The festivals, special foods, and spectacular customs of the holiday season last a glorious three weeks in Italy! Join food historian Francine Segan for a lively presentation on the many splendors of Christmas and New Year in Italy. Discover the special foods, wines, and traditions of the holiday period, such as Rome’s firing of a canon from Castel St. Angelo on Christmas Eve and the story behind La Befana, the kindly witch who fills children’s stockings with treats on January 6.

Take a behind-the-scenes peek at the Neapolitan artisans who for centuries have hand-crafted wooden crèches; hear about the many living Nativity scenes popular throughout Italy; and discover the country’s numerous artisanal food makers and the stories behind its traditional holiday meals.

Explore the special ways Italians toast on New Year’s Eve, and how they quite literally ring in the New Year by tossing old pots and pans out of windows at midnight!

Patron Information

• If you register multiple individuals, you will be asked to supply individual names and email addresses so they can receive a Zoom link email. Please note that if there is a change in program schedule or a cancellation, we will notify you via email, and it will be your responsibility to notify other registrants in your group.
• Unless otherwise noted, registration for streaming programs typically closes two hours prior to the start time on the date of the program.
• Once registered, patrons should receive an automatic email confirmation from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.
• Separate Zoom link information will be emailed closer to the date of the program. If you do not receive your Zoom link information 24 hours prior to the start of the program, please email Customer Service for assistance.
• View Common FAQs about our Streaming Programs on Zoom.