Every year on November 11th the celebrations in honor of San Martino are celebrated. The main feature of this specific festival is the evocative parades of children with their lanterns. It would be nice to be able to participate at least once in your life, so mark the date and try to organize yourself in time for next year!
Four Sundays before Christmas Day it is traditional to create the so-called Advent wreath made up of four candles, just as there are four weeks before Christmas.
The day December 4th is the day dedicated to Saint Barbara and the tradition linked to this figure is to place some branches of fruit trees such as the cherry tree in a vase full of water, so that at Christmas they blossom in all their beauty. In this way, the wait for the blossoming will coincide with the wait for Christmas. Furthermore, it is a symbol of the coming spring that gives us hope during the darkest and coldest period of the year.
Not to be missed in the pre-Christmas period is the day of Saint Nicholas in honor of Saint Nicholas of Myra the December 6.
Around 300 AD, the kind bishop lived and cared for the poor and sick of the village, secretly giving them food and other gifts. This is how the traditional custom of Saint Nicholas was born: Saint Nicholas going from house to house and bringing gifts to children. And the characteristic parade of Saint Nicholas with his helper Knecht Ruprecht and the Krampus, a demonic being who accompanies the folkloristic figure of Saint Nicholas, cannot be missed.
Not to be missed in South Tyrol are the famous living nativity scenes, capable of animating the villages with a touch of mysticism mixed with magic, without ever forgetting the thousand-year-old tradition that can be found in nativity scenes all over the world.
On Christmas Eve, December 24th, it is customary to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus with the traditional Midnight Mass, which we hope to be able to celebrate again this year because it is a decidedly symbolic moment, full of good feelings.
The people of South Tyrol are used to preparing excellent Christmas biscuits during the Advent period: why not take inspiration from them, if you don’t already do it? Cinnamon, ginger, and winter spices are a must-have on your table, and they’re sure to be a hit with your family!
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, filled with peace and serenity.