ciao laura
Nativity Scene
 
 
Holiday Traditions in Campania - Le Tradizioni di Natale a Campania

Nativity Scene Amalfi

Classic Presepe (Nativity) Scene in Amalfi

As much of Italy is Roman Catholic, though not all of course, many of the traditions celebrated during Christmas and the New Year are long-standing and center around church and family.

Amalfi Duomo

In Italy, December 24th or Christmas Eve is called La Vigiliadi Natale and translates into English as "the vigil" of Christ or the wait for the birth of baby Jesus. This glorious day is spent with the family, many of whom spend the day preparing the Feast of the Seven Fishes. 

The number of fish served in the meal is significant in that it stands for number of sacraments in the Catholic Church. The day is spent as a religious retreat or fast from meat and dairy. This feast literally incorporates seven types of fish and seafood and in Campania, almost always includes baccalà (a salted cod fish) and baked eel, sardines, shrimp, octopus or squid, mussels and clams.

The fish and seafood can be prepared in many ways including baked with fresh lemon and olive oil (pesce al forno) or fried (fritto). It often is added into delicious pasta or risotto dishes such as risotto di mare (risotto with fresh seafood) or pasta con gamberi e zucchini (spaghetti with shrimp and fresh zucchini) or incorporated into side dishes or "contorno" such as Totani e patate (squid and potatoes). 

Homemade Liquers

Selection of house liqueurs in Ravello

As with any Italian meal, the meal is paired with wonderful apertivos - perhaps a glass of prosecco and Campari or Aperol, then complemented with lovely regional wines - either the family's house wine or one of the local regional wines such as Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo or Taursai.  No Napolitan festive meal is complete without a sip of grappa, caffe and sweets including zeppole and fresh fruit.

Mamma Agata's Zeppole

Mamma Agata's Zeppole

Upon completion of the meal, the family opens a few presents and then bundles up for a brisk walk to the local church to join their friends and family in a candle lit midnight mass before tucking in for the night.

Santa Claus

On December 25th, Christmas Day, the children wake and if they have been good, Santa Claus may have left them gifts under the tree.  Once again, fragrant smells permeate from the kitchen where the family will begin cooking the Christmas meal early in the day for a late afternoon feast to include meat and dairy plus the famous panettone (Christmas bread) and struffoli - fried honey fritters

Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas dinner are the most important meals of the year to Italians. To them, it would be nearly catastrophic to be denied these annual family gatherings. To prove this point, we've included an excerpt from Mamma Agata's cook book Simple and Genuine, entitled "A Christmas Story", as told by her daughter and my dear friend, Chiara Lima:

Mamma Agata's Book Simple and Genuine

'One Christmas, my Papa went to northern Italy to establish a new restaurant with a business partner. Things did not go well, and the other man disappeared with Salvatore's half of the money, so Papa was forced to return to Ravello and immediately begin looking for work.

The timing could not be worse though for a young family, as it was Christmas, and sadly, our finances and Christmas dreams would be destroyed. As children, we did not know anything was wrong, since Mamma Agata never ever told us any of this was happening and she always kept a smile on her face. As any good mother would do, she pretended that everything was great, as usual. But sadly, her secret was that we would not have any presents under the tree, and even more importantly, there would be no Christmas feast to feed the family - an Italian tradition and an important part of our culture! 

This was the year when Mamma Agata's spirit of generosity came full circle; it was not long after everyone in our town found out about the restaurant tragedy, and they worked together to give our family a surprise - the miracle of Christmas!

Mamma Agata began receiving phone calls from villagers who asked her if she would make them a lemon or plum cake, or if they could stop by to purchase one of her delicious marmalades or a special zeppole, and they showed up, they brought all of the ingredients and more because they knew that Mamma Agata is a very proud person and she would not accept money - and our gift was a traditional fish for Christmas Eve with all the trimmings and our family and closest friends arrived with presents for my sister and I too!

This was by far the most incredible Christmas Miracle we have ever experienced and it taught us all a very important lesson - and this is the reason why we have never stop sharing and helping people now that we have a house, good food and a normal life!" - Chiara Lima

This story was written by Laura Faust with special thanks to Chiara Lima of Mamma Agata for contributing to the article, including pictures, an excerpt from Simple and Genuine and personal family recipes. 

____________________________

DEC '09 - Laura Faust served as one of the assistant editors, working closely with the author, Chiara Lima, the daughter of the world famous Mamma Agata who compiled family stories and her mother's recipes to create Mamma Agata's first cook book Simple and Genuine which is now available for sale online! (click the photo below)

Mamma Agata's Book Simple and Genuine

Ciao Laura Logo

 

 

 
Ciao Laura Logo Translate This Page Select Italy
book now right

 

Braiding the mozzarella

 

 

BEST SELLERS in Sorrento -

MOZZARELLA FACT TOUR & TASTING IN SORRENTO >>
GOURMET WINE TASTING SORRENTO»
SIMPLY DELICIOUS IN SORRENTO »
A TASTE OF SORRENTO™ »
2-NIGHT SORRENTO ESCAPE™ »
PIZZA AL FORNO™ IN SORRENTO™ »
MAMMA'S HIDDEN TREASURE »

Alternate Cooking Classes and Programs in Sorrento/Amalfi Coast

PIZZA PIE IN THE SKY™ IN RAVELLO »
SWEET TRADITIONS OF AMALFI™ »
SIMPLY MEDITERREAN™ SORRENTO »
HANDS-ON PRAIANO (AMALFI COAST) »
CULINARY DECADENCE ON CAPRI »

Cooking Lessons in Other Regions

SECRETS OF VENICE™ MARKET TOUR & COOKING LESSON »
VENETIAN CLASSICS™ »
TESTACCIO MARKET TOUR & HANDS-ON COOKING LESSON IN ROME »
A TASTE OF ROME™ - IN ROMAN CAFE»
BELLA TUSCANY »
COOKING AND WINE ON SARDINIA »
GUILIANO HAZAN IN VENETO »
CIPRIANI COOKING SCHOOL VENICE »

ARTISAN COOKING IN TUSCANY »
TUSCAN OLIVE HARVEST »
NEW YEARS EVE IN TUSCANY»
SYMPHONY OF PASTA »
MARKET TOUR & HANDS-ON COOKING LESSON IN BOLOGNA »
FOODIE'S DELIGHT EMILIA-ROMAGNA » ONE WEEK IN DELICOUS BOLOGNA »

StartupNation Winner 2009

Ciao Laura has been recognized as a 2007 Yummiest in the Home-Based 100 Winners

Ciao Laura has been recognized as a 2007 Top 10 Highest Vote Getters in the Home-Based 100 Winners

 

Member of Slow Food USA

Link to Slow Travel Web-site - Opens in New Page

 

 

 

 

Ciao Laura, LLC All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions | Forms of Payment | Privacy Policy | Links | Contact Ciao Laura

 

 

 

rail europe filcoo venere