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Gift Giving in Italy HistoryThe beginning of the gift-giving tradition in Italy is not pecular to Italy. n other words, the tradition is associated with the holiday tself rather than just the country, so if we examine where the gift-giving tradition started with Christmas a whole, we have the answer. Commonly it is believed that the tradition with the "wise men," or atrologers that visited Jesus, bringing him gifts. But if we read the account, we notice that the gifts were given to Jesus, not exchanged among themselves, as in the case of Christmas. Also these men were not actually starting a new tradition. They were actually carrying out a well-established custom of the day, that is, a custom of bringing gifts to a person of notoriaty, or nobility when you visited them. So if you visited a king, you were expected to bring gifts. So where did the Christmas gift-giving originate? "Writing in the Los Angeles Independent, Diane Bailey explained: ?'Exchanging gifts dates back to ancient Rome, when the people would trade simple token gifts during ceremonies of sun worship and the new year.'? "Under the headline ?'Unwrapping Yule Traditions,'? Anita Sama wrote in a Gannett News Service story: ?'Long before Christian observances, exchanging presents was part of the winter celebrations. The Romans gave each other branches from a holy grove of trees, then moved to more elaborate items symbolizing good wishes for the coming year?silver, gold and honeyed treats.'? The holiday referenced above was the Pagan celebration of the Saturnalia, which was a feast to the sun god Ra. Early in it's history, somewhere around the 4th century, long after the death of Jesus and the apostles, the Catholic church adopted the Pagan Saturnalia into the church, with all of it's custom, including the gift-giving, and changed the name to "Christ's Mass," or Christmas.
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Jesus was born in bethlahem which was part of the Roman Empire. The roman empire ended and only the city of rome was left in the country of Italy

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Le Befana

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Q: What started Christmas gift giving traditions in Italy?
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What are some traditions they do in Italy for Christmas?

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Is gift giving a part of Italy's Christmas?

yes it is you exchange gifts there but there is no tree


What are the customs and traditions in Italy?

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditional Christmas Eve meal in Italy. People generally spend holidays with their extended families.


What is the name of the country whose traditions include La Befana's gift-giving to children?

La Befana is a custom in Italy.


Who started giving gifts at Christmas?

No single event prompted the custom of exchanging or giving gifts at Christmas, rather it evolved over time.In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the west focused on the visit of the magi. But the Medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-related holidays. The forty days before Christmas became the "forty days of St. Martin" (which began on November 11, the Afeast of St. Martin of Tours), now known as Advent.[61] In Italy, former Saturnalian traditions were attached to Advent.[61] Around the 12th century, these traditions transferred again to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 - January 5); a time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days.The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned Emperor on Christmas Day in 800. King Edmund the Martyr was anointed on Christmas in 855 and King William I of England was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.


What day is Christmas celebrated in Italy?

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 as it is everywhere in the world. The feast of Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, frequently with gift giving.


Christmas in Italy?

Christmas in Italy is started December 24th as Christmas Eve in Jan. 6th it is Christmas day.Presents are delivered by La Befana, They also have a Santa Claus That they call the king of Christmas. He is really ancient to them on Christmas Day. There foods are pasta,pizza,oil foods. There Christmas is called (Fathers Christmas). There Rivers are the Po,Arno & Tiber.