The holiday season is coming, don't be caught unprepared! Our Grinch-proof vademecum reveals the essentials about Christmas Italian style. The typical ingredients of Christmas movies are all there: festive markets, the scent of ginger and cinnamon in the cold December air, Winter Wonderland lights and festoons and the frantic rush for presents.

Yet, this is only part of Christmas iconography in Italy, where traditions are ancient and so deeply rooted to be real cultural and identity elements transcending the festivities. Discover the curiosities and rituals you still don't know about the most wonderful time of the year in your favourite country.