Nome (Name):

The month of dicembre (December) takes its name from the Latin word decem (ten) because it was the tenth month in the Roman calendar.

Festività (Festivals):

On the 8th of December we celebrate l’Immacolata Concezione (the Immaculate Conception), which commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived free from the taint of original sin. After centuries of theological discussions on the subject Pope Pio IX finally established the dogma of l’Immacolata Concezione on the 8th of December 1854. In 1857 he unveiled and blessed the statue of the Immacolata which is positioned on top of a tall column near the famous Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) in Rome. On the 8th of December, following a tradition initiated by papa Giovanni XXIII in 1958, the Pope places a basket of white roses near the column of the Immacolata, and a crown of fresh flowers is placed on the statue’s right arm, replacing the one from the previous year.

On the 25th of December we celebrate Santo Natale del Signore (literally: ‘Holy Birth of the Lord’ or Christmas). Christmas traditions vary throughout the regions of Italy: in some places la cena della vigilia (Christmas Eve’s dinner) is the main Christmas meal, and is eaten on the 24th whilst waiting for midnight Mass, presents being exchanged after Mass. In other places the main meal is il pranzo di Natale (Christmas lunch), with presents being exchanged afterwards. If you want more information about Italian Christmas traditions you can read my posts Papà Natale and Il menu di Natale.

On the 26th of December we celebrate Santo Stefano Protomartire (Boxing Day, literally: ‘Saint Stefano First Martyr’). On this day we traditionally visit relatives and friends and exchange presents with them. Santo Stefano is considered to have been the first Christian martyr, and for this reason he is commemorated on the first day after Christmas, which is the beginning of the Christian calendar. He was condemned to be stoned to death because of his public preaching of the Christian doctrine in Jerusalem in the year 36 AD.

Detti (Sayings):

Dicembre oscuro annuncia buona annata (A dark December foretells a good year)

Dicembre gelato non va disprezzato (Icy December should not be despised)

Dicembre ogni cosa fa cara e preziosa (December makes everything dear and precious)

Neve dicembrina per tre dì ci sta vicina (December’s snow remains around us for three days)

Se piove per Santa Viviana, piove per quaranta dì e una settimana (If it rains for Saint Vivian, 2nd of December, it will rain for forty days and a week). I hope this is not true, because today, 2nd of December, sta piovendo a catinelle! (it’s raining cats and dogs!)

Santa Lucia, la neve è per la via (Saint Lucia, 13th of December, the snow is on its way)

Per San Valeriano, la neve sul monte e sul piano (For Saint Valerian, 15th of December, the snow is on the mountain and on the plain)

A Natale, freddo cordiale (At Christmas, friendly cold)

Per i Santi Innocentini sono finiti i quattrini (For the Little Innocent Saints, 28th of December, all the money is finished)

Da Natale a Capodanno, gran propositi si fanno (From Christmas to New Year, many great resolutions are made)