Seasonal Sightings

Once Christmas Day has passed in the States, the holiday season is in the past for many people. In Italy, the season extends through Epiphany, which is typically on January 6. Christmas decorations remain up, festive lights continue to glow and gifts are even given to some children on that day.

Rows of lights crisscross a street in Lucca, December 2016.

In Lucca this year, signs of the season were everywhere, from piazzas with towering Christmas trees to private doorways with pine swags and even a café window adorned with one sheer red and one sheer green curtain.

A tree with white bows and white lights in Piazza Mercanti, Lucca, December 2016.

At Gigi Trattoria, bunches of holly berries were used to tie back the Christmas-colored curtains. The restaurant is a favorite in Lucca for both Joanne and me (Judy).

Gigi Trattoria, Lucca, December 2016.

Joanne wouldn't let me post the photo of one store window that proudly displayed the words "I Love Xmas" over a fist with a raised middle finger. I had to agree with her. There were too many other "politically correct" shop windows to capture. Below is a glimpse of just a few of them.                      -post by JG and JB

Restaurant window just off Via San Giorgio, Lucca, December 2016.

The window of a flower shop, Lucca, December 2016.

Yep, it's the window of a wine shop, Lucca, December 2016.

Taddeucci's window includes one of the shop's famous buccellato - a must-taste in Lucca. December 2016.

Chocolate shop window on Via Filungo, Lucca, December 2016.