December 8th is ‘Immacolata Concezione’ (Immaculate Conception Day), when Italy traditionally turns on its Christmas lights, but in Abruzzo, there is another tradition and rite in many beach and mountain towns, the lighting of giant bonfires accompanied by song and cheer that begin on the 7th December!
Many people will be adding the figurine of a shepherd zampognaro (bagpiper) to their Nativity scenes this Christmas with little knowledge of their importance throughout the centuries of the shepherd bagpipers of Abruzzo
Our visit up to Poggio Umbricchio, for their fuoco on the 9 December to celebrate Loreto’s Santa Casa di Loreto, came about from reading On the Spine of Italy
Christmas Eve Menus in Abruzzo do uphold the religious aspect of Christmas with the focus on fish & more fish! Italian culture upholds ‘fare bella figura’