Buon Natale in Italy Means a Merry Christmas to You!
This week, we leave Medieval Spain and sail across the Mediterranean for a festive Italian Christmas celebration with Buon Natale.
The song, first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1959, is a simple, joyous expression of the “Good Christmas” wishes found throughout Italy. It captures the heart of this wonderful Italian holiday, which is steeped in family, feasting, and long-held regional traditions.
Customs of an Italian Christmas
Christmas in Italy is a month-long celebration that places great emphasis on the Nativity, family gatherings, and food:
- The Presepe (Nativity Scene): Unlike many other countries that focus on the Christmas tree, the Nativity scene is the heart of Italian Christmas décor. Nearly every church, town square, and home features a presepe—often elaborate works of art with numerous hand-carved figures.
- The Christmas Eve Fast: Historically, Christmas Eve dinner, or La Vigilia, was a meatless meal (the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a famous example) followed by midnight Mass. This allowed for the truly decadent feast to be served on Christmas Day.
- Zampognari (Bagpipers): A charming tradition, particularly in Southern Italy, is the arrival of traveling bagpipers (zampognari) in cities and villages. Dressed in traditional shepherds’ clothes, they play festive tunes for donations, bringing the sound of the countryside to town.
- La Befana: The star of the show for children is not Santa, but La Befana, a kind old witch who flies on her broomstick on the eve of Epiphany (January 5th). She delivers treats to the stockings of good children and lumps of coal (or dark candy) to the naughty ones.
An Italian Sound
Such a joyous celebration deserves equally joyous music, which was the goal of the orchesral arrangement for Buon Natale. A solo mandolin provides a little extra Mediterranean flavor, recalling music for a large, multi-generational family gathering around a table laden with food. This track is filled with holiday joy, perfect for a cozy afternoon or a lively party. I hope it delivers a generous measure of Buon Natale to your home!
🎁 Looking for More?
You can hear Buon Natale on my new album, Christmas Around the World, which is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Next week (December 11th) we’ll pivot a bit and look at some of my other holiday favorites – from classic Christmas crooning to traditional carols perfect for your seasonal playlists. 🎄
Dig Deeper
Here’s a little more insight into Italian Christmas traditions: