By Rosario Mariani

December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Italy officially prepares for il Santo Natale. In most of Southern Italy, it is quite common to see the zampognari playing Christmas carols in grottoes, shrines and other religious places throughout the area.

As Americans, we associate the bagpipes with the Irish and Scots when they parade down our Main Street in their ceremonial kilts. But, in Italy the sound of the zampogne bagpies immediately ushers in the Christmas season.

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Fonte: NIAF