I'm the most Kkkrackkkers of Amerikkkans so my tradition is just getting drunk off mulled wine and re-watching bad holiday movies with relatives I only kinda like.
I'm sometimes a little jealous of people who have weirder shit going on, like gremlins who slam doors and steal sausages or shitting Christmas logs. We need to bring back weird ass half-pagan shit.
My father said that when he was a kid in Sicily, they would have a witch deliver presents around this time of year. We don't really practice it here but, many Americans can't believe it when you first tell them.
Other than that, pannatone, which has become Americanized with the addition of chocolate chips.
So Christmas in Italy is reverse Halloween?
It's connected to Catholic feast days. More connected to the feast of the Epiphany on January 5th, which my mother's Irish-American family referred to as "Little Christmas." According to my grandaunt, that would mark the time when the family would take down the Christmas tree.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Befana
Removing the decorations on twelfth night is customary in a lot of places.
I did not know that until one year when we took down the tree in a hurry the day after Christmas and my grandaunt was upset because it was contrary to established custom.
The other option is candlemas, but thats usually when you put the tree up on Christmas eve, Advent being technically not Christmas.
La befana. Supposedly she was a woman who was offered to go see jesus when he was born hut was too busy, and has spent all eternity making up for it since by handing out presents and candy and sweeping people's floors.
Oh man, we have panetone here all year round, I love that shit, and not the one with chocolate, give me the one with candied fruit and I'll be happy
Aunty Donna milking Mark's Italian heritage on a surprising twist to their Christmas classic, "There's Always Room For Pud": There's Always Room For Pannetone
Pannetone
Pud
truly a Christmas miracle
I found YouTube links in your comment. Here are links to the same videos on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
Link 1:
Link 2:
Chocolate chip pannetone is
as fuck
I get it for the seniors mostly. Some of them have trouble chewing the candied fruits.
Alright, old uncle and auntie can have some chocolate chip pannetone as a treat, but if anyone else snags some it's on sight
I was looking forward to sharing some at the nursing home's Christmas party for the seniors last week but, it was called off because Covid came back. I still got to share it with a few people today, which was good. I think that's the best part of this holiday, the idea of sharing and giving to others.