47 Useful Italian Phrases to Use During Christmas in Italy

When Christmas rolls around, we all know how to greet people here at home with a "Merry Christmas" or "Have a happy holiday!" or "Have a great New Year!", but what do Italians say in Italy around the holidays? If you ever plan on spending the Christmas Holiday season in Italy, you need to know the jargon of Natale.

There are a couple that you might already know...Natale is Christmas,  Buon Natale is Merry Christmas and Santa Claus is Babbo Natale (Father, or more literally, Daddy Christmas). But there are many phrases you need to know to mix it up a bit.

1. The birth of Christ is la nascita di Gesù.
2. Christmastime is periodo di Natale.
3. The Christmas holidays are referred to as vacanze Natalizie.
4. The entire holiday season, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, to the 6th of January, is il periodo di ferie. (ferie means Holidays)
5. Refer to Christmas itself as il Natale (the Christmas).
6. Christmas Eve is la vigilia di Natale or simply la Vigilia
7. Christmas Day is giorno di Natale.
8. Christmas night is la notte di Natale.
9. A Christmas tree is called albero di Natale.
10. A Christmas greeting is il augurale natale.
11. Christmas shopping is called Shopping Natalizio.
12. A Christmas Sale is vendita di Natale
13. The Italian version of a Christmas tree (pyramidal tiered shelves where gifts, sweets and candles are placed) is called il Ceppo (referring to the Yule Log).
14. Christmas decorations are decorazioni di Natale.
15. Wrapping paper is carta da imballaggio.
16. A Christmas card is cartolina augurale natale.
17. A Candy Cane is a bastoncino di zucchero.
18. Elf on a Shelf is Elfo su una Mensola.
19. Christmas lights are luci di Natale.
20. Roasted Chestnuts are caldaroaste.
21. Hot chocolate is cioccolata calda.
22. White Christmas is Bianco Natale.
23. Christmas star is stella di Natale.
24. A Letter to Santa would be Lettera a Nabbo Natale.
25. Santa's elf would be called Elfo di Babbo Natale.
26. A Christmas stocking is called calza di Natale.
27. A Christmas present is un regalo di Natale (regali for plural), or un dono di Natale (doni for plural).
28. Christmas carols are canti di Natale (songs of Christmas).
29. Christmas Carolers are called Cantanti Natale.
30. A nativity scene (creche) is called Presepe or Presepio.
31. The three wise men are i Re Magi (literally, the Magi kings).
32. The advent calendar is called Il calendario dell'Avvento.
33. On Christmas Eve, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is called Festa dei Sette Pesci.
34. Christmas Mass is Messa di Natale.
35. Church is  Chiesa.
36. It's snowing is sta nevicando.
37. Snow is la neve.
38. La Befana is the Good Christmas Witch who brings children presents on January 6th, the Epiphany.
39. The Italian versions of a Christmas fruitcake are panforte (Siena), pandolce (Genoa), pandoro (Verona)  and panettone.
40. Struffoli are small, fried dough balls covered with honey and sprinkles popular at Christmas.
41. Cenci are ribbon shaped cookies covered with honey and sprinkles.
42. Zampognari are Italian bagpipers, dressed as shepherds who serenade townspeople during the Natale. 
43. The classic film, It's a Wonderful Life is known and loved in Italy as La vita è meravigliosa.
44. Home Alone is known as Mamma ho Perso l'Aereo (Mamma, I Missed the Plane).
45. Jim Carrey as The Grinch is simply Il Grinch.
46. Natale della 34 Strada is Miracle on 34th Street.
47. A Christmas Carol is called Una Canto di Natale.

The Holiday Season itself:

• Dec. 6th is La Festa di San Nicola (Feast of St. Nicholas).
• Dec. 8th is L'Immacolata Concezione (the Immaculate Conception).
• Dec 13th is La Festa di Santa Lucia (Feast of St. Lucy).
• Dec 24th is La Vigilia di Natale (literally, The Vigil of the Birth or Christmas Eve).
• Dec 25th is Natale (Christmas Day).
• Dec 26th is La Festa di Santo Stefano (Feast of Stephen, the announcement Jesus' birth and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
• Dec 31st is La Festa di San Silvestro (New Year's Eve).
• Jan 1st is Il Capodanno ( literally, top of the year or New Year's Day).
• Jan 6th is La Festa dell'Epifania (The Epiphany and the last day of the holiday season).

--Jerry Finzi

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