how do italians celebrate christmas

In Italy, Christmas is celebrated in a very similar way to many other countries. The Christmas tree and nativity scene are the main focal points of the holiday, with many families also attending church services on Christmas Eve. The traditional Christmas meal is a fish dinner, usually with eel, which is considered a lucky food for the new year. On Christmas Day, gifts are exchanged, and children leave their shoes out for La Befana, the Italian version of Santa Claus, who brings them sweets and toys. Italian families also participate in caroling and other musical traditions, making the holiday a time for music and joy.