{"id":1752,"date":"2011-12-07T11:59:22","date_gmt":"2011-12-07T11:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=1752"},"modified":"2024-12-23T17:21:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T17:21:49","slug":"christmas-food-traditions-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy","title":{"rendered":"Italian Christmas Dinner: What to Eat, Fun Traditions, &#038; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine sitting at a table surrounded by loved ones, a medley of delicious aromas filling the room, as you prepare to<strong> dive into an Italian Christmas feast<\/strong>\u2014a celebration of flavors and tradition that\u2019s as rich as the culture itself.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to an Italian Christmas dinner, <strong>food is an important<\/strong>\u2014okay, possibly <em>the<\/em> most important\u2014part of the tradition. But <strong>what exactly do Italians eat for their Christmas meals?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like everything else in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/\">Italy<\/a>, of course, exact <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/italian-christmas-foods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christmas foods<\/a> <strong>depend on the region.<\/strong> But here are some of our favorite food traditions!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22357\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22357\" class=\"wp-image-22357 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Group-toasting-in-a-wine-cellar.jpg\" alt=\"Group of people toasting with red wine in a vaulted restaurant\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Group-toasting-in-a-wine-cellar.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Group-toasting-in-a-wine-cellar-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22357\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cheers to eating Italian Christmas dinner with friends and family.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#What_do_Italians_eat_for_Christmas_Dinner\" >What do Italians eat for Christmas Dinner?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#An_Italian_Christmas_Eve_Dinner%E2%80%94only_fish_please\" >An Italian Christmas Eve Dinner\u2014only fish, please!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#Christmas_Day_lunch%E2%80%A6_with_the_Madonna_and_Jesus\" >Christmas Day lunch&#8230; with the Madonna and Jesus?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#Sweet_endings_Italian_Christmas_desserts\" >Sweet endings: Italian Christmas desserts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#Regional_differences_in_Italian_Christmas_dinners\" >Regional differences in Italian Christmas dinners<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#Drinks_to_pair_with_your_Italian_Christmas_meal\" >Drinks to pair with your Italian Christmas meal<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#How_to_host_an_Italian_Christmas_dinner_at_home\" >How to host an Italian Christmas dinner at home<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/christmas-food-traditions-in-italy\/#Want_to_make_some_of_these_foods_yourself\" >Want to make some of these foods yourself?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_Italians_eat_for_Christmas_Dinner\"><\/span>What do Italians eat for Christmas Dinner?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">In Italy, Christmas <strong>meals vary significantly<\/strong> between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While Christmas Eve revolves around <strong>seafood and lighter dishes,<\/strong> Christmas Day is all about <strong>indulgence and hearty, celebratory meals.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22536\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22536\" class=\"wp-image-22536 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Devour_Rome_Testaccio_May-24_2081.jpg\" alt=\"a plate of pasta with tomato sauce and cheese\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Devour_Rome_Testaccio_May-24_2081.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Devour_Rome_Testaccio_May-24_2081-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22536\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hearty Christmas dinners are perfect for cold winter days.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_Italian_Christmas_Eve_Dinner%E2%80%94only_fish_please\"><\/span>An Italian Christmas Eve Dinner\u2014only fish, please!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><strong>According to tradition,<\/strong> the meal for Christmas Eve, <em>La Vigilia<\/em>, <strong>doesn&#8217;t include any meat.<\/strong> It&#8217;s all about <strong>fish and vegetables.<\/strong> This tradition stems from the concept of a <em>giorno di magro<\/em>, or &#8220;lean day,&#8221; <strong>meant to purify the body<\/strong> before the holiday. Whether the fish dishes qualify as &#8220;lean,&#8221; of course, is another story.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some <strong>classic Christmas Eve dishes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong><em>Capitone<\/em> (eel)<\/strong>: A historic favorite, though it&#8217;s becoming less popular.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Baccal\u00e0<\/em> (salted cod)<\/strong>: Often served fried or in stews.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Octopus and shellfish<\/strong>: Staples in many southern regions.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Pezzetti<\/strong><\/em>: Fried cubes of ricotta or vegetables like artichokes, zucchini, and broccoli in Rome; in Naples, it\u2019s a saut\u00e9ed mix of broccoli and seafood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>And then there are the pasta dishes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Northern Italy<\/strong>: Lasagna topped with anchovies, Parmesan, and seasonings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Southern Italy<\/strong>: Vermicelli with clams or mussels is a favorite in Naples.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Traditionally, the Christmas Eve meal can<strong> include numerous courses<\/strong>\u2014sometimes 7, 9, 12, or even 21. These <strong>numbers symbolize religious concepts<\/strong> like the 7 sacraments, the apostles, or the disciples with Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Lean day,&#8221; indeed!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1769\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1769\" class=\"wp-image-1769 size-full\" title=\"Shellfish, very popular in Italy on Christmas Eve\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/DSC_04531-scaled-e1734955805210.jpg\" alt=\"Oysters on a platter, at a Italian Christmas dinner\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1769\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One food you might see on a Christmas Eve in Italy: shellfish!<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Christmas_Day_lunch%E2%80%A6_with_the_Madonna_and_Jesus\"><\/span>Christmas Day lunch&#8230; with the Madonna and Jesus?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">After (ahem) &#8220;refraining&#8221; from indulgence on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is the <strong>time to truly feast. Lunch is the main event,<\/strong> featuring rich and hearty dishes.<\/p>\n<p>The meal often begins with <em><strong>pasta in brodo<\/strong><\/em> (pasta in broth), which is popular across Italy. Specific regional variations include:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Bologna<\/strong>: Meat-filled tortellini in capon broth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ferrara<\/strong>: Tortelli stuffed with pumpkin filling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For the main course, <strong>eel was once the traditional choice.<\/strong> These days, turkey\u2014stuffed much like in an American Thanksgiving\u2014is a <strong>common centerpiece.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In Calabria, there&#8217;s an especially charming tradition: after the meal, the <strong>table is left set for the Madonna and baby Jesus to &#8220;taste the food.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22788\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22788\" class=\"wp-image-22788 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/13939410001_e3a6d5ce73_h.jpg\" alt=\"Ravioli in brodo, an Italian Christmas dinner favorite. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/13939410001_e3a6d5ce73_h.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/13939410001_e3a6d5ce73_h-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/13939410001_e3a6d5ce73_h-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22788\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Ravioli in brodo<\/em> is an Italian Christmas dinner classic. Photo credit: <a id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1734955207942_32986\" class=\"owner-name truncate\" title=\"Go to Amelia Crook\u2019s photostream\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/simpleprovisions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-track=\"attributionNameClick\">Amelia Crook<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sweet_endings_Italian_Christmas_desserts\"><\/span>Sweet endings: Italian Christmas desserts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">When it comes to<strong> desserts,<\/strong> Italians go all out during the Christmas season. Sweet breads like <em><strong>panettone<\/strong><\/em> and <em><strong>pandoro<\/strong><\/em> are universally loved, but <strong>regional specialties shine as well:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><em><strong>Cavallucci<\/strong><\/em>: Horse-shaped cookies from Siena.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Dita degli apostoli<\/strong><\/em>: Chocolate- or coffee-flavored ricotta-filled omelets from Puglia.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Mostaccioli<\/strong><\/em>: Spiced nut pastries popular in Rome.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These delicious treats reflect the <strong>warmth and festivity<\/strong> of the season, making them the perfect conclusion to any Christmas meal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20981\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20981\" class=\"wp-image-20981 size-full\" title=\"Huge pandoro, a popular Christmas food in Italy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/1st-paragraph-.jpg\" alt=\"wrapped Italian Christmas breads at an Italian market, typical at an Italian Christmas dinner.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/1st-paragraph-.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/1st-paragraph--768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20981\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Panettone<\/em> and <em>pandoro<\/em> are Italian Christmas dessert classics. Photo credit: <span class=\"w7Srd lw1Rn\"><span class=\"tBzX3\"><a class=\"bimlc Pc_c1 rkYpC wQd_A\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@gabiontheroad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gabriella Clare Marino<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 3 []\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regional_differences_in_Italian_Christmas_dinners\"><\/span>Regional differences in Italian Christmas dinners<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The incredible variety of Christmas dishes across Italy reflects the country\u2019s rich regional diversity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are just a few highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>North Italy<\/strong>: Hearty broths, veal dishes, and rich lasagnas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>South Italy<\/strong>: Seafood feasts and lighter, vegetable-based dishes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sicily<\/strong>: <em>Pasta con le sarde<\/em> (pasta with sardines and fennel) is a holiday favorite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_22787\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22787\" class=\"wp-image-22787 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/19960039311_b7631d8bd8_k.jpg\" alt=\"Someone eating an Italian Christmas dinner. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/19960039311_b7631d8bd8_k.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/19960039311_b7631d8bd8_k-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22787\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Once you taste <em>Pasta con le sarde<\/em>, you&#8217;ll see why it&#8217;s so revered. Photo credit: <a id=\"yui_3_16_0_1_1734954930120_8200\" class=\"owner-name truncate\" title=\"Go to Joy\u2019s photostream\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/joyosity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-track=\"attributionNameClick\">Joy<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 3 []\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drinks_to_pair_with_your_Italian_Christmas_meal\"><\/span>Drinks to pair with your Italian Christmas meal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pair your meal with classic Italian beverages to elevate the experience:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Prosecco<\/strong>: Perfect for a festive toast.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vin Santo<\/strong>: A sweet wine that pairs wonderfully with desserts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limoncello<\/strong>: A refreshing digestive to end the meal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_22374\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22374\" class=\"wp-image-22374 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Group-sipping-Chianti-red-wine.jpg\" alt=\"Group sipping red wine Chianti\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Group-sipping-Chianti-red-wine.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Group-sipping-Chianti-red-wine-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22374\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wine is an important part of preparing a traditional Italian Christmas dinner.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 data-pm-slice=\"1 3 []\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_host_an_Italian_Christmas_dinner_at_home\"><\/span>How to host an Italian Christmas dinner at home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Recreate an authentic Italian Christmas dinner with these tips:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Set the table<\/strong>: Use festive decor and plenty of candles for a cozy atmosphere.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plan the menu<\/strong>: Include a mix of seafood, pasta, and sweet treats.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wine pairing<\/strong>: Offer a selection of wines to complement each course.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_22359\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22359\" class=\"wp-image-22359 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pouring-a-glass-of-red-wine.jpg\" alt=\"Person pouring a glass of red wine from the bottle, Chianti\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pouring-a-glass-of-red-wine.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pouring-a-glass-of-red-wine-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22359\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Table decorations and ambiance are just as important as the perfect wine pairing.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Want_to_make_some_of_these_foods_yourself\"><\/span><strong>Want to make some of these foods yourself?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Whether you\u2019re <strong>savoring a seafood feast<\/strong> on Christmas Eve or <strong>indulging in sweet<em> panettone<\/em><\/strong> on Christmas Day, Italian Christmas dinner is a celebration of flavor, family, and festivity.<\/p>\n<p>Want to make some of these dishes yourself?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Check out these recipes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2004\/dec\/04\/foodanddrink.shopping1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Tortellini in Brodo<\/em><\/strong><\/a>: A hearty pasta dish served in rich capon broth.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/juliascuisine.com\/italian-style-stuffed-chicken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Stuffed Chicken<\/strong><\/a>: A flavorful alternative to turkey.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lacucinaitaliana.com\/recipe\/main-course\/neapolitan-stewed-eel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eel with Peas and Tomato<\/strong><\/a>: A classic yet simple main dish.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vintagekitchennotes.com\/panettone-bread-pudding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Panettone<\/em> Pudding<\/strong><\/a>: A creative twist on the beloved Italian sweet bread.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Update Notice: This post was updated on December 23, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20982\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20982\" class=\"wp-image-20982 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/cover.jpg\" alt=\"Panettone cut in half showing dried fruit inside, an Italian Christmas dinner dessert. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/cover.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/cover-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/cover-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20982\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Do you prefer savory or sweet Italian Christmas dinner items? Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@mikegz-400576129\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MikeGZ<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine sitting at a table surrounded by loved ones, a medley of delicious aromas filling the room, as you prepare to dive into an Italian Christmas feast\u2014a celebration of flavors and tradition that\u2019s as rich as the culture itself. When it comes to an Italian Christmas dinner, food is an important\u2014okay, possibly the most important\u2014part [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":22733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[88,62],"ppma_author":[155],"class_list":["post-1752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-and-wine","tag-christmas","tag-food"],"authors":[{"term_id":155,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly","display_name":"Walks of Italy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9f4cd4dd0c5ab4b4bae57f3500298e23?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog","last_name":"of Italy","first_name":"Walks","job_title":"","description":"Walks began life as the passion project of two guys with one simple mission: To share their love for, and knowledge of, the city of Rome. Since then, Walks has grown into a team of over 100 ground staff and at any time up to 600 guides, operating across 13 of the world\u2019s most exciting cities (and counting!)\r\n\r\nToday we provide some of the most exclusive and beautifully designed small group tours in the industry through Italy-based Walks of Italy and around the world at Walks, where we offer special access to some of the world\u2019s most iconic landmarks and attractions as well as unique cultural experiences."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1752"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1752"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22790,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1752\/revisions\/22790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1752"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}