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In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a new way by recreating the Nativity in the Italian town of Greccio. According to his biographer, Thomas de Celano, Francis assembled what is considered the first crèche, saying, “Out of Greccio is made a new Bethlehem.” To mark this major octocentennial anniversary, the Knig...

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Is it even Christmas in Italian households, and most especially Naples, without struffoli on the table? Those delectable, golden, fried balls of dough perfectly coated in honey and crowned with sprinkles represent a time honored tradition and family heritage for so many Italians, including myself. After making, kneading, rolling, cutting and frying...

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Archaeologists have unearthed 'Nativity-like scene statues' in the ancient ruins of the Roman pagan city of Pompeii. Approximately 13 figurines were found in what was once a home, and while the terracotta pieces mirror a Christian scene, they were used in an ancient cult ritual. The miniature clay sculptures are about five inches high and found upr...

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With its history, culture, and culinary delights, Italy knows how to embrace the magic of Christmas like few other places in the world and here, just like everywhere else in the world, the holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and traditions that have been passed down through generations. The entire country comes alive with festive lights,...

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Everyone knows the song about Christmas in Hawaii, but why spend the holiday with sun and sand when you can have pesce and paisans when you celebrate Christmas the Italian American way? We hope you enjoy “We All Say Buon Natale”… an Italian American Christmas song made just for us! Wishing you all a very "Buon Natale" from the Italian American Podc...

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In the heart of Naples, a unique Christmas decoration unfolds every year — the Neapolitan nativity scene. Far beyond a religious tradition, the presepe is an anthropological display that weaves together centuries of history, artistic research, and contemporary resonance. The fascinating genesis of the Neapolitan nativity scene dates back to the ear...

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“There's degrees of messiness,” The Bear’s prop master Laura Roeper tells me over the phone from Chicago. “Chris [Storer, the series creator] is like, ‘no, [it has to be] chaotic craziness’... So we’re in the kitchen, and we got to throw spaghetti sauce over everything, because the mess wasn’t big enough for Chris. He goes, ‘no, way more’,” Roeper...

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When it comes to food, every region—and every family, to be honest!—has its own traditions, especially at Christmas. Minestra maritata and pasta al forno in Naples, canederli in Trentino-Alto Adige, tortellini in brodo a bit everywhere: the variety and choice are endless. But we all have our favorites, don’t we? So what would your ideal Christmas d...

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More than a third of U.S. states say Italian Christmas cookies are the ones preferred in this time of the year. Google Trends shared a map with USA TODAY of uniquely searched Christmas cookies by state in 2023. The map shows cookies that were "overrepresented in a state" compared with the country as a whole. Though cookie variations seem endless, c...

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December is a month filled with Christian religious festivals, celebrated with profound devotion on the island of Sicily. These festivities could be seen as precursors to Christmas, as the island tradition integrates them into a celebration that is not solely religious but also significantly culinary. Indeed, the kitchen, once the center of daily l...

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