--- title: 5 Things to Know About Italian Holiday Traditions If You're Studying at University in Italy description: Italian holiday traditions are distinctive and very fascinating to learn about. Here are 5 things to know about them if you study at a university in Italy! image: https://blog.johncabot.edu/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dec-24-colleges-in-Rome.jpg --- [![JCULogo1](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/JCULogo1.png?width=300&height=80&name=JCULogo1.png "JCULogo1")](https://blog.johncabot.edu/blog?hsLang=en) [![JCULogo2](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/JCULogo2.png?width=300&height=82&name=JCULogo2.png "JCULogo2")](https://blog.johncabot.edu/blog?hsLang=en) - [Undergraduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/undergraduate) - [Graduate](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/graduate) - [Study Abroad](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/study-abroad) - [Italian](https://blog.johncabot.edu/it/blog) - [Website](https://www.johncabot.edu/) - Filter By Topics - Scegli Il Topic # 5 Things to Know About Italian Holiday Traditions If You're Studying at University in Italy December 17, 2019 SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/5-things-know-italian-holiday-traditions-youre-studying-university-italy](mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/5-things-know-italian-holiday-traditions-youre-studying-university-italy) ![](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dec-24-colleges-in-Rome.jpg) SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/5-things-know-italian-holiday-traditions-youre-studying-university-italy](mailto:?body=https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/5-things-know-italian-holiday-traditions-youre-studying-university-italy) ![John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hubfs/JCUCrestWhiteonBlue-1.jpg) Written By [John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/jcuadmissions) Topic [Student Life](https://blog.johncabot.edu/tag/student-life) Italy has some great, unique holiday traditions that students from other countries may not be familiar with, and its take on the festive season is one that is a joy to behold. As different as these traditions may seem to those used to other ways of celebrating the holiday season, they stand as time-tested traditions in Italy, and are an important part of local culture. Here are five holiday traditions in Italy you might not have known about. ## Italy’s Christmas Season Really Starts to Get Going on December 8th Christmas—or *Natale* as it’s known in Italian—is a holiday that gets into full swing on December 8th of each year. On this day, Italians start decorating their homes, and Christmas markets start to appear on the streets. Students studying abroad during December will see Christmas trees and other decorations appearing outside people’s homes and in the piazzas of many Italian cities, such as in front of Rome’s Colosseum. ## The Holiday Season Continues Well After New Years’ Day, Too Although the Christmas season in Italy starts on December 8th when a cannon is fired from the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, the festivities continue after New Years’ Day, going all the way to Epiphany on January 6th. This is to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem, which students in Rome can see a re-enactment of at the Piazza Navona. On that same day, there’s also the tradition of *La Befana*, or the old woman bearing gifts during Epiphany. Children in Italy await her arrival and wake up to gifts on January 6th. ## Italian Nativity Scenes, Known as Presepi, Are Also Well-Known You’ll see these frequently displayed at piazzas, churches, homes, and other public areas. Nativity scenes—known as *presepi* in Italian—are impressively hand-crafted and prominent in Italy during the Christmas season. In fact, students at [**universities in Italy**](https://www.johncabot.edu/admissions/study-abroad-rome-italy/default.aspx) will notice how there are even workshops dedicated to hand-crafting presepi. Some even get creative with nativity scenes, using modern characters like politicians and footballers as part of the presepi. Rome also hosts an exhibition every year showcasing 100 different presepi made by artisans across the globe. ![Nativity scenes, known as presepi, are very popular in Italy during Christmas](https://blog.johncabot.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Dec-24-universities-in-Italy.jpg?width=600&height=401&name=Dec-24-universities-in-Italy.jpg)  ## Students at Universities in Italy Should Avoid Meat on Christmas Eve In Italy, it’s best to steer clear of ham, turkey, or any other meats the night before Christmas. On Christmas Eve (known as “La Vigilia” in Italian), people in Italy eat a meal rich in seafood—sometimes up to seven courses, giving it the English name “Feast of the Seven Fishes”. **Do you want to study at [colleges in Rome](https://www.johncabot.edu/admissions/study-abroad-rome-italy/default.aspx)?** **Contact John Cabot University for more information!** [Previous Post](https://blog.johncabot.edu/degree-seeking/club-spotlight-multicultural-club?hsLang=en) [View all posts](https://blog.johncabot.edu) [Next Post](https://blog.johncabot.edu/study-abroad/3-reasons-study-psychology-rome-new-year?hsLang=en) ### Subscribe Here! ### Recommended Reading [Student Life](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/student-life?hsLang=en) ##### [Staying Active While Studying Abroad at John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/staying-active-studying-rome?hsLang=en) By [Lauren Brondyke](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/lauren-brondyke) / May 22, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.johncabot.edu/staying-active-studying-rome?hsLang=en) [Student Life](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/student-life?hsLang=en) ##### [Top 3 Student Clubs to Join at John Cabot University in Rome](https://blog.johncabot.edu/student-life-clubs-jcu-rome?hsLang=en) By [Elba Maria Peña](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/elba-maria-peña) / May 8, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.johncabot.edu/student-life-clubs-jcu-rome?hsLang=en) [Student Life](https://blog.johncabot.edu/topic/student-life?hsLang=en) ##### [John Cabot University’s Campuses in Rome](https://blog.johncabot.edu/campuses-rome?hsLang=en) By [John Cabot University](https://blog.johncabot.edu/author/jcuadmissions) / May 6, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.johncabot.edu/campuses-rome?hsLang=en) ### Subscribe and stay up to date ### Subscribe and stay up to date - [Academics](https://www.johncabot.edu/academics/default.aspx) - [Admissions](https://www.johncabot.edu/admissions/default.aspx) - [Student Life](https://www.johncabot.edu/student-life/default.aspx) - [About JCU](https://www.johncabot.edu/about-jcu/default.aspx) - [Studenti Italiani](https://www.johncabot.edu/universita-americana/default.aspx) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JohnCabotUniversity) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JohnCabotRome) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/school/john-cabot-university/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/JohnCabotUniversity) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/johncabotuniversity) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3067823/phone.svg) [+39066819121](tel:+39066819121) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3067823/email.svg) [admissions@johncabot.edu](mailto:admissions@johncabot.edu) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3067823/address.svg) Via della Lungara 233 00165 Rome, Italy [©](https://a.cms.omniupdate.com/11/?skin=oucampus&account=john-cabot&site=www&action=de&path=/default.pcf) 2025 John Cabot University ### Request Info »