What I have learnt about Christmas...

Yes Christmas season is nearly over. As a person lived in different religion area, yes I knew Christmas, as 25th of December, but I didn't know these details about Roman Catholics traditions.

- 8th of December, is celebrated as 'The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary', click to link to read more about it. But it mainly means "the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain ("immacula" in Latin) of original sin" And starting from 8th they put some little status in or in front of the churches, animating the that period of time. Starting from immaculation till Christ birth. These status called 'Presepe' in Italian, it means 'nativity scene'. They keep it until end of first week of January.
On this day, it was holiday in Rome, but not at WFP :(

- 24th of December as Christmas Eve. It is the day before Christmas. But then I learnt that in some cultures Christmas is celebrated not on 25th of December, but on 6th of January, and it is said that, this is they has different calender systems that time.
And another thing I forgot, they have biig cake (could be with raisins, or cocao or plain) and we have that cake with prosecco! :) It doesn't have to be on this date, but around Christmas they eat it. It's called Panettone. immm the one with raisins is delicious.

- 6th of January as Epiphany day. In some cultures they celebrate the Christmas on this date. It is a celebration for having the Christ in person. In Italian they call it Befana and it was holiday here(not in WFP).
Apart from it's holy meaning, on these days, the witch La Befana flies with her wooden groom and brings sweet things for children (of course chocolates). I like her story so much, just click the link and read more. It is also what I heard here. On this day they hang big socks on their doors and in general they fill them with chocolate.

Being a child here, around December especially, sounds full of fun and presents and chocolate. What a child wants!

ps: I've just learnt that, if the children do not behave well during the year they get some candy, look like coal! Yesterday after the lucnh we had coffee at a place and I saw that candy. You'd think that it is burnt sugar. Black and in some weird shape!
Well, nothing for free.