Holidays and Celebrations

Christmas is celebrated in many countries around the world, though the exact traditions and foods vary greatly. To help you celebrate, wherever you may be, here are some general Italian Christmas terms. Buon Natale!

In 2021, Easter is on 4 April, and the week immediately preceding Easter (Sunday to Saturday) is called Holy Week. Here’s all the Italian vocabulary you need to celebrate this Christian period of renewal.

Halloween is not an Italian holiday, but learning the Italian translations for Halloween vocabulary can be fun, especially for younger students. Happy Halloween!

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah lasts for eight days sometime between late November and the end of each year. The dates vary because they are not based on the Gregorian calendar, aka solar calendar. Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev, the ninth month in the Hebrew calendar.

Mardi Gras is an annual celebration of extravagance and (over)indulgence before Lent. Because Mardi Gras, literally “Fat Tuesday,” is tied to Easter, the date changes every year.