Presepe, An Italian Christmas Tradition

One of the Italian Christmas traditions that I look forward to each year are the presepi*.  I can’t explain exactly why, but I find the Nativity Scenes fascinating. Is it because my mother set one out every year (how many times did she search the house for a missing baby Jesus)?  Or is it because of the beautiful Native American ones I learned to appreciate living in NM?  Maybe it is just a holdover from a childhood fascination with doll houses and miniature furnishings. Certainly part of my fascination is simply that the Presepi combine history, tradition, art, and incredible craftsmanship to form an evocative expression of the Christmas story. Whatever the reason, I always search for presepi in December when they appear in homes, churches, shops, and outdoor spaces.

A terracotta presepe in Florence

 In the US, the nativity scenes I grew up with were usually simple – the 3 main characters, a stable, perhaps a shepherd or two and a couple of animals.  Not so in Italy!  Here a traditional presepe is more likely to include a whole host of villagers and a town expanded well beyond a simple stable.  Many are set in elaborate landscapes complete with hills, streams, water wheels, houses, little fires, and lighted buildings.  The figures are beautifully carved (or molded), expressive, and representative of the many people who bring life to a village.

Most Italian cities will have at least one publicly displayed Presepe. Today, some are streamlined and modern, such as the one in Lucca’s Piazza San Michele designed by the Italian design company Alessi or the beautiful terra cotta one in Florence. But the classic ones are quite elaborate. Most remarkable were the ones I saw several years ago in front of St. Peter’s in the Vatican (below).   

 Even more amazing is a Presepe Vivente – a living nativity such as the one Lucca hosted recently. Watching it was an immediate transport into the past.  Over 100 participants, dressed in historic costumes, participated in a procession through town.  There was a serene Madonna holding a baby (not a real one in this case) accompanied by Joseph. Villagers carried food, coal, and firewood.  There were soldiers, prisoners, and Kings.  Some of the villagers led a donkey; costumed men rode in on horses.

Persons of all ages participated, from little children to elderly adults, all in costume.  They were accompanied by musicians and flag bearers as they made their way through the center of Lucca.

When the procession ended in front of the Church of San Martino, Mary and Joseph took their place in the stable, surrounded by costumed villagers.  Even the angels made an appearance while the narrator told the Christmas story.  

And whether a person celebrates for religious or traditional reasons, or does not celebrate Christmas at all, the historical and religious meaning is an important part of understanding Italian culture.  

What a beautiful way to begin the holiday season. 

*(Presepi is the plural form, the singular is presepe or presepio). 

The Italian Holiday Calendar

This Babbo Natale, much like Santa Claus, greets people as the enter the Caffè Santa Zita in Lucca

The holiday calendar in Italy is a little different than the one found in the United States. In the US, the holiday season begins in late November with Thanksgiving and then moves through a multicultural series of celebrations – most years Hanukkah comes first, then Winter Solstice, next is Christmas, followed by Kwanzaa, and ending with New Year’s Day.  We may sing about the 12 days of Christmas, but by December 26th many Americans are back to work with only a day off coming for the New Year. The American holidays have a blend of religious, cultural, and family significance and tradition. Individuals may celebrate none of the holidays, only one, or any combination. Thanksgiving and New Year’s are US public holidays.  Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, and Kwanzaa are not. But what about Christmas? It would make sense that, as a religious celebration, it would not be a public holiday in the US and yet it is – well, sort of. The required separation of the religious and civic holidays was maintained by the 1870 law that created a federal holiday on December 25th. It is in fact, by US law, not exactly a Christmas holiday at all but rather the “December 25th holiday”. No such legal gymnastics are required in Italy!

Piazza Napoleone, Lucca was one of the first places to find holiday decorations this year

Lucca’s largest Christmas tree, in piazza San Michele, arrived in late November

Here in Italy there is no Thanksgiving to mark the start of the holiday calendar.  Another difference is that there seems to be much less multiculturalism in how the holidays are celebrated, at least in the smaller towns.  In Lucca, I have not seen Hanukkah or Kwanzaa celebrations, and those days are not considered public holidays, though there are certainly families who celebrate them.  It may be different in the bigger cities, but here the big holiday celebrations are all about Christmas.

The official start of the season is December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  In Italy it is both a religious and a public holiday, a duality that is not at all unusual here.  Traditionally, that day is when the Christmas tree goes up and the Presepe (nativity scene) appears. But much like in the US, the season unofficially begins a bit earlier.   

First to appear are the decorated shop windows..  We may not have a big Macy’s display window here in Lucca, but the small shop windows are wonderfully decked out.  Walking through town to see the Christmas windows is one of my favorite holiday activities.

By the 4th week of November Lucca’s streets are hung with tiny white lights and overhead decorations. Larger holiday installations appear throughout the city and displays of stars, snowflakes, or other symbols of the season are projected onto the sides of the city’s medieval buildings. 

Other holiday events in late November / early December in Lucca include the opening of a temporary ice-skating rink, the start of the Christmas market in Piazza Napoleone (this year’s market features French products), and the lighting of the big Christmas tree in Piazza San Michele.

A big crowd turned out for the tree lighting ceremony

Throughout December the seasonal magic continues with concerts and street music, processions, Presepe, special markets, children’s activities including the Casa di Babbo Natale (Father Christmas’s house), and all the lights and sparkle that one little Italian Medieval town can muster.   Add in the various social events with friends and the whole month will be filled with activities. We’ll rest in January!  

It all comes to an end on January 5th and 6th with the celebration of La Befana, the Christmas witch.  On the evening of the 5th, Befana (perhaps several of them) will wander the historic center of Lucca.  On the 6th, Befana arrives for the children in Piazza San Francesco. Descending from a roof top (with the help of a crane and the fire department), she brings stockings full of candy to the children.  It is always fun to watch her arrival, surrounded by some very excited children. My own Befana keeps watch in my apartment throughout the season.

It’s December – let the holiday magic begin wherever and however you choose to celebrate the season.  

Late November in Lucca

It’s hard to believe that November is nearly over, but a blast of very cold air this past week served as a reminder that winter is on its way.  After such a mild October and early November, many of us were scrambling to dig out our sweaters, hats, warm scarves, and gloves.  No complaints though – the colder temps are appropriate for late November and help to set the mood for the upcoming holidays.

Soon these fall gourds will be replaced with Christmas decor

 Here in Italy the 4th Thursday of November is just another workday.  But most of the Americans, residents and visitors alike, plan some type of celebration to mark Thanksgiving. Though the celebrations will have an Italian twist.  After all, how many of us here have ovens big enough to roast a turkey?  Or dining rooms that will hold a large group for a formal dinner?   Certainly not me with my miniscule kitchen, small fridge, and my tiny oven that is just barely more than the Easy Bake I had as a kid.  Still, we will gather with friends in small groups in homes or larger groups in restaurants to give thanks.  And we will catch up with other friends throughout the week.  In a new twist for me, this year I will share a fully catered meal with a few friends. It will seem strange to not be making my mother’s turkey dressing or preparing dishes to take to a big potluck dinner.  But my “usual” Lucca Thanksgiving group has scattered, some to new cities, some back to the US, some to travel adventures. And so it is time for something new.   My one nod to my usual American tradition will be baking my sister Patty’s Apple-Cranberry pie.  Luckily the local fruit and vegetable market managed to get some fresh cranberries just in time this year!

And of course there are lots of reasons to be thankful. My family, friends who come to visit (some of whom are wise enough to visit in November and December), some friends living here who’ve faced health issues this year but are now on the mend, the everyday joys of being in Italy, the gift of travel this past year, Lucca’s always vibrant culture, and the many blog readers who have reached out this year, come to visit, or written the emails that make my day. I appreciate you all!

One great thing about late November in Lucca is the special events that take place. The most unusual was a flash mob organized for the filming of a TV ad for next year’s Sanremo Music Festival.  The musicians were from the Boccherini Institute, a local music academy.  The singers were lovely as they added their voices to the orchestra playing a well-known song, Piazza Grande, made famous by Lucio Dalla and a past winner of the Sanremo competition.  (video on Instagram at two_parts_italy).  

Another event, Il Desco, took place this past weekend.  An annual celebration of foods from the Garfagnana, it is always a fun event.  The stalls are great places to buy the season’s new extra virgin olive oil, freshly ground chestnut flour, dried beans, and grains.  Bring a big shopping bag, because there are also artisanal breads, local honey, many different cheeses, and lots of meat products (think salami, guanciale, sausages, lardo).  Packaged gift trays too!

 The longest line at Il Desco was the one I look forward to the most – the line to order necci  – those warm and fragrant chestnut crepes filled with a variety of fillings (make mine fresh ricotta and honey please). 

Definitely worth the wait!

 Late November also brings the start of the Christmas season in Italy. With no Thanksgiving to delay its start, Christmas begins to sneak in just after Halloween. Over the past week we’ve watched as lights and decorations were hung high above the streets in the historic center of town and as big, bright, and colorful installations were placed in the piazzas. There were some fabulous holiday shop windows unveiled too and the start of the Christmas Market.  (More photos of Christmas in Lucca next week)

The weekend’s big event was the lighting of the huge Christmas tree in Piazza San Michele.  Quite a big crowd turned out, despite the chilly weather, for a glimpse of the tree lighting. There is a short video clip posted on Instagram (two_parts_italy).  A nice glass of red wine in a cozy bar did just the trick to warm us up afterwards.

A crowd gathered to watch the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree

I wish you all I wonderful Thanksgiving no matter where you may find yourself this week. 

Buona Festa di Ringraziamento!

Fall Color Along The Danube

The Wachau Valley runs for 18 miles along the Danube River as it winds its way through Austria.  The entire stretch is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it Is easy to see why – it has an abundance of riches in its history, amazing landscapes, colorful small villages, and castles. 

Spitz, Austria

 There is no better way to see the Wachau Valley than from the river, gliding slowly along and enjoying the sights as you pass by (perhaps with a glass of wine in hand and the company of good friends). And there is no better time of year to see it than during fall, when the changing leaves turn the landscape to gold.

I spent an afternoon sailing through the valley during the peak of fall color in late October.  The afternoon was part of a week-long Viking Danube River cruise, sailing west along the Danube from Budapest, Hungary towards Passau, Germany, with much of the week spent in Austria.  The entire cruise was wonderful; I will be writing more about the various places on the itinerary in the weeks ahead.  But in terms of scenery, the Wachau Valley was the highlight of the trip.

The Hinterhaus Castle ruins above the town of Spitz surrounded by glorious fall color

The Wachau Valley lies between the town of Melk to the west and Krems to the east (though my cruise went in the opposite direction, upriver, going from Krems west toward Melk).  The stretch is flanked by two famous Medieval abbeys – Göttweig Abbey,  founded in 1083, in the east (below, left) and Melk Abbey founded in 1089 (below, right) to the west.  Both sit high up on bluffs and act as “bookends” to the stretch of the Danube through the Wachau Valley.

Between the two abbeys lie wooded areas, agricultural lands, and terraced vineyards where primarily Grüner Veltliner grapes are grown. Dotted throughout the landscape are a series of storybook villages, small cottages, castles, and monasteries..

 There are also churches in a variety of forms – some with tall bell towers, some with steep red roofs, others with colorful exteriors, such as the abbey at Dürnstein with its blue and white bell tower.

 Higher up on bluffs sit castle ruins, including this one above the town of Dürnstein. Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned in the castle the 12th century.

The ruins of Dürnstein Castle, on the bluff above town, where King Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned

The Wachau Nose

Not everything is Medieval in the region – one very modern piece of art found along this stretch of the Danube is a giant sculpted nose. 

The Wachau Nose is a landmark which suggests the importance of the sense of smell in wine tasting. 

According to the literature provided by Viking, the model for the nose was the son of the mayor of the town of Rossatz-Arnsdorf, the city where the nose can be found.

The wonders of this valley can be appreciated at any time of year.  But fall brings a unique view, as the trees and vines change from green to gold and fiery orange, adding a special bit of magic to the landscape.

Steampunk 2025

It’s been one week since the end of Lucca’s big Comics event and we are all breathing a sigh of relief at having survived the crowds and chaos.  Soon the tents will all be down (that takes a bit of time) and the city will have a period of quiet before the Christmas season begins.  Though here in Lucca, Christmas decorations are already showing up in window displays and shops.

But first, I will wrap up Comics with some photos from my favorite event, the Steampunk parade.  Actually, 3 days of Steampunk parades, each with a different theme but all with the hallmarks of Steampunk Style – Victorian elegance meets Industrial Revolution mechanical chic.  That means lots of fancy dresses and hoop skirts for the ladies, top hats and vests for the men.  The basic dress is then paired with goggles, gears, jet packs, brass arm braces, flying machines, interesting weapons, and telescopes.  

The Steampunk Italia group, which always has a big presence at Lucca Comics, goes all out in terms of costumes. It has to be the most photographed event of Comics, and for good reason. The creativity, self-expression, and cost (in terms of time and money) in creating these outfits is over the top.  Each day’s parade began in front of the San Michele church where participants posed for photos before beginning their procession through town. 

The theme for day one was Flotti Aeree, Air Fleets, with a mostly white and tan color scheme.  Every form of early industrial age flight was included.  Costumes included a variety of wings – feathered ones, canvas ones, and mechanical ones (steam powered of course). 

There were hot air balloons, propellers, flight helmets, goggles, and altimeters.

 Day two’s theme was Opere d’ Arte Viventi (Living Works of Art).  For this parade, the color of the day was mostly black and there were many picture frames added to costumes with the usual Steampunk sense of style.  Several well-known artists were represented along with many creative works of art. 

 The third and final day’s theme was a tribute to the world of Jules Verne. That world includes undersea and lunar exploration, travel, mad scientists, and flight. Some of the participants had entirely different costumes for this parade.

Look closely - can you spot Diana, one of Lucca’s own Steampunk enthusiasts, in three different costumes? Imagine the chaos in the dressing rooms after 3 days of different outfits!

Steampunk is the ultimate in cosplay events during the festival.  A big thanks to the Steampunk Italia troupe for all of their efforts to make this a fantastic event!