A salted variety of which fish is hugely popular in Italy at Christmas?

Cod Click to see the answer

The tradition of decorating with a Christmas crib was introduced by St Francis from which Italian city?

Assisi

Which Roman location sees three Wise Men arrive on horseback on 6th January each year?

Piazza Navona

Traditionally, Italians light a yule log on Christmas Eve and it burns until when?

1st January

A cannon is fired from which landmark in Rome on the 8th December to mark the start of Christmas?

Castel Sant'Angelo

Italy's largest shopping mall, Westfield, is close to which major city?

Milan

The biggest Christmas tree in the world appears on the slopes above which Italian town?

Gubbio Click to see the answer

In 274 AD, Emperor Aurelian declared that Christmas should be celebrated on which date in December?

25th

What is the witch said to do before leaving the house and your presents?

Sweep the floor

What red item of clothing do people wear on New Year's Eve to bring luck?

Underwear

At what time does the Pope give the Christmas Day blessing in St Peter's Square?

Noon

What does the Befana use to travel around giving children gifts?

Broomstick

What food is said to represent coins, so is eaten on New Year's Eve in Piedmont for luck?

Rice

How many times is the dough allowed to rise in the recipe for a traditional panettone?

3

What was the name of the ancient Roman festival celebrated in December which predates Christmas?

Saturnalia

In which item of clothing does a friendly witch leave gifts for good children?

Stocking Click to see the answer

The witch who leaves presents for good children was too busy doing what to go with the Wise Men to Bethlehem?

Housework

Italian children get presents on which date in January, to mark the Wise Men arriving in Bethlehem?

6th

Italian children write letters to who, telling them how much they love and appreciate them?

Parents

Who stopped at La Befana's house to ask directions to Bethlehem?

Wise Men

Pandoro is in the shape of a star with how many points?

8

People dress as which Christmas character and play bagpipes in southern Italy?

Shepherds

Panettone originated in which Italian city?

Milan

The 'Calendario Romano' is an Italian tradition featuring people in which profession?

Priests

On which date in December do Italians celebrate the feast of Santo Stefano?

26th

What do naughty Italian children get in stockings at Epiphany?

Coal

Manarola, famous for its huge annual nativity scene, is in which Italian province?

Liguria

Italian Christmas celebrations start on Immaculate Conception Day which is what date in December?

8th

Some Italian Catholics still fast from which date in December to the 24th December?

23rd

The period of the Novena marks how many days in the run up to Christmas?

9

Which nuts are used to make traditional Italian nougat?

Almonds

Which Italian city has a history of making Christmas cribs which dates to the 11th century?

Naples

People dressed as shepherds and playing bagpipes usually wear clothes of white and which other color?

Red

Many Italian families have a 'Feast of Seven' what on Christmas Eve?

Fish

What time is the traditional mass to mark the start of Christmas?

Midnight

What instrument is usually played by people dressed as shepherds in the period just before Christmas?

Bagpipes

What type of food is traditionally missing from an Italian dinner on Christmas Eve?

Meat

Christmas hazelnut cookies called 'Baci di Dama' are from which Italian city?

Turin

Pandoro is traditionally shaped like what?

Star

What type of character delivers gifts to Italian children on the night of 5th January?

Witch

In parts of Northern Italy, who brings presents instead of the Befana or Santa Claus?

Three Kings

The custom of having a Christmas crib in your home caught on in Italy in which century?

16th Click to see the answer

Which animal accompanies Santa Lucia when she gives out presents in Sicily?

Donkey

On which date in January do Italians traditionally dismantle their Christmas trees?

6th

Naples is home to the largest Christmas crib scene in the world, with how many different objects?

600

Italian Christmas song 'Tu scendi dalle stelle' was written in which century?

18th

The Cavalcade of the Magi procession takes place in which Italian city?

Florence

On which date In December is St Nicholas day?

6th Click to see the answer

Saturnalia was the Roman festival for the God of what?

Agriculture

At New Year, people from Naples exchange which fruit?

Figs

How many lights are used to create the world's largest Christmas tree in Gubbio?

3000

The classic Italian Christmas movie 'Vacanze di Natale' is set in which resort?

Cortina d'Ampezzo

The Gubbio Christmas tree was first constructed on the hillside in which year?

1981

How many meters high is the world's largest Christmas tree in Gubbio, Umbria?

350m

St Francis of Assisi introduced the crib as a way of telling the Christmas story in which century?

13th

The popular festive dish of il capitone is made from which type of fish?

Eel

What drink to children in Sicily leave out for Santa Lucia, along with carrots for the donkey?

Coffee Click to see the answer

How many numbers are there in the traditional Christmas tombola game?

90

What sound traditionally marks midnight, and the start of Christmas Day?

Church Bells

Which date in the festive season is also known as Saint Sylvester's Day?

31st December

Francis of Assisi was inspired to create a nativity scene after a visit to which town?

Bethlehem

Panettone is said to have been invented by a nobleman who fell in love with the daughter of a what?

Baker

Panettone originated in Milan in which century?

15th

What type of structure houses the Sassi di Matera nativity scene?

Cave

What would you find in a traditional panettone?

Dried fruit

What food do Southern Italian children leave for Santa Lucia's donkey?

Carrots

What musical instrument is played by the zampognari?

Bagpipes

What Christmas related objects are sold on Via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples?

Cribs

In which year was classic Christmas movie 'Vacanze di Natale' released?

1983

What type of nuts are in the Christmas biscuits called 'Baci di Dama'?

Hazelnuts

Bonfires are often lit in Italy to mark the start of the Christmas season on which date in December?

7th

Which figure is the last traditionally added to the Christmas crib scene on Christmas Eve?

Jesus

When does the period of Novena end?

Christmas Eve

For children who don't believe in La Befana, on which night does Babbo Natale bring presents?

Christmas Eve

What is the traditional day to put up your Christmas tree in Italy?

8th December

Which Italian leader started the custom of giving workers an extra month's salary in December?

Mussolini Click to see the answer

The traditional New Year food of cotechino, a pork sausage, comes from which city?

Modena

Via San Gregorio Armeno, a street with many makers of traditional wooden nativity scenes, is in which city?

Naples

Who sometimes leaves children small presents on the morning of the 8th December?

Virgin Mary

Which Saint do Italian children write letters to on December 6th?

Nicholas

Fried dough balls called struffoli are a Christmas favorite in which city?

Naples

What is the name of the saint who brings children living in Venice and Mantova their presents at Epiphany?

Lucia Click to see the answer

Saturnalia was originally a festival to mark which event?

Winter Solstice

In which Italian city could you see the world's largest crib, with over 600 separate objects?

Naples

Which Italian city features an elaborate tree decorated with Swarovski crystals?

Milan

The story of the Befana is similar to that of the Babushka from which country?

Russia

Which Italian city invented the sweet bread called pandoro?

Verona

Children in Sicily leave which items out for Santa Lucia to fill with presents?

Shoes

What sort of meat is used to make the festive dish of zampone?

Pork

The tradition of eating seven fish dishes on Christmas Eve took hold in which other country after extensive Italian immigration?

United States

What color do the leaves turn on the popular Christmas poinsettia plant?

Red

What color of underwear is traditionally worn at New Year?

Red

What Christmas related activity are Bolzano and Trento famous for?

Markets

Traditional Italian crib scenes are made from which material?

Wood

What traditional game is often played after Christmas dinner?

Tombola

Where would you go in Rome to see the city's most famous life-sized nativity scene?

St Peter's Square

What pulse is said to represent wealth, and often eaten at New Year?

Lentils

Some people in Southern Italy get rid of old things before New Year by doing what?

Throwing them from the window