The Magic of Natale 🎄🎅 How to Say "Merry Christmas" in Italian
Merry Christmas in Italian // 17 Wishes & Traditions
The holiday season is a time of joy, warmth, and celebration around the world.
Italy, a country known for its rich cultural heritage, has its own unique way of celebrating Christmas, or as the Italians say, “Natale”.
In this article, we’ll learn how to wish someone a heartfelt “Merry Christmas” in Italian.
Merry Christmas in Italian || 24 December – 6 January – Le feste natalizie
Merry Christmas in Italian || 24 December – La Vigilia di Natale
Merry Christmas in Italian || 25 December – Christmas
Merry Christmas in Italian || 26 December – Santo Stefano
Merry Christmas in Italian || 31 December/1 January – Capodanno
Merry Christmas in Italian || 6 January – Epifania
Merry Christmas in Italian || FAQs
Merry Christmas in Italian || 24 December – 6 January – Le feste natalizie
The period from 24th December to 6th January is called “le feste natalizie” or simply “le feste”. To wish happy holidays, in Italian we usually say:
Buone Feste (Happy holidays)
Auguri di Buone Feste (Wishes for Happy holidays)
These wishes are also considered more politically correct, as no specific mention of Christmas is made.
As for any of the holiday greetings you’ll find in this article, you can add:
- “A te e famiglia” (to you and your family)
- “A te e ai tuoi cari” (to you and the people dear to you)
- “A tutti voi” (to all of you)
- Other similar expressions, to better specify who you’re directing your wishes to.
Merry Christmas in Italian || 24 December – La Vigilia di Natale
Christmas Eve, known as “La Vigilia di Natale” or simply “La Vigilia” is a special night filled with family gatherings and a feast called the “Cenone della Vigilia” or simply “Cenone.”
The meal typically consists of multiple courses, including fish dishes, in adherence to the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on this particular evening.
The most common wishes for Christmas Eve are:
Buona Vigilia (Merry Christmas Eve)
Buona Vigilia di Natale (Merry Christmas Eve)
To learn some of the names of typical Christmas dishes in Italy, read our pasta guide!
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Merry Christmas in Italian || 25 December – Christmas
Christmas Day (Natale) itself is a time for family, food, and exchanging gifts.
At Christmas lunch (pranzo di Natale) traditional sweets such as panettone and pandoro are enjoyed, and each region may have its unique culinary delights.
The most popular Christmas wishes in Italian are:
Buon Natale (Merry Christmas)
Auguri di buon Natale (Wishes of a Merry Christmas)
Auguri di buon Natale e felice anno nuovo (Merry Christmas and a happy New Year)
Merry Christmas in Italian || 26 December – Santo Stefano
On 26 December, Italy celebrates Santo Stefano, the national holiday of Saint Stephen’s Day, the first Christian martyr.
This holiday is the result of a 1949 Italian state initiative to extend Christmas celebrations, somewhat like what happened with Easter Monday (the so-called Pasquetta).
There are no particular celebrations on this day, but some Italian families still come together to have lunch. If you have Italian friends named Stefano or Stefania, you may want to wish them “Buon Onomastico”.
Usually, Italian people don’t send greetings for Santo Stefano, but if you want you may wish:
Buon Santo Stefano (Happy Saint Stephen’s Day)
Check out our article on Italian Festivals to learn everything about Italian Christmas and other celebrations👇🏼.
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Immerse yourself in Italian culture with our guide to the top 6 festivals in the country. You’ll also learn the most useful words and phrases used during them.
Merry Christmas in Italian || 31 December/1 January – Capodanno
Capodanno (New Year’s Eve) marks the transition from the old year to the new, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Italy.
The evening is often spent with friends and family, attending festive parties, or enjoying a special meal.
Fireworks light up the night sky at midnight, symbolizing the farewell to the old year and the welcoming of the new. Another tradition is making New Year’s resolutions, which are called “buoni propositi”.
The traditional ways of wishing a Happy New Year in Italian are:
Buon Capodanno (Happy New Year)
Buon anno (Happy New Year)
Buon anno nuovo (Happy New Year)
Felice anno nuovo (Happy New Year)
Auguri di felice anno nuovo (Wishes for a Happy New Year – This is more formal, only found in writing)
Merry Christmas in Italian || 6 January – Epifania
Epifania (Epiphany) on January 6th concludes the Christmas festivities in Italy. It commemorates the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus and is an important religious observance.
In Italian culture, it is also associated with the figure of La Befana, a witch who is said to bring sweets and gifts or coal to children on the night of January 5th.
Italian greetings for Epiphany include:
Buona Epifania (Happy Epiphany)
Buona Befana (Happy Epiphany)
It may be considered offensive to send this kind of greeting to women, especially older ones (it may seem like you’re implying they are the Befana).
Some people even send these wishes as a joke – something like “oggi è la tua festa!”, meaning “today is your day!”.
Please send these wishes only to close friends who can get the joke.
Do you want to impress everyone during Christmas dinner? Learn how to say “Merry Christmas” in Japanese, Chinese and Korean!
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Now that you have everything you need to send holiday greetings to all your Italian friends, all that’s left to do is to wish “Buone feste a te e famiglia!” 😊🎄
Merry Christmas in Italian || FAQs
How do I say “Merry Christmas” in Italian?
“Merry Christmas” in Italian is “Buon Natale”.
How is Capodanno, or New Year’s Eve, celebrated in Italy?
Capodanno is celebrated with enthusiasm, marked by festive parties, special meals, and fireworks at midnight.
What is the traditional meal during La Vigilia di Natale?
The traditional meal during La Vigilia di Natale, or Christmas Eve, is the “Cenone della Vigilia.” It typically consists of multiple courses, with a focus on fish dishes in keeping with the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat.
What is a formal way to wish a Merry Christmas in Italian?
“Buon Natale” works both for formal or informal settings, but you may wanna add something to it, so you could say something like “I miei migliori auguri di buon Natale a lei e a tutti i suoi cari”.
How do I say “happy New Year” in Italian?
The most simple greetings are “buon anno”, “felice anno nuovo” and so on. If you want to make your wishes more special, maybe you could say something like “Ti auguro un nuovo anno pieno di gioie e soddisfazioni”.
How do Italians typically spend Christmas Day?
Christmas Day in Italy is a time for family, food, and exchanging gifts. Traditional sweets are enjoyed, and each region may have its unique culinary delights as families come together to celebrate.
What are common resolutions made by Italians for the New Year?
Like many around the world, Italians often make resolutions for the New Year. Common themes include personal growth, health, and spending more time with family and friends.
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