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Ten crazy Christmas decorations you'd only find in Italy

Catherine Edwards
Catherine Edwards - [email protected]
Ten crazy Christmas decorations you'd only find in Italy
Photo: Lisa Spinicci/Instagram

At Christmas time in Italy, you can expect to see everything from tacky tinsel and glitter along with more traditional decorations including religious nativity scenes.

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But some Italians take a more creative approach - because if you don't decorate your tree with Nutella, you're doing it wrong.

Here's a look at some of the most weird and wonderful festive decorations you'd only ever find in Italy. 

1. Hot priests 

One sure sign that Christmas is coming in Rome is that the street kiosks start selling the newest copy of the Calendario Romano, known in Rome as the 'hot priests calendar'. Make sure you pick up the 2017 edition! (Don't know what we're talking about? Read this.)

 

A photo posted by Pablo Muñoz (@nakfear) on Nov 22, 2016 at 7:05am PST

2. Nutella

Forget the usual baubles and tinsel - decorating the house with Nutella jars is the top festive trend for 2016. Maybe.

 

A photo posted by Lauren (@laurenmoseley1) on Nov 19, 2016 at 1:11pm PST

 

3. The tree 

Where else would you find a Christmas tree made entirely of wine bottles?

 

A photo posted by Antica Dogana (@antica.dogana) on Dec 1, 2016 at 5:12pm PST

 

 

A photo posted by Lisa Spinicci (@lisina8) on Dec 9, 2016 at 8:07am PST

Or if that doesn't appeal, what about a salami Christmas tree?

 

A photo posted by Laura Shadden (@opusitaly) on Dec 5, 2016 at 12:46pm PST

4. Creative decorations

It turns out wine glasses make excellent Christmassy centrepieces.

 

 

A photo posted by MichelaItaly 24(@michelleeee_92) on Dec 2, 2016 at 3:31am PST

5. Witches

If you've been to Italy around the festive season, you might be confused at the popularity of witch-themed decorations. No, the Italians haven't got confused between Christmas and Halloween; this is Befana, a staple of the holidays in Italy - read more about her here.

6. Babbo Natale

Don't expect Italian Santa to arrive in a sleigh...

 

A photo posted by Alessietta © (@alessietta_75) on Jan 4, 2016 at 4:19pm PST

 
 

Instead of climbing down a chimney, he might abseil down the side of a 13th-century palace (this is Palazzo Re Enzo in Bologna).

 

A photo posted by Anto (@__.antonella._) on Dec 11, 2016 at 1:11pm PST

7. Inventive nativities

Here we have two Italian Christmas traditions in one: a presepe (nativity scene) carved into a panettone (Italian Christmas cake).

 

A photo posted by Kaila Dragon (@lil_kaila) on Dec 2, 2016 at 3:42am PST

Alternatively, here's a minimalist grappa nativity (it's probably a better likeness after drinking some of the contents...)

 

A photo posted by gianpaolotonani (@gipy75) on Nov 27, 2016 at 8:56am PST

8. Ice cream at Christmas? Only in Italy.

 

Christmas decorations #

kl inItaly #torino #gelati #visitItaly #italia #nightlight

 

A photo posted by Rocío Aguilar (@caleidoscope_eyes77) on Oct 30, 2016 at 3:06pm PDT

9. A twist on the advent calendar

Chocolate advent calendars aren't as popular in Italy as in the UK and US, but in Milan there's an even better countdown to the big day. Each day in Piazza Duomo, a new window opens to reveal a musician giving a live performance, culminating in a show by a  24-piece orchestra on Christamas Eve.

 

A photo posted by Micol Colangelo (@micotalacaota) on Nov 30, 2016 at 10:33am PST

10. Festive coffee

And finally, you know you're in Italy when even your morning coffee wishes you a Merry Christmas.
 
 

A photo posted by Federica Statzu (@federauhl_) on Dec 12, 2016 at 1:01am PST

 


 

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