Italy Holidays- Epiphany

Epiphany January 6 celebration and festivals around the Magi.


January 6 the Epiphany is the celebration of the Magi in Rome. This religious feast brings a perfect fulfillment of all the purposes of Advent. Epiphany, therefore, marks the liturgical zenith of the Advent-Christmas season. Three mysteries are encompassed in this solemnity: the adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi, the Baptism of Christ and the wedding feast at Cana.

It is customary to replace the images of the shepherds at the crib with the three kings and their gifts. Being the Epiphany, an very important Catholic holiday, Rome is an ideal place to celebrate. If you are interested in a Rome holiday around the Christmas and New Years holidays click here.

Every year the most popular event is at the Vatican. The historical parade with 100 participants with ancient costumes and 20 decorated horses accompanied by a musical band and the main Italian character of Epiphany, the Befana, will pass through via della Conciliazione, following the Three Kings.

The Befana, a typical character of the Italian folklore probably originated in central Italy, and then become a nation-wide tradition, is an old woman who flies on a broomstick wearing a black shawl to deliver candies, sweets and little gifts to children throughout Italy on the night of January 5 in a similar way to Santa Claus. And the Befana’s headquarter in Rome will be Piazza Navona market with dozens of food and gift stalls and the traditional merry-go-round.  For more about traveling to Italy for Christmas click here to visit the ItalianTourism.us website.

Rome Holiday Season-Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona Rome Italy Christmas is where the traditional Christmas Fair in Rome is located.  With a merry-go-round for the children, cotton candy, and all kinds of stalls with artisans selling their creations there is no better place to be for Christmas in Rome than Pizza Navona.

Rome NYE: Countdown to a Buon Capodanno

Happy New Year Italy - Buon Capodanno.

Click for more about Italy New Year and Italy Carnevale.

Holidays in Rome are always fun. New Years is no exception. First New Years Eve is celebrated with a dinner followed by a huge fireworks party at midnight. Ring in the New Year with friends and family while partaking in delicious Italian New Years food traditions.

Italy New Year's Eve Traditions

Italy New Year's Eve Traditions - NYE Rome, Florence and Venice and all the villages and towns are celebrating the coming New Year.

NYE Rome Traditions and Festivals

New Year’s Eve is known as la Festa di San Silvestro (Feast of St. Sylvester) in Italy. New Year’s Day is called Capodanno. On both days you will find people celebrating by eating lentils symbolizing wealth or pork specialties such as cotechino or zampone symbolizing richness for the coming year. Fava beans are also widely eaten for good luck.

At midnight, there are fireworks displays throughout Italy with the largest and longest taking place in Piazza del Popolo in Rome. The fireworks last for an hour and also there is a concert that goes on for hours both before and after the fireworks.

Whatever your choice of rituals, if you are celebrating New Year’s in Italy, you will be well entertained until dawn - and beyond if you wish!