUS, BUTTERY CAKE COVERED IN ICING SUGAR AND CHARACTERIZED BY A LIGHT, FLUFFY, GOLDEN DOUGH. 9. TORRONE TORRONE, THE MOST TYPICAL OF ALL CHRISTMAS SWEETS, IS MADE WITH HONEY AND EGGS, TO WHICH CHOCOLATE, ALMONDS OR PISTACHIOS ARE ADDED. 10. LA TOMBOLA THIS FORM OF BINGO IS A HUGELY TRADITIONAL FAMILY PAST TIME IN ITALY AT CHRISTMAS. 11. THE EPIPHANY CHILDREN HANG UP THEIR STOCKINGS ON THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY, JANUARY 6th. INSTEAD OF SANTA CLAUS, THEY ARE EXPECTING THE "BEFANA". SHE IS AN OLD LADY WHO RIDES AROUND ON A BROOM. GOOD CHILDREN FIND SWEETS AND GIFTS IN THEIR STOCKINGS AND NAUGHTY CHILDREN FIND COAL. 12. BUON NATALE!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!