The must have of the Christmas traditions of the Neapolitans is the crib. It must be done on December 8th and disappear on January 6th. It is a representation of the scene of the nativity of Christ, in fact baby Jesus appears within the representation only on December 24th at midnight.

After the endless lunch on the 25th, the traditional tombola cannot be missed.
It is nothing more than a kind of bingo but more fun, because a meaning of the grimace is associated with each number.
The game represents a moment of aggregation, where families and groups of friends gather around a table to have fun.
This game is so popular that it is even included in the tourist itineraries with “la Tombola Vajassa“, or rascally bingo, a real show centered on the Neapolitan grimace.

Among the most heartfelt and respected Christmas traditions by all Neapolitans, the culinary ones certainly cannot be missing.
In fact, here there would be a long list of typical dishes to tell, but the most heartfelt ones are certainly the cod and the capitone.
The capitone, or eel, has become part of the tradition for its symbolic meaning, or rather because it recalls the snake that led Eve to sin against God, eating it at Christmas serves as a way to exorcise bad luck.
The thing that cod, capitone and many other traditional Christmas dishes have in common is frying.

Neapolitan Christmas traditions are not denied even on sweets, there are many typical sweets of the tradition, but this is perhaps the most awaited and appreciated one.
This dessert, like the bingo, represents a moment of aggregation because in the days before the holidays, families get together to prepare the struffoli.
They are balls of dough made with flour, eggs, sugar, salt, lard and anise liqueur, and are fried in hot oil and garnished with honey. Once ready, the struffoli are decorated with candied fruit and colored sugared almonds, to then be eaten in no time or given to friends and relatives.
Other traditional sweets are roccocò and mostaccioli.

Neapolitan Christmas begins on December 8 with the sound of bagpipers. This tradition has very ancient origins, in fact they date back to when the shepherds went to the city asking for cash offers in exchange for Christmas melodies.
Today they are volunteers wearing traditional clothes, strolling through the city streets and singing Christmas carols. They usually walk in pairs, one playing the bagpipe and the other the shawm or another wind instrument.

Inevitable, at the end of the year, fireworks and lentils.
On New Year’s Eve, December 31st at the stroke of midnight the city is filled with people, lights and happiness.
You look out from the balconies and start shooting fireworks, sometimes creating real competitions between neighbors, as to who shoots the most beautiful fireworks.
And you absolutely cannot help but eat lentils and cotechino, a symbol of wealth for the year that has just begun.

Epiphany day is also very important in Neapolitan Christmas traditions.
In fact, on the night between January 5th and 6th, all parents send their children to bed early because the witch must arrive.
An old lady who goes around all night, aboard a flying broom to bring stockings full of chocolates or coal, for the bad ones.

Christmas is a magical period, especially in Naples, book your stay and enjoy the magic of traditions.