Italy in December: Festival & Holiday Calendar
Experience Italy in December – from festive Christmas markets to cherished celebrations like the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Lucy’s Day, culminating in the joyous New Year’s festivities.
Below is a curated guide to Italy’s most notable December festivities. Each celebrates the holiday season with unique cultural traditions that have endured for generations.
Italy in December: Major Holidays and Events
Here are Italy’s most significant December celebrations. Want the whole picture? Browse our December day-by-day calendar for all Italian holidays and events.
December 8: Immacolata Concezione (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
The Immaculate Conception: When Italy officially begins its Christmas season.
December 8th marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione), a national holiday that traditionally signals the start of the Christmas season across Italy.
In Rome, a time-honored tradition unfolds as the Pope places a wreath of flowers at the base of the Column of the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna, followed by a solemn blessing. Crowds gather to witness this ceremony, which has taken place annually since 1857.
For Italian families, December 8th is when most households set up their Christmas trees and nativity scenes (presepi). Cities across the country illuminate their holiday lights, and many Christmas markets officially open their wooden chalets on this day.
The occasion combines religious observance with festive anticipation, making it one of December’s most cherished days as Italians embrace the approaching holiday season with family gatherings and special meals.
Suggested Read: Italian Blessings & Prayers: Italy’s Spiritual Heritage
December 13: Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy’s Day)
Santa Lucia brings light and gifts during Italy’s longest night.
Saint Lucy’s Day on December 13th illuminates the darkness of winter, especially in northern Italian regions where this celebration holds special significance.
In Sicily, particularly Syracuse (Santa Lucia’s birthplace), large processions carry her silver statue through the streets, culminating in a week-long celebration.
Meanwhile, in northern cities like Verona, Bologna, and across parts of Lombardy, children leave letters for Santa Lucia requesting gifts and setting out coffee for her, hay for her donkey, and traditional “occhi di Santa Lucia” (eye-shaped cookies).
Explore Italy’s Year-Round Treasures: Beyond the Holidays
I’ve experienced this beautiful tradition in Bergamo, where children awake on the morning of December 13th to discover toys and sweets left by Santa Lucia overnight. The holiday holds particular charm as it occurs near the winter solstice – traditionally considered the year’s longest night in the old calendar.
This feast day combines ancient folklore with religious devotion, offering a uniquely Italian alternative to other gift-bringing figures in the Christmas season.
December 24-26: Christmas Celebrations
Christmas in Italy: A three-day celebration of faith, family, and feasting.
Christmas in Italy unfolds as a three-day celebration, beginning with La Vigilia (Christmas Eve) on December 24th, followed by Natale (Christmas Day) on the 25th, and Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day) on the 26th.
Christmas Eve traditionally features the Feast of the Seven Fishes in many Italian households, especially in southern regions. Families gather for this meatless meal before attending the midnight Mass (Messa di Mezzanotte), where the Christ Child is symbolically placed in church nativity scenes at the stroke of midnight.
Christmas Day centers around family gatherings with elaborate lunches that can last for hours. Regional specialties abound – from tortellini in brodo in Emilia-Romagna to panettone and pandoro sweet breads nationwide. Gift-giving traditions vary by region, with presents exchanged either on Christmas Day or January 6th (Epiphany).
December 26th, a national holiday, continues the festivities with more family gatherings and the tradition of visiting presepi (nativity scenes) in various churches and public spaces.
Unwrap the Magic of an Italian Christmas: Must-Read Guides!
December in Italy: Day-by-Day Guide
December 3
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Marked in Italy with accessibility initiatives at cultural sites and awareness events.
December 4
- Feast of Santa Barbara: Patron saint of firefighters, miners, and artillery soldiers, celebrated with special ceremonies in mining towns and military bases across Italy.
December 5
- Armando Diaz, the Italian general who led Italy to victory in World War I after the Battle of Caporetto, was born on December 5, 1861, in Naples.
December 6
- Feast of San Nicola (St. Nicholas): Particularly celebrated in Bari, where the saint’s relics are housed, with boat processions and special liturgies.
December 7
- Feast of Sant’Ambrogio: Milan’s patron saint’s day, marked by the opening of the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Christmas market, one of Italy’s oldest fairs dating back to 1510.
December 8
- Immacolata Concezione (Feast of the Immaculate Conception): National holiday marking the official start of the Christmas season, with tree lighting ceremonies nationwide.
December 13
- Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy’s Day): A major celebration featuring processions in Sicily and gift-giving traditions in northern regions.
Travelling to Italy in December? Knowledge of the weather is crucial. Read our essential guide: Weather in Italy in December.
December 15
- Birth of Nero (37 CE), the Roman emperor whose Golden House (Domus Aurea) in Rome can still be visited today.
December 16
- Beginning of the Novena di Natale: The nine days of prayer leading up to Christmas, marked by special services and traditional songs.
December 18
- Death of Antonio Stradivari (1737), the legendary luthier whose violins remain the most coveted musical instruments in the world.
- International Migrants Day: Particularly significant in Italy, which has transformed from a country of emigration to one receiving immigrants from across the Mediterranean.
December 21
- Winter Solstice: Marked by ancient traditions that survive in rural areas, particularly in alpine regions with bonfires and special meals.
December 24
- La Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve): Celebrated with the Feast of the Seven Fishes and midnight Mass across Italy.
- Death of Giovanni Boccaccio (1375), author of the “Decameron” and one of the founders of Italian literature.
December 25
- Natale (Christmas Day): National holiday celebrated with family gatherings and elaborate meals featuring regional specialties.
December 26
- Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day): National holiday continuing Christmas celebrations with family gatherings and traditional nativity scene visits.
December 31
- San Silvestro (New Year’s Eve): Celebrated with the tradition of “Cenone di Capodanno” (grand dinner) featuring lentils and cotechino sausage for good luck, followed by fireworks displays in public squares across Italy.
While we diligently verify event dates, confirming with local organizers before planning your visit is always best.
Navigate Italy’s Monthly Celebrations: Discover Italy’s rich tapestry of festivals, holidays, and cultural events throughout the year.
