• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Holiday Food and Fun
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fun & Festive Recipes
  • Holiday Resources
  • Christmas
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fun & Festive Recipes
    • Holiday Resources
    • Christmas
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Christmas

    Italy Christmas Food and Drinks (70+ Recipes)

    Published Jan 7, 2023 (updated Dec 6, 2024) by Chandice Probst · Leave a Comment

    Are you looking for Italy Christmas food and drinks? We are sharing some of the BEST with you!

    Christmastime is my favorite time of year. I love all of the traditions, decorations, music, and food. Especially the food.

    Italy Christmas Food and Drinks

    A main part of the Christmas season is traditional Christmas food and the family gatherings that usually go along with them. This time of year is a great way to catch up with family you may not have seen in a while.

    There are traditional recipes for every family, but some that just can't be beat are a part of a traditional Italian Christmas meal. While not traditional, this white chocolate Christmas crack or this Christmas charcuterie board are great for the holidays.

    There are different regions of Italy and each area has its regional traditions, but a common denominator is always food. Usually there is some type of traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner or maybe a Christmas lunch.

    Whatever it may be, Christmas meals are some of the best ways for Italian families to celebrate the holiday season together.

    Southern Italy and Central Italy usually have baked pasta of some sort, whereas Northern Italy has filled kinds of pasta like ravioli. Meat is a must in all areas of Italy for Christmastime. 

    The main dish in a traditional Italian Christmas dinner could be anything between pasta dishes, fish dishes, roast lamb, and other favorite recipes.

    You will also find that there is typically a first course, second course, and desserts. You will not go hungry on Christmas in an Italian household.

    Because Christmas is a religious holiday, there are a lot of religious traditions, especially in the Catholic church. A Christmas Catholic tradition is attending midnight Mass.

    Having Italian Christmas recipes before Mass is a typical tradition found in an Italian household.

    Italian Christmas Drinks

    When it comes to drinks, mulled wine is the most common. The warm drink has festive holiday flavors everyone knows and loves. It is also called Vin Brulé, depending on if the alcohol is completely boiled out or not. 

    Vin Brulé is non-alcoholic, whereas mulled wine contains alcohol. Prosecco is also a common holiday beverage. Sparkling wines are fairly common as well.

    Feast of the Seven Fishes

    This festive season is full of fun holiday traditions in Italy, but one, in particular, is the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

    This traditional meal takes place on Christmas Eve and is a seven-course meal, which represents the days of creation, seven deadly sins, and many other references to the number seven in the Bible.

    The Feast of the Seven Fishes started because of the Roman Catholic tradition of not eating meat the day before a feast, which would be Christmas in the situation, so they would eat many types of fish. The tradition still continues today.

    Italian Desserts

    You can't forget about desserts! In Italy, their Italian yule log cake is the most popular. It is made up of sweet bread, raisins, and candied citrus. This yummy treat is well known throughout the world now.

    Italian wedding cookies are also popular. They are also known as snowball cookies because they are cute little round cookies covered with powdered sugar.

    These little snowballs are crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

    Biscotti are Italian biscuits that are usually dipped in a beverage of some sort. They are cooked twice, so dunking them in a beverage softens them.

    Here are some traditional Italian Christmas food recipes and Italian Christmas desserts you should definitely try. Italy Christmas food and drinks if you will...

    Save this post for later!

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    puff pasty pesto trees on a stick

    Puff Pastry Pesto Christmas Trees

    • Tronchettoe di Natale (Italian Yule Log Cake)
    • Italian Wedding Cookies
    • Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe
    • Italian Meatballs - Tender and Juicy
    • Walnut Cookies Recipe
    • Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe
    • Easy Homemade Vegan Tiramisu (No Cashews, No Tofu!)
    • Amazing Vegan Panettone Recipe
    • Amazing Vegan Cannoli Recipe (Baked)
    Italian rainbow cookies in pieces

    Italian Rainbow Cookies (Tricolor Cookies with Video!)

    • Italian Seafood Salad
    • Italian Beef Braciole Recipe
    • Italian Butter Cookies Recipe
    • Easy Cheesy Sweet White Sauce Pasta Dessert in the Air Fryer
    • Pignoli Cookies (with or without almond paste)
    • Italian Almond Cake
    • Caprese Christmas Tree
    • Vegan Tiramisu (Without Tofu Or Nuts)
    • Christmas Morning Punch
    Almond biscotti on a plate

    Gluten-Free Almond Flour Biscotti

    • Beautiful Christmas Tree Pastry With Pesto – Delicious Christmas Appetizer
    • Festive Cranberry Jalapeño Dip
    • Struffoli
    • Italian Pistachio Cookies (Paste di Pistacchio)
    • Easy Bagna Cauda (Garlic and Anchovy Dip)
    • Pizzelle Recipe
    • Italian Ricotta Cheese Cookies Recipe
    • Italian Lemon Ricotta Amaretti Budino Cake
    • Easy Homemade Italian Struffoli Christmas Honey Balls
    Italian nougat sliced
    • Homemade Torrone Italian Nut Nougat
    • Tiramisu Cheesecake Mini Trifles in Moose Mugs – Tira-Moose-U
    • The BEST Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs
    • Chocolate Salami
    • Traditional Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
    • Soft Italian Sugar Cookies Christmas Recipe
    • Fried Baccala (Salted Cod Fish)
    • The Best Baked Shrimp Scampi You’ll Ever Have
    • Almond Ricotta Cookies
    Italian pizzelle cookies in a stack

    Classic Anise Pizzelle - The Best Pizzelles

    • Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake
    • Italian Butter Cookies
    • Crema Pasticcera - Italian Custard
    • Ferrero Rocher Cheesecake
    • Keto Italian Anise Christmas Cookies
    • Panettone Recipe (Italian Christmas Bread)
    • No-Bake Chocolate Candy Cane Fudge (Christmas Fudge!) 4 ingredients, Nut-free, vegan, 111kcal
    • Polenta Squares with Garlic Shrimp and Spinach Pesto
    • Thin & Crispy Almond Flour Sugar Cookies (healthy, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
    Italian butter cookies on a tray

    Italian Butter Cookies

    • Honey Balls
    • Crostoli
    • Panforte
    • Mascarpone Cream
    • Pizzelle della Nonna: A Classic Italian Cookie!
    • Struffoli Recipe: Italian Honey Balls
    • Easy Ricotta Cookies
    • Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake: A No-Bake Dessert
    • Anise Cookies (Italian Anisette)
    Vegetarian pasta fagioli soup in a white bowl

    Vegetarian Pasta Fagioli

    • Ricciarelli (Italian Almond Biscuits)
    • Pumpkin Risotto (Risotto Alla Zucca)
    • Homemade Lasagna
    • Sourdough Panettone
    • Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup
    • Instant Pot Italian Beef
    • Vegan Almond Biscotti
    • Italian Cream Pie
    • Italian Pizzelle Cookies
    Instant Pot meatballs in a white bowl
    • Instant Pot Meatballs
    • Vegan Pasta al Limone
    • Chocolate and Walnut Sweet Pasta Recipe
    What are some Italian Christmas traditions?

    Cooking and eating are a huge part of Christmas when it comes to Italy. They also start celebrating Christmas on December 8th, which they call the day of the Immaculate Conception.

    Italians usually set up their Christmas tree and nativity scenes on this day. Nativity scenes are the most important decoration in Italy because they celebrate Christ's birth. The Christ statue isn't placed in the nativity until Christmas day.

    Who is Befana?

    Befana is an old lady who flies on a broom and fills stockings for the children with goodies for good kids and coal for the naughty children. She does this on January 6th.

    We actually got a Befana doll and book from my friend Solae from Mamma Mangia and love it!

    All of these recipes are so fun to make and enjoy. It is fun to experience new foods that are traditional to other countries and cultures, especially during the holiday season. Holiday treats are the best treats.

    We hope you have an incredible holiday season and have lots of family time and yummy food.

    More Christmas

    • Square image of gingerbread house with gingerbread house frosting on the roof, door, windows
      5-Minute Frosting For Gingerbread House
    • Top down image of a christmas cookie decorate with red and white sugar cookie frosting.
      The BEST 4-Ingredient Sugar Cookie Frosting
    • squares of chocolate velveta fudge stacked onto a plate from the side view to show texture.
      5-Ingredient Creamy Velveeta Fudge (that will make you a believer!)
    • A white plate of no bake chocolate christmas cookies with red and green m&ms from top down view
      35-Minute No Bake Christmas Cookies
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    How to make a charcuterie tree and charcuterie chalet

    I believe in holiday cheer throughout the year! As a celebration enthusiast, I am here to show you the best ways to celebrate each of your favorite holidays through food, fun and traditions...

    More about me →

    Halloween

    • Halloween sugar cookies with orange cream cheese frosting and green frosting stems staggered on top of each other with fall decorations in the background
      Halloween Sugar Cookies
    • Pumpkin Feta Dip on a cracker and in a pumpkin
      Pumpkin Feta Dip
    • Hocus Pocus Charcuterie Board
      Hocus Pocus Charcuterie Board
    • Halloween Chex Mix on a baking sheet
      Halloween Chex Mix
    • Halloween Bark in a bowl and on parchment
      Halloween Bark
    • Halloween Books for Kids collage
      Halloween Books for Kids

    Recent Posts

    • white bowl filled with 4th of july popcorn with white chocolate and red white and blue M&ms.
      4th of July Popcorn
    • hand holding a christmas tree sugar cookie with green frosting and green sprinkles.
      Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
    • Square image of dining room table set up for chiefs super bowl party. Travis swift 2024 sign, super bowl snacks, and a stadium charcuterie board on the table
      Chiefs Super Bowl Party
    • Close-up of festive cake pops decorated with red, white, and blue sprinkles, with one pop showing a bite revealing a soft, golden interior, displayed in a glass jar for a patriotic celebration
      4th of July Cake Pops

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About the holiday girl
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Holiday Food and Fun