In the 18th century visitors quite often chose to come to Rome at xmas. Their visit sometimes lasted for several weeks and while its first part coincided with a number of of the most sumptuous religious ceremonies, its last one was devoted to more lay matters as the year end celebrations were followed by the then celebrated Roman Carnival.
Every year a very tall christmas tree is erected in Piazza S. Pietro : it is located near the obelisk and each year it is donated by a another nation. A different tree is erected in Piazza Venezia, which is in general considered the center of Rome ; trees appear in a few of the other historical squares. The dark green of the trees vainly fights to transport a feeling of freezing winters and snowy landscapes. Marbles, travertine, palms, pines and a bright sunshine all conjure up a warmer Mediterranean ambiance. One then understands why these trees don’t belong to the Italian traditional way of celebrating xmas.
The 1st crib ( It. Presepio ) is assumed to have been prepared by St. Francis in the 1223 Christmas’ night in the monastery of Greccio, a very small city in Middle Italy. The re-enactment of episodes of Jesus’ life wasn’t new as scenes of Christ’s passion were before now part of the ceremonies of the Holy Week. Cribs became highly regarded and in the next centuries the manufacturing of the statues and of the landscape elements became a kind of small art. Most of the churches of Rome have very intricate cribs which are displayed in the weeks beforehand christmas. To keep living the tradition in less official tactics in a number of churches scouts are invited to make and exhibit their own crib.
during the past, Italian children were given candy and toys for the Epiphany in a re-enactment of the gifts brought to Jesus by the Magi : according to a common practice Befana, an old elf having the facet of amagician, fills the socks that children left near the fireplace with toys and candy. Today in nearly all families gifts including those to kids are exchanged at christmas, but still a sock of candies is generally given at the Epiphany. Naughty boys may find pieces of black coal as a substitute, but they soon find out theyare made from sugar.
until the 1950s a puppet theatre with the traditional characters of the Italian comedy was a toy terribly treasured by most boys and girls. These days the majority of the puppets basically sold show Television and movie icons.
At xmas the sun doesn’t get high enough to allow taking pictures in the small streets of inner Rome, but some photos in the archaeological areas get an additional attention from the extended shadows projected by the monuments. You can notice the shade of Colonna Traiana projected on the buildings at the back it. Maybe you can see it from the Appartments Rom.
Early in the sunrise it could be critical to put on a hat and a scarf, but during the daytime, the sunshine may raise the temperature to 15C/60F and it is hot enough for some unplanned foliage to put down roots next to the travertine plants of Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Start you Rome journey from an Appartment Rom which you can book at Oh-Holidays.