Italian Christmas info

[the_Journeyman]

So...  I've been directed to decorate the door to my classroom with "Christmas in Italy"

I need some ideals on traditional customs and decorations used in Italian Christmas celebrations

I've read about La Befana (sp?) that fills shoes with goodies and plan on incorporating that, but I need a little more than than.  I'm wrapping the door in the Italian flag colors and attaching/drawing decorations to go on it.

I know they MUST be a few people familiar with Italian heritage that can help ~

JM

[SheMonster]

That sounds like fun!     I found some stuff by googling "Italian Christmas Customs", you might want to start there if no one chimes in.

[the_Journeyman]

I have been searching...  How high am I going to get hung for putting a Christmas witch (La Befana) complete with broom on my door in a small, southern town... 

You know I'm working a picture of Molly, my M750, wearing a santa hat in somewhere...

JM

[the_Journeyman]

Can anybody translate this?  Babelfish did not do a very good job and it doesn't make sense ~

La Befana vien di notte,
con le scarpe tutte rotte,
col cappello alla romana …
viva, viva, la Befana!

Thanks

JM

[Wolverine]

Can anybody translate this?  Babelfish did not do a very good job and it doesn't make sense ~

La Befana vien di notte,
con le scarpe tutte rotte,
col cappello alla romana …
viva, viva, la Befana!

Thanks

JM

We celebrate la Befana on January 6th and, honestly speaking, I don't remember her history, besides being kind of a witch that brings presents to good kids and coal to bad ones. But the real origin is different.
The one above is a jingle saying more or less:

The Befana comes at night,
with the shoes all torn,
with a Roman-style hat (in reality is some kind of scarf),
viva, viva, the Befana

But there are soooo many versions of it...

As for the Christmas decoration, my family never put almost anything on the door besides the usual decoration that I've seen in the States... No particular difference.

[the_Journeyman]

Thanks Wolverine, that does help me

JM

[zarn02]

additional la befana info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Befana

[Scooter Montgomery]

Just tie a donkey to the door knob.

Dominic the Christmas Donkey. Or how ever the song goes.

[erkishhorde]

Might try to find Luca.
PM sent.

[Doctor Woodrow]

Why oh why has no one yet stated that there simply MUST be at least a two-foot wide picture of a Ducati at the bottom of the door regardless of what else is on there. Add a bow on top of it if anyone complains.

The Doc

[the_Journeyman]

Dr - I was going to put a Santa hat on Molly (my M750) and work that in there somewhere :lol

JM