Food and the Italian festive calendar
In Italy, many celebrations are inseparable from what is served. The calendar follows the Christian year, the agricultural seasons and the patron saints of individual towns, and each has traditional dishes. Practices differ a good deal from region to region and family to family, so the dishes below are typical examples, not universal rules. For the wider cultural backdrop, see our pillar on Italian food and wine culture.
Sagre: local food festivals
A sagra is a local festival devoted to a particular food, often a seasonal product or regional specialty. They are common in towns and villages, especially in late summer and autumn. Typically you will find long shared tables, stalls selling the featured food, music and sometimes competitions or costume parades.
Examples of autumn festivals mentioned by travel writers include grape festivals near Rome, truffle fairs in places such as Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont, chestnut festivals, and festivals for cheeses and nougat in other areas. Dates change from year to year, so check local notices or the town’s tourist office before travelling.
Christmas and New Year
Christmas Eve is traditionally meatless in many families, often with fish and seafood, a custom related to the fasting traditions covered in Lenten season recipes. Christmas Day is usually a large family lunch. Sweet breads and cakes such as panettone (associated with Milan) and pandoro (associated with Verona) are widely eaten across the country, and regional sweets such as struffoli in Naples are popular in the south.
At New Year, lentils are a common tradition, eaten in the hope of good fortune, often alongside cotechino or zampone, a spiced pork sausage dish. Many families follow these customs; others adapt them.
Epiphany
On 6 January, Italian children are told the story of La Befana, a kindly witch who brings sweets. Sweets and treats, such as candy and chocolate, are the usual gifts, and the day is a public holiday.
Carnival
Carnevale is the festive period before Lent. The word is often traced to Latin phrases linked to “farewell to meat”. Fried sweets are the signature foods: strips of fried dough dusted with sugar are known under many names, such as chiacchiere, cenci, frappe or galani depending on the region. Venice is known for frittelle. Neapolitan families traditionally prepare a rich lasagna di Carnevale. Read more in our guide to Carnival of Venice food.
Easter
Easter is both a religious and a family occasion. Typical foods include lamb in many areas, savoury Easter pies and breads made with eggs and cheese, and sweets such as the dove-shaped colomba cake and chocolate eggs. Regional variations are large; some southern areas bake sweet bread with whole eggs baked into it. Easter Monday (Pasquetta) is often spent on a picnic or outing. For the Catholic custom of bringing Easter foods to church, see blessing of Easter food, and for a comparison with another Easter table, see the traditional Polish Easter dinner menu.
Ferragosto and summer feasts
Ferragosto, on 15 August, is a mid-August holiday that coincides with the Assumption. It is a time for family gatherings, often outdoors, with cold pasta, grilled foods, watermelon and other summer produce. Many businesses close for part of the period, which can matter for travellers.
Autumn harvest festivals
Grape harvest (vendemmia), olive picking, chestnuts and truffles each have their own celebrations. All Saints’ Day on 1 November and the Day of the Dead on 2 November are also marked with regional sweets, such as small almond or bean-shaped cookies in some places.
Popular festival foods
Readers often ask what the “most popular” Italian festival foods are. There is no single ranking, but the following appear again and again:
- Fried dough sweets at Carnival
- Panettone and pandoro at Christmas
- Lamb, savoury pies and colomba at Easter
- Roast meats, stuffed pastas and seafood for family feasts
- Fresh seasonal foods at village sagre, such as porchetta sandwiches or chestnut dishes
Frequently asked questions
What is Italy’s most famous holiday? Christmas and Easter are major religious and family holidays. Ferragosto and Carnival are also widely observed, and each town has its own saints’ day. Which one feels “most famous” depends on the person.
What are the five most popular foods in Italy? Opinions differ, but pasta, pizza, risotto, gelato and cured meats and cheeses are commonly cited.
What do Italians say before eating? Typically Buon appetito. When raising a glass, Salute or Cin cin are common.
Do I need to book for a sagra? Often not, though larger or popular events can be crowded. Check local information.