Saturnalia is a week-long feast of total reversal. It lasts from December 17th to the 23rd. The holiday was originally used to celebrate Saturn, the Roman king of the gods. For the entire week, all businesses and schools close, all grudges and arguments are forgotten, and all wars are postponed. During the festival, masters serve their slaves and men wear women's clothing. Instead of real fruit, people give offerings of wax fruit to Saturn. The highlight of the week is the crowning of the king when a criminal is picked out of the jail and crowned king for the week. He is allowed to do anything he wants for that week. Meanwhile, the king is locked in the jail cell where he used to be. This week of jubilant feasting and revelry started out as a Winter Solstice festival and later developed into what it is today.
Christmas in Italy is celebrated not only on December 25th but also on December 26th. One of the decorations is the ceppo, a pyramid with many shelves. There are candles on the top shelves, and there is a manger scene known as a presepio on the bottom shelf. On Christmas Day, Roman Catholics must go to two masses. One at midnight and one at dawn. Despite the fact that it is such a Christian holiday, the idea of having a large Christmas dinner comes from the feasting of Saturnalia!
Another holiday in Italy is Epiphany or the Twelfth Day. It is a dual celebration in the Catholic Church. The visit of the Magi to Jesus and Jesus' baptism are the two events being celebrated. In the Roman Catholic Church, the visit of the Magi is more stressed than the baptism. New Year's Day is also celebrated in Italy in much the same way it is celebrated here.