Home
Attractions Accommodation
Buying Property
What To See
Beaches
Conero Coast
Sports
Active Holidays
Historic Towns
Events
Weddings
YOUR Marche
Shopping Luxury Shoes
Handicraft
Food and Wines Typical Foods
Regional Recipes
More Recipes
Pasta
Bread Recipes
Local Wines
Food Traditions
About Italy Getting There
Train Travel
Learn Italian
Photo Gallery
About Italy
Fun Facts
Italian Names
Travel Guides Best Books
World Travel
About This Site Contact Us
Italian Holidays Blog
Site Search
About Us
Free Newsletter

[?] Subscribe To the Italian Food Blog

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

 

Italian Christmas Traditions: the Festive Menu

Italian Christmas traditions for the festive menu are different in every town and village. Nevertheless some Italian Christmas food enjoy nationwide popularity.



Capitone

A capitone is a large heel. It is often served fried or stewed for Christmas Eve dinner because traditionally meat is not allowed the day before Christmas.

Cappelletti

Cappelletti and tortellini are a rich and labour intensive dish. Served with broth are the opening of any classic Italian food menu on Christmas day.

Cappone

Capon is a castrated male chicken. The meat is white and tender. It is often used to prepare the broth for cappelletti or stuffed and oven roasted.

italian christmas traditions Cotechino

A big, fresh sausage. It has a deliciously gelatinous consistence. Appeared first in Modena in 1511. It must be boiled and is often served with mashed potatoes or with lentils for New Year’s Eve.

Zampone

Sausage similar to cotechino but presented in a stuffed pig’s foreleg. Typical of the winter Italian food menu

italian christmas traditions Lenticchie

Lentils, often served at midnight on New Year’s Eve, they represent money and eaten in abundance are supposed to bring wealth and good luck.




italian christmas traditions

Mostarda

Assorted candied fruits in a hot mustard syrup. The amazing spicy and sweet taste is to be appreciated with boiled and roasted meats or cheeses.




italian christmas traditions

Panettone

Originally from Milan this sweet bread is now the typical Italian Christmas food at the end of every festive menu.




italian christmas traditions

Pandoro

Traditional sweet bread from Verona. Butter rich, it is served with a sugar dusting.




italian christmas traditions

Panforte

Panforte comes as a flat and thin fruitcake. This sweet is originally from Siena and has ancient origins dating back to the 13th century.




italian christmas traditions

Torrone

Typically made with nuts, honey, sugar and egg whites. It can be soft or hard, with or without chocolate and flavorings but in any variety it is the most sticky and delicious Christmas dessert.







Back to Italian Food Customs and Traditions

Go from Italian Christmas Traditions to Le-Marche-Travel-Guide Homepage


footer for italian christmas traditions page