HAPPY HOLIDAYS...

is what terrorists say. MERRY CHRISTMAS
- 30 rock
          I absolutely love everything about Christmas. Say what you will about how commercialized it is and how we've lost the real meaning of Christmas, but nothing makes me happier than hearing Christmas music and seeing lights and trees up everywhere. Rome is definitely a prime place to experience the amazingness that is Christmas. Every year on December 8, a national holiday in Italy, the shops, buildings, and even national monuments are decorated for Christmas. Although the Christmas tree in the Vatican is subpar (it actually looks a lot like the Christmas tree in Charlie Brown), most of the decorations are amazing. All the churches are decorated with Nativity scenes, which I unfortunately haven't been able to see yet due to studying for finals, and Christmas trees are everywhere, from the Vatican to the Colosseum. 

          I did have a chance to visit Piazza Navona, which has a Christmas market set up. Piazza Navona has ornaments, stockings, and lots of Nativity scenes for sale (really high-end Nativity scenes with backgrounds showing just about every part of the Christmas story, not just the birth in the manger). The market even has carnival games and a merry-go-round for all the children. I saw lots of witches and brooms, and I was confused considering there weren't any of these around Halloween time. After doing some research, I learned that this witch is a Christmas tradition in Italy.

          La Befana, literally translated as "the witch," is Italy's version of Santa Claus. On the eve of January 6, marking the end of the Christmas season in Italy, La Befana comes to the homes of Italy's children to bring gifts for the good children and leaves coal for the naughty children. The story behind La Befana is incorporated into the Christmas story, as January 6 is the day of Epiphany, which celebrates the day the Magi or the "Wise Men" visited Baby Jesus. The Italian folklore describes La Befana as an older woman who was cleaning her home when three men came to her door in search for the baby Jesus. She allowed the Wise Men to stay with her for the night but declined to continue the journey with them in search of baby Jesus, since she was too busy with housework. Later, she regretted her decision but could not find Jesus, so instead she gives all the good children gifts because "the Christ Child can be found in all of the them." After leaving gifts for the children, La Befana sweeps the floor of the home, indicating what she was initially doing when the three Wise Men arrived in search of baby Jesus.


          I love all the traditions of Christmas and although every country has a different traditions, the real celebration of the season is Christmas story of the birth of Jesus. So, I hope everyone has the Christmas spirit this year, and if you haven't gotten excited about it yet, change your radio station to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie or two to get into the mood (my recommendation would be Elf). Rome is a great place to celebrate the season, but I'm very glad I will be home on Christmas Day!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!