Celebrating Special Occasions in Italy: Family, Food, and Faith

Italians celebrate everything with family, loud voices, long tables, and even longer meals.

1. Sunday Lunch (La Domenica)

Whole family gathers at grandparents' house every Sunday from noon until night.

• No phones allowed at the table

• 4 to 5 courses minimum

• Nonna cooks everything from scratch

• Leaving early is offensive

• The table is never cleared completely

2. Birthdays (Compleanni)

Celebrated with family first, then friends. Takes place at home or at a restaurant.

• Massive cake (tiramisù or millefoglie)

• Birthday person wears a paper crown

• First slice goes to the oldest person present

• Never celebrate a birthday alone

• The person celebrating pays for everyone

3. Weddings (Matrimoni)

Morning church ceremony on Saturday or Sunday, then all-day party until midnight.

• Guests throw rice at couple outside church

• Tarantella dance until midnight

• Groom wears blue socks for luck

• Confetti (sugar almonds) given in groups of five

4. Easter (Pasqua)

• Lamb is the main dish (agnello)

• Chocolate eggs with a surprise inside

• Colomba (dove-shaped cake) for dessert

• No meat on Good Friday

• Easter Monday (Pasquetta) is for picnics

5. Christmas Eve (La Vigilia)

December 24th evening. Known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes. No meat served.

• Seven different seafood dishes minimum

• Midnight mass after dinner

• Children wait for Babbo Natale

• Panettone or pandoro for dessert

• No one opens gifts until after midnight

6. New Year's Eve (Capodanno)

December 31st. Called La Festa di San Silvestro. Fireworks at midnight.

• Cotechino (sausage) and lentils for dinner

• Lentils symbolize money and good luck

• Wear red underwear for good luck

• Throw old things out window before midnight

• First person entering house in new year must be male