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Epiphany is celebrated with shows and magic workshops, jugglers and street artists from 11 AM to 5 PM

In Vatican City every year at 11 AM hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes follow behind the three Wise Men on horseback up Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter’s Square where the Pope performs a commemorative mass.

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1. Traditional Christmas customs and practices were not popular in Italy until the 80's.
2. Epiphany is a national Italian holiday that celebrates the 12th day of Christmas in which the Three Kings/Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus.

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Lucy Gordan was the editor of this article about the epiphany working for the news organization "Italian Hours".

In the past the traditional meal for the Epiphany was a roasted lamb however now it is pinza a cross between panettone and Sienese panforte.

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1. In Naples they make Struffoli, which are tiny balls of fried dough that are covered in honey and colorful sprinkles.
2. The holiday season in Italy starts on the 8th, just like in the U.S.

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1. In the past, roast lamb was the traditional dish of the Epiphany.
2. Near Rome, in Viterbo, there are shows and street theater for kids at 4 PM.

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1.The Befana's  hometown is in the Marche region, called Urbania

2. In the past, lamb was the traditional Epiphany dish, but now it is, pinza, panettone, panforte and struffoli

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In Italy, people celebrate the 12th day of Christmas also known as when the three kings (wise men) had given gifts to baby Jesus. They celebrate this holiday with the La Befana, festivals and gifts.

In 1970 there was no Santa or Christmas trees
Christmas was known back then as a fish dinner on Christmas Eve, a midnight mass and a morning mass

At 11am in the Vatican people dress up in costumes to celebrate this holiday

In the past lamb was the traditional dinner on this holiday

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1. they don't have advent calendars, Christmas trees, and no Santa Claus because these are Northern Europe customs.
2. Italy's Christmas holiday seasons ends with epiphany.

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Befana festivals take place in many parts of Italy, especially in the former Papal States of the Marche, Umbria, and Latium.

In the Vatican City people dress up in medieval costumes.

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1 la Befana is also considered the good hag
2 the marche region is the official town of the Befana

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1. no Christmas trees
2.  In Vatican City every year at 11 AM hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes follow behind the three Wise Men on horseback

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1. This is the day when the three kings make it to baby Jesus when he is still in the manger
2. Epiphany means an appearance of God

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1. They have a 4-day festival to dress up like Befana and celebrate with singing and dancing
2.  There used to be no Christmas tree or Santa

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* Epiphany means "manifestation or appearance of God" in Greek
* La Befana legend probably relates back to the Roman's Pagan festival Saturnalia. Many Pagan traditions were incorporated into the mainstream Christmas Traditions

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1. La befana is the tale of the good hag. She arrives on her broomstick the night of January 5th and fills stockings with toys and sweets for good children.
2. The Epiphany is celebrated in many different ways all throughout Italy, from festivals to religious processions

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1.La Befana goes back to the Romans pagan festival of Saturnalia for one to two weeks long and it starts before the winter solstice. 2. she also helped the wise men with a place to stay on there journey.

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1. In Vatican City every year at 11 AM hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes follow behind the three Wise Men on horseback.
2. In the past roast lamb was Epiphany’s traditional dish, now besides carbone, in the Veneto it’s pinza or cross between panettone in Naples struffoli

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1) The Pope performs a commemorative mass around 11am. Hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes follow behind the three Wise Men.
2) The Befana got lost trying to catch up to the three Wise Men and the Shepard after seeing a bright light in the night.

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1. Epiphany is a Greek word that means "manifestation or appearance of god".
2. In Fiumicino, a city near Rome they have a celebration for the holiday such as the ugliest Befana contest or the rides they have in old cars or tractors with Befana.