https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As the winter holidays draw to an end, you may be preparing to take down the Christmas tree and decorations in your Italian home. But how can you dispose of your ‘albero’ the right way? https://www.thelocal.it/20250102/how-to-properly-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-italy Thu, 02 Jan 2025 17:43:34 +0100 how-to-properly-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-italy Celebrating San Silvestro in Italy? There are a few customs to follow to make sure you start 2026 with as much good fortune as possible. https://www.thelocal.it/20231230/five-italian-new-year-traditions-to-bring-luck-for-2024 Sat, 30 Dec 2023 15:47:36 +0100 five-italian-new-year-traditions-to-bring-luck-for-2024 If you're just getting into the festive mood but can't face another viewing of Elf or Home Alone, here are some films to celebrate the Christmas holidays the Italian way. https://www.thelocal.it/20201218/classic-italian-christmas-films Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:05:08 +0100 classic-italian-christmas-films From distinctly Italian festive rituals to the words and phrases you’ll need for an Italian Christmas, our weekly newsletter La Bella Vita offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like an Italian. https://www.thelocal.it/20251219/la-bella-vita-italian-christmas-traditions-and-festive-vocabulary Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:40:03 +0100 la-bella-vita-italian-christmas-traditions-and-festive-vocabulary Here's one word you'll want for an Italian Christmas. https://www.thelocal.it/20231219/italian-word-of-the-day-presepe Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:35:59 +0100 italian-word-of-the-day-presepe Where can Italian residents from North America and the UK source ingredients for a traditional Christmas meal? We share our readers' tips. https://www.thelocal.it/20251216/where-to-find-ingredients-in-italy-for-a-british-or-american-christmas-dinner Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:43:08 +0100 where-to-find-ingredients-in-italy-for-a-british-or-american-christmas-dinner Italy does Christmas very well, but there are a few traditions that may seem confusing or downright bizarre to the uninitiated. https://www.thelocal.it/20251215/ten-essentially-italian-christmas-traditions-you-should-know-about Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:31:25 +0100 ten-essentially-italian-christmas-traditions-you-should-know-about If you're travelling to the UK from Italy this Christmas you might be thinking of bringing gifts of Italy's famously excellent cheese, salumi, prosciutto or other delicacies - but a change in British import rules is still in effect. https://www.thelocal.it/20251209/can-you-bring-italian-meat-or-cheese-into-the-uk-this-christmas Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:15:59 +0100 can-you-bring-italian-meat-or-cheese-into-the-uk-this-christmas From a live nativity scene in a UNESCO World Heritage town to a jazz festival in Umbria, there’s a lot to look forward to in Italy this December. https://www.thelocal.it/20251128/whats-on-in-italy-14-events-not-to-miss-this-december Fri, 28 Nov 2025 17:04:23 +0100 whats-on-in-italy-14-events-not-to-miss-this-december Creative nativity scenes appear in homes, churches and public buildings across Italy in December, each one a little different. How many of these have you seen? https://www.thelocal.it/20251119/11-christmas-presepe-nativity-scenes-in-italy Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:03:08 +0100 11-christmas-presepe-nativity-scenes-in-italy With the holiday season fast approaching, you may have already started buying cards and gifts for friends and family. But if you want your packages from Italy to arrive before Christmas, when should you aim to post them by? https://www.thelocal.it/20251113/when-are-the-deadlines-for-sending-christmas-gifts-from-italy-in-2025 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:13:15 +0100 when-are-the-deadlines-for-sending-christmas-gifts-from-italy-in-2025 You may have heard that in Italy - or at least the Milan area - it’s traditional to keep a slice of panettone from Christmas Day to eat several weeks later. Do people really do this, and why? https://www.thelocal.it/20231228/why-italians-save-a-piece-of-christmas-panettone-for-february Thu, 28 Dec 2023 17:29:14 +0100 why-italians-save-a-piece-of-christmas-panettone-for-february Besides being an ideal spot to get some holiday gift shopping done, Italian Christmas markets are also the perfect place to try scrumptious regional delicacies and seasonal drinks. https://www.thelocal.it/20241212/the-food-and-drink-treats-to-sample-at-italian-christmas-markets Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:44:53 +0100 the-food-and-drink-treats-to-sample-at-italian-christmas-markets The holidays can be a stressful time of year as everyone rushes to buy gifts, transport services thin out, and businesses have reduced opening hours. Here’s some practical advice to help you get through the next few weeks in Italy. https://www.thelocal.it/20241210/everything-you-need-to-know-to-survive-the-holiday-season-in-italy Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:28:03 +0100 everything-you-need-to-know-to-survive-the-holiday-season-in-italy In many parts of the world, a game of bingo is associated more with pensioners than fashionable parties. But in Italy it’s an essential part of the holidays for people of all ages. https://www.thelocal.it/20231219/why-is-bingo-so-popular-in-italy-at-christmas Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:03:39 +0100 why-is-bingo-so-popular-in-italy-at-christmas The festive season can be difficult for people living abroad far away from their loved ones back home, but we've put together a few gift ideas for staying close to friends and family. https://www.thelocal.it/20241207/11-christmas-gift-ideas-to-stay-connected-with-friends-and-family-back-home Sat, 07 Dec 2024 09:52:27 +0100 11-christmas-gift-ideas-to-stay-connected-with-friends-and-family-back-home The Feast of St Nicholas and the Krampus are important festive traditions in some European countries, and surprisingly this includes Italy – or parts of it. https://www.thelocal.it/20231206/san-nicola-and-the-krampus-how-parts-of-italy-celebrate-december-6th Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:17:23 +0100 san-nicola-and-the-krampus-how-parts-of-italy-celebrate-december-6th With the holiday season fast approaching, you may have already started buying gifts and cards for friends and family. But if you want your packages from Italy to arrive before Christmas, when should you aim to post them by? https://www.thelocal.it/20241127/when-are-the-deadlines-for-sending-christmas-gifts-from-italy-in-2024 Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:02:58 +0100 when-are-the-deadlines-for-sending-christmas-gifts-from-italy-in-2024 From wooden chalets in Alpine towns to Tyrol-themed fairs on Tuscan hilltops, here are seven of the best Christmas markets you can stop by in Italy this year. https://www.thelocal.it/20241105/italys-christmas-markets-where-and-when-to-visit-in-2024 Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:28:17 +0100 italys-christmas-markets-where-and-when-to-visit-in-2024 Whether you’re flying to Italy for the holidays or are already there and plan on moving around by car, train or local public transport, there are some essential things you need to be aware of. https://www.thelocal.it/20231222/what-you-need-to-know-about-travelling-in-italy-this-christmas Fri, 22 Dec 2023 13:17:08 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-travelling-in-italy-this-christmas