Christmas Across Italy - Holiday Traditions from North to South

Take a magical journey across Italy to discover how Italians celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's and all the other holidays that fall into the month-long period from early December to early January. We'll see that different regions celebrate their most important holiday of the year with distinct and varied traditions and culinary tastes. We'll cover everything from city holiday decorations, nativity scenes and light displays to characteristic outdoor Christmas markets...from festive sweets down on the shores of Sicily to those up in the snow-capped mountains of Friuli.  What do Italians do on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and the Feast of the Epiphany? How do you keep a pandoro cake straight from a panettone? Did you know that the legend of St. Nick himself is traced back to Italy's heel? Where do the wise men come into play, and who is the old witch flying around on a broom? We’ll explore the merry holiday sights, sounds, tastes and traditions in the festive cities and piazzas across Italy.