7. An affresco of the Nativity and San
Francesco of Assisi
Tradition attributes to
San Francesco the merit
of introducing the
Presepio to the vast cycle
of Christmas customs,
when, at Christmas 1223
in the village of Greccio
near Assisi, as we are told
by St Bonaventure,
he took a manger and filled it with hay, tied an ass and an ox
near it and with a crowd of people from all over the
neighbooring countryside attended the celebration of Mass in
front of the crib.
8. The Origin Of naTiviTy
SceneS
“... Mary gave birth to
her firstborn son and
wrapped him in
swaddling clothes and
laid him in a manger,
because there was no
room for them in the
place where travellers
lodged.”
9. What is the “Presepio”?
According to Luca the
Evangelist (2,7) Jesus
was born in a stable or
at least in a place
where animals were
kept. In fact the word
presepio (Nativity
Scene) comes from the
Latin verb “praesepire”
(to enclose, to hedge,
to fence) and today it
means manger or crib.
11. The Italian crèche (American word for “Presepio” ) consists
basically of two parts: a basic one, called "mistero", including
Mary, Joseph, Child Jesus, angels, ox and donkey, and a
complementary part called "diversorio", including everything
else, that is the pub, the news of the nativity, the market and
hundreds of characters. The nativity group is placed among the
ruins of a temple, against a mountain background, coloured so
as to create the impression of a winter sunset. Among the
characters there are the beggar, the sleeping man, the blind
man, the gypsy, the women following the Magi, called
georgians, tarantella dancers, tartar warriors. The statues are
traditionally 30-35 cm. In the Christmas season in via San
Gregorio Armeno, Naples , the "mercatino dei pastori"
(shepherds' market) is held, where statues of all kinds are on
sale.
14. Epiphany: the legend
The word Epiphany
derives from Greek
“Eptfaneia” which
means:
“manifestation” or
“appearing”.
the legend of “La Befana”
is that of an old witch lady
with a big red nose and
slight hunch, dressed in a
jacket of colourful patches.
15. The Legend wants that on the
12th night of Christmas (January
5th) the “Magi” (Wise men), on
their looking for the baby Jesus,
asked “La Befana” to join them in
their quest. She initially declined,
stating she had too much
housework to do but later she
changed her mind and went
looking for the 3 Wise Men and
the baby Jesus, but was unable
to find them. Therefore, every
year, on the night of January 5th,
“La Befana”, will travel on her
magic broom, to every house in
search of the baby Jesus
16. What does the Befana do?
Climbingdownthe
chimneys, shebrings
candiesandallkindof
toystothechildrenwho
weregoodandblackcoal
, onionsorgarlictothe
childrenwhowere
naughty. Thechildren
willleaveouttheir
stockingsthenight
before, hopingtofind
themfullofsweetsthe
morningafter.
SimilartotheSantaClaus
tradition, manyofthe
childrenwillwritenotes
to“LaBefana”.
17. Easter in Italy: the celebration
of Jesus Resurrection
The word comes from the Jewish
“Pesach” and it is the Christian holiday
based on the pagan festival called Eostur-
Monath. there are many ceremonies and
culinary customs that are religiously
upheld. Some traditions are regional, for
instance the “palm exchange” on Palm
Sunday as a symbol of peace.
The Last Supper, three days before Easter
Sunday, is generally assumed to have
coincided with the “Seder” meal at the
Jewish festival of Passover (Pesach).
Passover occurred on the fourteenth day
of the Hebrew month of Nisan ,the first
month of the Jewish religious calendar.
18. The celebration of Easter in Italy
Solemn religious processions are held in many
towns on the Friday or Saturday before Easter and
sometimes on Easter Sunday. Many churches
have special statues of the Virgin and Jesus that
play a big part in the processions. The statues may
be paraded through the city or displayed in the
main square. Parade participants are often dressed
in traditional ancient costumes. Olive branches are
often used instead of, or along with palm fronds in
the processions and to decorate churches. The
Monday following Easter, la Pasquetta,is also a
holiday throughout Italy and people use to have
picnics in the countryside or at the seaside.
20. Christmas: the “struffoli”
6 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 pound butter
4 1/2 cups all-purpose
flour
4 vanilla beans
2 tablespoon baking
powder
1 gallon vegetable oil
1 pound honey
1 small jar candy
sprinkles
21. Carnival: the “Chiacchiere”
• 7 cups (700 g) all purpose
flour
• 4 ounces (100 g) live baker's
yeast (the cakes of yeast you
will find in the dairy section
of the supermarket)
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup (100 g) butter
• The grated zest (yellow part
only) of three organically
grown lemons
• 1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• Oil for frying
22. Easter : the Pastiera
5 grams of butter
150 mililiter of milk
1 lemon
400 gr. of Pasta frolla
600 gr. of soft ricotta cheese
4 eggs
200 gr. of sugar
sugar veil
1 teaspoon of orange flowers
1 grain cup
23. Saint Joseph feast: the Zeppole
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup butter
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sifted all-purpose
flour
4 eggs
1 tsp grated orange peel
1 tsp grated lemon peel
24. Realized By 4B Informatic
From Iti – LS “ F. Giordani “ –
Caserta
Coordinator prof.ssa Patrizia Lucibello
Translated by prof.ssa Alda Nicosia
Web coordinator prof.ssa Fulvia Palermo
Financed by the European Community
