HOW DO WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? An eTwinning project developed by the students of Class 3A Istituto Comprensivo Viadana (Italy)
IN 1- IN D I N 2- GI S 3-T A T O 4- DE TI 5 - C IS S E 6- FO 7 - PU K R E L
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Christmas in Italy •
Get the dates right •
Keep an eye out for bagpipers •
Prepare the presepe •
A feast of fish •
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Letters to loved ones •
Santa Claus ''Babbo Natale'' •
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Wait for the witch •
Santa Lucia celebration in Italy •
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GIFTS MEANING With the arrival of Christmas holidays lots of people are in the quest for the gifts to exchange with friends on december 25th. Unfortunately in recent time we are losing a lot the real sense of the donation: seeking a thought to pack is becoming an automatic process that always generates anxiety and stress. On religious holidays, the package under the tree should be something that joins,that gives emotions and communicates love,the esteem and affection among the people who exchange the gifts.
SANTA LUCIA • Lucia was a beautiful girl. She was born in Siracura (Sicilia) and she was martyred because she refused to marry a rich pagan. She died in the night between the 12 and 13 December. She lost her eyes, so that she became the protector of blind and the visually impaired. Saint Lucia feast is a tradition of peasant origins. St. Lucia is among the most magic moments of the childhood. Parents set the event in secrecy. And Children wait her with pleasure from many weeks before, in different areas of North of Italy. Children write her a letter with their requests and on the evening of 12 December they prepare some carrots for the donkey and the food for the St. Sleep is a must because nobody can see her, otherwise you will receive a handful of ashes in your eyes. Usually she brings what you want, but sometimes you can find sweet coal.
THE BEFANA The Befana is a festivity that takes place on January 6. It commemorates when The Magi (known as Three Wise Men) visited Jesus and brought him gifts: gold, incense and myrrh. On this day, children open a sock with inside the sweets that Befana brings them. It comes at night when everyone is sleeping. This is a chance to meet grandparents and relatives and spend some pleasant time together.
SANTA CLAUS •
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CHRISTMAS DECORATiONS
CHRISTMAS' EVE Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day. It is observed all around the world and is also perceived by non-believers. It is characterized by a rich dinner and the exchange of gifts at midnight
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Christmas eve dinner varies from zone to zone. However, Christmas Dinner has some "special" rules: you do not eat meat for the birth of Christ , you also play classic “tombola” (similar to Bingo) and attend Christians Mass to witness the miracle of the birth of Jesus the Child
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To make the house atmosphere even more magical you can decorate a Christmas tree and prepare the dinner table with care, enriching it with Christmas decorations and lighting candles.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE BY LUIGI, ALESSANDRO AND KRISTIAN
ROAST
PANETTONE
NOUGAT
TORTELLI FROM MANTOVA
PUMPKIN TORTELLI
A typical Mantuan dish for Christmas time
Ingredients For fresh pasta: ■ Flour 200 g ■ Eggs 104 g For the stuffing: ■ Pumpkin 500 g ■ Amaretti biscuits 160 g ■ Pickled fruit with Mustard 170 g ■ Grated cheese 65 g ■ Nutmeg ■ Salt
Preparation To prepare pumpkin tortelli start with cooking pumpkin in preheated oven at 220 ° for about 20 minutes. Then put the crushed pulp in a bowl with amaretti, mustard, nutmeg, grated cheese and mix everything with a spoon . Then add an egg and mix again
To prepare the fresh pasta: sift the flour then pour the broken eggs. Mix everything to create a dough. Pass the dough through a machine to get thin slices. Then cut a strip with the cutter and place on some stacks of stuffing. With a strip of fresh pasta cover the filling. Tortelli are ready to be cooked. You can flavor it with the seasoning you prefer!
Curiosity It is thought that pumpkin tortelli have Renaissance origins. Today pumpkin tortelli is an Italian delicacy, to be enjoyed especially for Christmas parties
Happy Christmas by Simone and Domenico !!!