The Immaculate ConceptionChristmas in Italy All Saints’ DaySaint NicholasGORJUX-TRIDENTE CLASSES IIAT/IE

What’s the Immaculate Conception?

Many people believe that the Immaculate Conception is when Jesus was conceived in the Virgin Mary’s womb. But it isn’t so.The Immaculate Conception refers to the condition of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was free from Original Sin from the moment of her conception in her mother’s womb.The wrong belief was held until the papal bull “Inneffabilis Deus” written by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.

We still celebrate the Immaculate Conception today on December 8. In many countries it’s observed like a patronal feast and in some, as it is in Italy, like a national public holiday.

Immaculate Conception

Christmas is celebrated on 25th December, and is the most important festival in Italy.

On Christmas we celebrate Jesus’s birth.Usually families gather and cook many things to eat.

They play cards and exchange gifts.Children wait for Christmas morning to see if Santa

Claus, an old man with a white beard that travels on a sleigh, has brought the gifts they have asked for in a

letter.This is a beautiful time for children because schools

stay closed from the 23rd December to the 6th of January.

Typical sweets our mums prepare for Christmas : cartellate, almond sweets, panettone

THE SAINT AND OUR TOWN Thanks to a group of sailors, who went to Myra in Turkey in the XII century, the bones of Saint Nicholas are kept in the

crypt of our Basilica named after the Saint. Afterwards, Nicholas became the Patron Saint of Bari.

Every year, on 6th December, pilgrims go to the Basilica called after him at 4 o’clock a.m. to celebrate the Saint’s death and drink hot chocolate (a local tradition). While on

7th, 8th, 9th May, people from all over the world celebrate the arrival of the bones in Bari. It’s a big celebration with

boats carrying the Saint’s statue in the sea , historic parades, fireworks and market stalls selling local food.

CARNIVAL IN PUTIGNANOOur local Carnival of Putignano (Putignano is a village close to Bari,our town in the South of Italy)has ancient

origins that date back to the fourteenth century. At that time the Knights of Malta moved the remains of

Saint Stephen from Monopoli to Putignano to protect them from the Saracens. To celebrate the arrival of the relics,

the farmers left their fields, smeared their faces with flour and played jokes. Putignano Carnival is considered one

of the main carnivals of Italy and it is famous for its spectacular parade of papier-maché floats .

In the last ten years the carnival has become famous thanks to the enormous floats and the peculiar satirical

masks which carry socio- political messages.

CARNIVALCARNIVAL IN VENICE

It dates back to the 13th century as an ancient document states. It

describes the practice of masked men throwing scented eggs at

ladies. It begins on S. Stefano Day (26th December) and ends at the

beginning of Lent.Today public areas around Venice become the showcase for actors,

acrobats and musicians with residents and visitors alike

wearing elaborate masks and elegant costumes.

EASTER

Like all holidays in Italy, Easter, Pasqua in Italian, has its rituals and traditions. The Monday following Easter, Pasquetta, is also a holiday throughout Italy.

Easter is a joyous festival because we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection after his crucifiction.There are religious processions on Friday and Saturday before Easter with special

statues of the Virgin and Jesus . The statues may be paraded throughout the city or displayed in the main square.

Parade participants are dressed in traditional ancient costumes. Olive branches are used in the processions and to decorate churches.

On Sunday children usually eat chocolate eggs and look forward to finding the surprise it

keeps inside.