Italian Candy Gift Traditions
Food plays a huge role in Italian life and so it is no surprise that it plays a huge role in Italian holidays as well. Confections are traditionally reserved for special occasions in Italy when they are given as gifts or served with formal meals. Italy's deep Christian roots make the annual holy holidays a cause for celebration and sweets are an intricate part of the event.
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Chrsitmas Candy & Pastry
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Christmas is by far the biggest holiday on the calendar for Italians. Not only is Christmas Day significant, but so is the four-week period prior to Christmas known as Advent, and the Epiphany which takes place 12 days after Christmas on January 6th. A host of pastry, candy and cakes are traditionally given for the holiday season including Panettone and Panneforte -- the Italian equivalent of the fruitcake which is passed from one home to the next repeatedly. Struffoli and Nosciata are honey-sweetened pastries, while Torrone and Marzipan are candy gifts given to children and loved ones. Torrone is a nougat-based confection with almonds and mint pieces, and Marzipan is an almond and sugar mixture which is typically formed into shapes like fruit or animals and given to children as treats or used to garnish holiday cakes and meals.
Easter and Carnevale
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For Easter, another of the major Christian holy days, Italians prepare and give a collection of sweets including chocolate Easter eggs, Zuppa Inglese, Easter Pie and Easter Bread. Carnevale is the celebration of the end of Lent and in Italy, as in all Catholic countries around the world, Carnevale is an Italian feast time that requires its very own set of traditional treats. Frappe or "bowties" are cannoli dough deep fried and covered in powdered sugar. Venice is home to the most famous Carnevale celebrations and Venetian Frittole are fried raisin puffs soaked with liqueur.
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Saints Days
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St. Joseph's Day on March 19th is an important holiday in the Italian calendar as it celebrates the father of Jesus. In tribute, it is an unspoken rule that Italians give each other St. Joseph's Day pastry, a simply confection traditionally filled with white cream.
Halloween, or All Souls Day, has much of the same haunting atmosphere in Italy as in the United States. It is however a holy day and so, although Italians do not partake in trick or treating, Ossa dei Morti Biscotti are commonly eaten. Ossa dei Morti Biscotti, literally "bones of the dead" cookies, are simple but tasty almond, lemon and vanilla cookies.
Giving Candy and Sweets as Gifts
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Italians tend to give sweets and candy as gifts in certain holiday situations. During Christmas, sweets may be given to children as an added part of their actual present. In the workplace, often chocolates are given to office co-workers as a standard holiday treat. If you are invited to someone's home, it is expected that you will bring a dessert of some sort or candy for the children. Families tend to trade sweets, especially during religious holidays. Traditional confectionery items are included as part of all meetings and meals, with certain dedicated treats considered mandatory.
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References
- Photo Credit italian sweet shop image by agno_agnus from Fotolia.com
