It’s been awhile since I’ve done a post like this and I thought it’d be fun to brush up on some Festive Italian vocabulary. I’ve round up four very commonly used Christmas words/phrases, let’s see how many of them you already know!
Buon Natale (Pronounced: bwohn nah-tah-leh)
You know I had to start with this one, it’s probably the most important Christmas phrase of them all. If you translate it directly, it means Good Christmas, but in Italy it’s used in place of Merry Christmas! As you can probably imagine, this Christmas Greeting can be heard everywhere in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Presepe (Pronounced: preh-seh-peh)
There is no way you can visit Italy in December and not come across a presepe, in English known as the Nativity Scene. These Italian nativity scenes are everywhere from private homes, to public buildings, to churches, shops, restaurants and bars. You can read more about the history and traditions of the presepe here.
Panetone (Pronounced: pan-eh-toe-neh)
Panetone is a sweet bread that is commonly eaten during the Christmas season. In local supermarkets, you will find mountains of these treats available in a variety of different flavors including chocolate, hazelnut, and pistacchio.
Stella di Natale (Pronounced: steh-la dee nah-tah-leh)
The poinsettia with its rich red leaves is a popular symbol of the Christmas season. Here in Italy, the poinsettia is known as “Stella di Natale”, which means “Christmas Star”, isn’t that sweet?
Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season! Buon Natale!
