Heather Broster
At Christmastime, children all over the world are encouraged to write letters to Santa Claus that include a list of presents they would like to receive – if they’ve been good, that is! The word for list in Italian is very similar to the English: simply add an a to the end to make it …
Christmas is an exciting time of the year for children because they know they will receive lots of toys under the Christmas tree! The generic word for toy or game in Italian is gioco (masculine plural: giochi). Metti via i tuoi giochi, Mattia! È ora di andare a dormire. Put your toys away, Mattia! It’s …
The presepe (masculine, plural: presepi), or nativity scene in English, has been an integral part of the Italian Christmas tradition since the 16th century. It is important not only to practising Catholics (cattolici) celebrating the birth of Christ, but to all Italians who want to embrace their past (passato) and heritage (eredità). Interesting fact: Another …
One of the most important Christmas symbols in Italy and across Europe is the candle – or candela (feminine, plural: candele) in Italian – as it is said to represent the light of Jesus Christ. Candles can be found everywhere at this time of the year: on trees as decorations, inside churches during religious ceremonies …
If there is one thing I love about this festive time of the year, it is hearing the church bells ring throughout the city on Christmas Day. The word for bell in Italian is campana (feminine plural: campane). It mostly refers to medium to large-sized bells such as those found inside the bell tower (campanile) …
In English, we have but one word for day but in Italian, there are two: giorno and giornata. Knowing which to use can be tricky if you’ve only just started learning the language, so here are some helpful tips to clear up the confusion! Giorno It takes 24 hours for the earth to rotate on …