Of all the holidays we celebrate each year, Christmas is my favorite. I decorate my house from top to bottom, spoil my family with gifts, and bake up an impressive assortment of festive treats. Every December, I prepare at least a dozen varieties of cookies to share with family and friends, along with a collection of beloved sweetbreads and other holiday favorites. With everyone home for the holidays—and because we all love to cook—my kitchen quickly becomes the busiest room in the house. We often find ourselves planning our next meal before we’ve even finished the one in front of us, especially during the holidays when we allow ourselves to indulge a bit more than usual.
Our Christmas celebrations center around many traditional Italian dishes, a nod to the foods my husband grew up with in a family rooted in both Calabrian and Roman traditions. I never tire of preparing these cherished recipes; for us, Christmas simply wouldn’t feel complete without them. I’m sure many of you have your own treasured holiday dishes that make the season special.
An Italian Christmas revolves around faith, family, and an abundance of food. Throughout the season, meals play an essential role in the celebrations. Women often spend days—sometimes weeks—preparing recipes that have been handed down through generations. Every region, city, and small town has its own unique festive dishes, prepared in generous quantities to be shared with loved ones.
Although the holiday season begins at slightly different times across Italy, December 24th and 25th remain the heart of the festivities, often centered around a two-day feast. Traditionally, Christmas Eve is marked by a lavish seafood meal, a practice rooted in religious customs. A typical Christmas Eve dinner might begin with an antipasto seafood salad or a variety of seafood and vegetable antipasti. Pasta courses come next—perhaps spaghetti with tuna, fettuccine tossed with smoked salmon, or a creamy seafood risotto. For the main dishes, families may serve baccalà (salted cod), the traditional eel, baked salmon, or stuffed trout. These courses are accompanied by an array of side dishes like rosemary-roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables. A simple salad follows to cleanse the palate before dessert. Christmas sweets range from nut- or fig-filled cookies to buttery fruit tarts or fried delicacies like zeppole and struffoli. Alongside the sweets, platters of fresh and dried fruit and bowls of nuts are traditionally offered.
On Christmas Day, the feasting continues. The meal often begins with a stuffed pasta—tortellini or cappelletti—served in a rich meat broth. The main course may feature stuffed capon or, in northern regions, goose, while in the south, the seafood celebration continues. Side dishes such as artichokes simmered in white wine or oven-roasted vegetable gratins round out the meal. Dessert once again takes center stage, especially the famous Italian sweet breads. Panettone is the star—sometimes filled with ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, or enjoyed simply with a glass of sweet wine. Other specialty breads, like pane speziato, panforte, and pandoro, are also beloved. Although not breads in the traditional sense, they are rich, spice-scented confections filled with nuts and dried fruits. These holiday breads are commonly given as gifts, and it wasn’t unusual for our cupboards to be overflowing with panettone by the time the season came to an end.
An Italian Christmas is truly a celebration of abundance. No matter the regional differences, the holidays are filled with food, love, and family. Entire families gather to honor traditions passed down for generations, to relive old memories, and to create new ones. For me, those shared traditions—and the joy they bring—are what make Christmas the most magical time of the year.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year, filled with love, peace, and prosperity!
Buon Natale!
Deborah Mele 2025
