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 Easter in Italy means religion, but also friends, family, and food. And of course, it wouldn't be an Italian holiday without a healthy dose of curious, centuries-old customs. Here's The Local's guide to the Italian Easter traditions you need to know. https://www.thelocal.it/20170410/the-essential-guide-to-an-italian-easter Mon, 10 Apr 2017 18:53:39 +0200 the-essential-guide-to-an-italian-easter Italy is home to many spectacular spring carnivals, from masks and extravagant costumes in Venice to political satire in Viareggio. But one of the most unusual festivals takes place in a small town in northwestern Italy, where thousands gather each February to wage war... with oranges. https://www.thelocal.it/20180212/ivrea-carnival-food-fight-battle-oranges Mon, 12 Feb 2018 12:36:11 +0100 ivrea-carnival-food-fight-battle-oranges Christmas in Italy is a magical experience, but there are a few unique traditions you won't find in other countries. If you're hoping to have a truly Italian Christmas, make sure to incorporate at least some of the following. https://www.thelocal.it/20161220/how-to-celebrate-christmas-like-the-italians Tue, 20 Dec 2016 09:37:15 +0100 how-to-celebrate-christmas-like-the-italians What's green, sparkly, ugly and sad? Rome's 'Austerity Tree', the Christmas tree in the centre of the capital which residents are saying is the "ugliest in the world". https://www.thelocal.it/20161214/is-romes-christmas-tree-really-the-ugliest-in-the-world Wed, 14 Dec 2016 10:46:32 +0100 is-romes-christmas-tree-really-the-ugliest-in-the-world At Christmas time in Italy, you can expect to see everything from tacky tinsel and glitter along with more traditional decorations including religious nativity scenes. https://www.thelocal.it/20161213/very-italian-christmas-decorations Tue, 13 Dec 2016 09:21:21 +0100 very-italian-christmas-decorations The clocks have gone forward and the supermarket aisles are piled high with huge chocolate eggs. It must be time for Easter. But how do Italians celebrate? https://www.thelocal.it/20150402/ten-italian-easter-traditions Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:05:07 +0200 ten-italian-easter-traditions Did you know that cannons are fired in Rome to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, or that Italians ski down the slopes bearing flaming torches each Christmas Eve? For details of these and other festive traditions, check out The Local's list. https://www.thelocal.it/20141223/ten-traditions-that-make-an-italian-christmas-2014 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:00:00 +0100 ten-traditions-that-make-an-italian-christmas-2014 In this week's The Local List, we put ourselves in the shoes of Italians left irked by British habits and traditions. https://www.thelocal.it/20131022/10-things-that-annoy-italians-about-the-brits Tue, 22 Oct 2013 19:21:00 +0200 10-things-that-annoy-italians-about-the-brits