In Italy, Christmas is the most important festival of the year. Preparations are started long before, on embellish the countries with glittering writing, decorations and Christmas trees. Very popular is the tradition of living crib. About a week before Christmas are starting to buy gifts. On 24 December, Christmas Eve, usually spent at home with own family playing bingo, cards or telling stories of the past and participating in the traditional dinner. The night between 24 and 25 December, around half the night, it's celebrated midnight mass, which commemorates the birth of Baby Jesus. Then return home and open gifts. For children and adults this is the most beautiful time. Typical of Christmas is a great lunch with many courses and delicious dishes, which is involved the whole family and often even more distant relatives. It is in cheerful company and, at the end of the meal is always sweet: usually panettone, pandoro or other typical local sweets.
The slide below shows some aspects of my country at Christmas taken during a walk
Some useful links to learn more about how Christmas is celebrated in Italy, to listen to Christmas music, to create greeting cards and more
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/12-23-2004-63380.asp
http://italian.about.com/lr/christmas_in_italy/245333/1/
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/italy.htm
