• An Abruzzo Christmas in Bascianella

• • Groundhog Christmas Eve Warning

  

  Tossicia’s Christmas Tree

  Christmas Eve Menus (La Vigilia di Natale) at home & restaurants in Abruzzo do uphold the religious aspect of Christmas with the focus being fish, fish and more fish, likewise Italian culture consists of upholding ‘fare bella figura’ – keeping up appearances and making the right impression with dress, bearing and attitude. A small warning you’ll never succeed in the latter by partaking on in a traditional, shared La Vigilia di Natale fish supper!

  Unless you really have a gargantuan love of eating what seems like 14 courses of fish, (7 courses of 2 fish types per course seemingly) to save face & embarrassment, I personally would try and avoid any invitations out with Italian friends to do the traditional thing! It is just impossible to not pull faces as the restaurant owner & your hosts as they bring out yet another take on the fried & roasted creature you felt you had only just finished 2 seconds before. You have been warned!

  

  Part of Bascianella’s Mobile Fishmonger’s Catch of the Day

  3 reasonable reasons for turning down kind fishy Christmas Eve invitations:

  - Sorry, I am allergic to fried or roasted fish.

  - I am helping out at the church.

  - 7 is my unlucky number. (7 refers to the number of sacrements & virtues incidentally hence its religious importance!)

  Useful Christmas Eve Vocab

  Christmas Eve – La Vigilia di Natale

  The 3 Kings – I Re Magi

  Mary & Joeph – Maria e Giuseppe

  The Shepherds – I pastori

  The Donkey – L’asino

  Baby Jesus – Gesù Bambino

  Christmas Stocking – Calza di Natale

  Christmas Tree – Albero di Natale

  Christmas Present – Regalo di Natale

  Bona Feste – Happy Christmas

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  About the Author
  

  Roddy Newlands is co-editor for lifeinabruzzo.com; he also helps deal with marketing & publicity for the website. What little time remains is spent as a rare books specialist for Bloomsbury Auctions and designer for the web marketing company webSEOlive. Abruzzo allows him to get his mountain-air fix, by foot or ski, or simply satisfy his passion for pasta & panettone.

  Posted in:  Festivals

  

  Related Information

  Festivals & Sagre by Season  Festivals The Seasons

  Breaking Bread in L’Aquila – Abruzzo’s Zingy New Cookbook The Living Nativity of Cerqueto Osteria del Giullare Giulianova- Specialita Pesce

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