Christmas spirit in Milan

This year I will spend Christmas back home in Africa. But even if I won't be in Milan, I feel like I have already had my share of Christmas here. The lights, the sales, the music, the Christmas markets, the crowds, weeks before the 25th is all so exciting. The Christmas celebrations in Italy go on days before and after Christmas day.

The whole craze about Father Christmas (Babbo Natale) is not so popular here as in other parts of the world like America. The kids do expect gifts from parents and relatives though. A lot of gift exchanging goes on for the adults too, hence the crowds in the stores and impenetrable streets. I already got mine :-)

The Duomo

 In Italy just like in my country, Christmas (Natale) is the time for families to come together after long separations through the year to spend a special time over great food and drinks. 

According to tradition, the Christmas eve meal does not have any meat so it's about fish and vegetables. All types of fish you can think of; baccala (salted dried cod fish), octopus, shellfish, mussels, calamari.

Then the day long Christmas lunch menu usually consists of pasta, braised veal, anchovies, lasagna, oh the list is endless. Did I mention the dinning goes on the whole day?

I love the traditional sweet cakes served during the holidays. The 'panettone', made in the region of Lombardy, contains raisins and candied fruits. The 'pandoro', made in Verona is soft dough sprinkled with sugar.

The Pandoro and Panettone

I will miss the many invitations to meals throughout the season and Christmas day spent eating numerous courses of Italian traditional delicacies, chatting away over fine wine. Who wouldn't miss that??

Off to my other family in Uganda, where the traditions are actually not so far apart. Feasting, chatting, laughing the festive days away. It's the time for the annual get-together gatherings so there's lot to catch up on.

Buon Natale!
Happy holidays!

LT