All the traditions of Parma at Christmas, what to eat typical, the traditions of Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve, markets and much more, discover the traditions in the post.
Difficult to resist the charm of Parma at Christmas.
A small lively center that comes alive with lights and colors that elegantly invade the streets of the center.
Un tallest Christmas tree makes its triumphal entry into the central Piazza Garibaldi and Christmas markets brighten up Piazza Ghiaia with decorations, gift ideas and gastronomic specialties.
The typical Parmesan dishes, much appreciated in the world, delight the palates during dinner on 24th December and lunch on 25th December. Walking through Parma during the Christmas holidays you can breathe alovely atmosphere. The air is cold but fragrant, the shops are festively decorated and the flashing lights of the lights are more beautiful every year.
The giant Christmas tree in Piazza Garibaldi
The rite that in Parma starts the real Christmas in a certain sense is the lighting of a very tall Christmas tree, which is installed every year in the central Piazza Garibaldi, near the offices of the Municipality.
The lights of the tree, which is about 15 meters high, are traditionally lit on 8 December, on the occasion of the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The Christmas markets of Piazza Ghiaia
Piazza Ghiaia has always been a square of open and covered markets for Parma. Close to the Christmas holidays, the square has been hosting the Christmas Markets for years now.
Here you will find a bit of everything: from handicrafts to various gift ideas, typical food products, decorations for the tree and for the home, clothing and much more.
The gala dinner at the Teatro Regio
For years, December 26, Santo Stefano, was the day on which al Teatro Regio di Parma the opera season was inaugurated. Usually an opera by Verdi was staged and the stands became real party places to feast on Christmas.
Today this is no longer the case, but on New Year's Eve the Teatro Regio becomes the beautiful setting of the New Year's Gala, with a concert to toast the new year and the gala dinner.
Midnight mass in the Duomo
On the evening of the eve, at midnight, almost all the churches in Parma celebrate Christmas mass. Do not miss the celebrations in Parma Cathedral and in the suggestive Church of the Steccata.
The motobefana
On January 6 in Parma a very special charity tradition is repeated: the motobefana. Every year more than 1000 motorcycles travel the streets of the city with a single purpose: deliver gifts to sick children of the Maggiore Hospital. Anyone who has a motorcycle can sign up and participate in this beautiful initiative.
What to eat in Parma at Christmas
Traditions in Parma are very important and always alive, especially on the tables of the Parmesan. And so there dinner on December 24 is strictly lean, that is, without meat. You will therefore find pumpkin ravioli, herbs or potatoes first and fish second.
Usually they eat cod or fried eel and so-called "Pes putana". These are tiny fried and marinated fish. On Christmas Eve, as in the other days of the Christmas holidays, in all the houses there is no shortage of mandarins, dried fruit and grapes.
On Christmas day, the main dish is the anolini with stew and parmesan, in broth. For second you eat the I boiled meat, mostly beef and chicken used for broth. And to flavor them they use the green sauce and red sauce and the classics mustards.
