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In this special 200th episode, Kimberly and Tommaso celebrate a milestone while discussing their upcoming move to Italy. They share insights into Italian holiday traditions and meals, offering a look at how these differ from American celebrations.

Key Points:

The Podcast’s Journey:

• Kimberly and Tommaso il Favoloso reflect on 200 episodes of their podcast which they started during COVID..


• Their podcast’s goal has always been to share their love of Italy and offer travel insights.


• Future plans include returning to a weekly episode schedule after their move to Italy.

Thanksgiving in America vs. Holidays in Italy:

• Kimberly describes the traditional American Thanksgiving meal, which has remained largely unchanged for 400 years.


• Tommaso shares his enjoyment of the Thanksgiving meal.


• The conversation shifts to Italian holiday meals, highlighting their variety and cultural significance.


• Visiting Italy during a holiday offers a chance to experience unique traditions and less crowded destinations.

Italian Christmas Eve (La Vigilia):

• Most Europeans celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with their main meal.


• The traditional Christmas Eve meal in Italy is seafood, a “lean day” without meat.


• Italian Christmas Eve dinner begins early with aperitivo, followed by antipasti (no meat), pasta or risotto and fish as the main course.


• Desserts include panettone, pandoro and torrone.


• Kimberly recounts loud, lively Christmas Eve dinners in Milan with extended family.

Italian Easter (Pasqua):

• For Easter, Italians eat lamb, not ham.


• The day starts with Colomba, a dove-shaped, sweeter version of panettone, symbolizing peace and rebirth.


• Eggs are important, appearing in dishes like torta pasqualina and brodetto pasquale.


• Artichokes, asparagus, or chicory accompany the lamb.


• A popular dessert is pastiera napolitana, a creamy, sweet cake from Naples.

Other Italian Holidays:

• Italy celebrates several non-religious holidays, such as Liberation Day and Festa della Repubblica.


• Religious holidays like Ognissanti on November 1st involves eating Pane de Morti (bread of the dead).


• New Year’s Eve (Capodanno) is a religious holiday focused on symbolic foods for luck and prosperity.


• Old school Italians eat 12 grapes at midnight for luck in each month of the year.


• Epifania (Epiphany) on January 6th, marks the end of the Christmas season and includes a fun tradition with La Befana, a kind witch who brings treats.


• Celebrations for La Befana include a regatta in Venice and a national festival in Urbania

Planning Your Trip:

• Experiencing Italian holidays offers a chance to enjoy different cultural traditions and foods.


• Agriturismos or small family-run hotels are ideal for experiencing traditional holiday meals.

Join us in this episode as we uncover the true essence of Italian holiday traditions, providing a realistic and enriching perspective on what to expect and enjoy.