Ask Samuele: December 2025
This month, Sandra from Teddington asks…
Dear Samuele,
My husband and I have invited an Italian couple to stay with us over the Christmas period, which we are very excited about.
We’ve already stocked up on a good festive mix of British and traditional Italian food and drink, but it made us wonder:
Aside from food and beverages, is there a particularly nice gesture or tradition—specific to Italian culture at this time of year—that we could surprise them with?
Yours sincerely, and Buon Natale,
Sandra & Roger
A couple of easy, very Italian ideas:
Midnight Mass – Lots of families still go to La Messa di Mezzanotte on Christmas Eve.
Even if you’re not religious, it’s a big part of the tradition and a nice gesture to offer.
Tombola – Our version of bingo. Loud, competitive, and guaranteed to make everyone laugh. Perfect after dinner when nobody can move anyway.
And just so you’re prepared… there will be eating. Italians don’t really stop. Crumbs everywhere, endless bread, and feel free to dip your panettone into red wine – my mum does.
Buon Natale,
Samuele
