Italy kicks off the Holiday Season with Festa dell'Immacolata on December 8th, giving way to Christmas markets, luminous nativities, and festive traditions that celebrate the Virgin Mary.

The month of December contains more holidays than any other across Italy. The Christmas season officially commences on December 8th with a public holiday that honors an important feminine figure of the Catholic faith. The full name of this festa is La festa dell'Immacolata Concezione della Beata Vergine Maria, or the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. December 8th initiates over three weeks of Yuletide traditions and festivities as the country ushers in the most magical time of year, lasting until Epiphany on January 6th.

Popular customs on this day include religious processions in which a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried through the streets on a symbolic route, with ceremonies held around bonfires or giant torchlights called "faugni" representing purification. Other activities range from mass and prayers to singing, dancing, and theatrical shows. Celebrations feature wintry foods like roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and regional cuisine.

December 8th marks the day when most Italians decorate their Christmas trees and homes. Locals and tourists assemble in public squares to admire the illumination of giant trees. In the Cinque Terre, crowds gather in Manarola to see the lighting of the world's largest nativity scene, occupying an entire hillside with over 250 figures and 15,000 lights.

In Rome, the Pope pays respects by leaving flowers at the base of the Madonnina statue near the iconic Spanish Steps. Rome's firefighters also place a wreath on her outstretched arm forty feet above.

Wherever you travel in Italy on December 8th, you'll find festive joy in the air as the country welcomes its most magical season with Christmas markets, presepi traditions, and the start of beloved holiday celebrations.

Here are some of the most popular Christmas traditions in Italy:

* Nativity Scenes (Presepi): Nearly every church, home, and even public spaces display beautiful, intricate nativity scenes that highlight great Italian craftsmanship. Families often pass down figurines for generations.

* Panettone and Pandoro: These sweet yeast breads with raisins or nuts and dusted with powdered sugar are Italian Christmas dessert staples. Panettone is more common in the north, while pandoro hails from Verona.

* Feast of the Seven Fishes (La Vigilia): The Christmas Eve vigil dinner traditionally consists of seven different seafood dishes for the seven sacraments. Popular offerings are baccala (salt cod), calamari, anchovies, sardines, and eel or shrimp.

* Befana the Christmas Witch: In folklore, kind old Befana delivers presents to children across Italy on Epiphany Eve (Jan 5th) on her broomstick. Like Santa Claus, she may fill stockings with candy, fruit or small gifts.

* Presepio Vivente: Many churches enact a living nativity scene with church members dressed in period costumes as Mother Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and animals.

* Letters to Santa: Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) receives wishlists and thank you notes from Italian children before Christmas. In some regions, they toss notes into fires so the smoke reaches Santa.

* Regional Culinary Traditions: Every area celebrates in its own style - Panforte fruitcake in Siena, Pizzelle cookies in Abruzzo, torrone nougat in Cremona, or struffoli fried dough balls in Naples.