Weather in Sicily at Christmas<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn spite of Sicily\u2019s proximity to Africa, you\u2019re not going to find soaring Mediterranean heat. Temperatures tend to range from around 11 to 16\u02da but this can vary further depending on where you\u2019re staying. Not surprisingly, it\u2019s cooler in the mountains, with some skiing on the snowfields of the Madonie and Etna<\/a>, but warmer on the coast with the possibility of winter sunshine.<\/p>\n![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/etna-snow-covered.jpg\")
<\/a>Snow covered Etna volcano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nChristmas traditions in Sicily<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor children, the countdown to Christmas starts on the 16 December with the Novena di Natale when children are encouraged to get involved in church activities including lighting candles and singing carols. For visitors to Sicily, the sound of choral music filling the island\u2019s most beautiful churches and cathedrals can be very evocative.<\/p>\n
Outside churches, bonfires are lit to keep baby Jesus warm, and during processions such as the one dedicated to Santa Lucia in Syracuse<\/a> (13 and 20 December), streets are aflame with candles and the fiery red leaves of poinsettias.<\/p>\nEpiphany on 6 January bookends the last of the Christmas celebrations. Children leave their shoes and stockings out on the evening of 5 January ready for a visit from La Befana, a witch who brings treats for good children and lumps of coal for the naughty ones.<\/p>\n![\"Syracuse,](\"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sicily-siracusa.jpg\")
<\/a>Syracuse, the Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNativity scenes and \u2018presepi viventi\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou\u2019ll find nativity scenes in most towns and cities. In Trapani, handmade nativity scenes are to be found throughout the town and Christmas decorations adorn the piazza and churches. In some towns, the nativity scenes literally do come to life: \u2018presepi viventi\u2019 are live nativity scenes enacted by local people. The most dramatic are in Custonaci near Trapani where the nativity scene takes place inside a cave, and also in the Cava d\u2019Ispica, amidst rugged cliffs and catacombs.<\/p>\n
Christmas festivities in Sicilian towns<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou\u2019ll find plenty of colourful celebrations wherever you are but festivities do vary from one town to another. In Taormina, alongside the concerts, parades and live nativity scenes, a parade of brightly-painted traditional Sicilian carriages<\/a> hurtle through town providing an eye-catching spectacle. Festivities are more low-key in neighbouring Catania but a show-stopping tree is displayed in front of the Cathedral, and nativity scenes and crafted cribs dot the city.<\/p>\nMeanwhile, on the west of the island, in Erice, you\u2019ll be greeted by concerts, parades and handmade nativity scenes throughout the cobbled streets. In Palermo, the bustling markets are filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and provide an excellent opportunity to stock up on Christmas food.<\/p>\n![\"Sicilian](\"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Sicilian-cart.jpg\")
<\/a>Sicilian cart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0Sicilian Christmas and New Year food traditions <\/strong><\/h3>\nPanettone and pandoro needs no introduction, but how familiar are you with buccellati? Filled with dried figs, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and honey, these biscuits are found in every Sicilian home at Christmas. And of course, they\u2019re different in every household, resulting from recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Christmas traditions in Sicily<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor children, the countdown to Christmas starts on the 16 December with the Novena di Natale when children are encouraged to get involved in church activities including lighting candles and singing carols. For visitors to Sicily, the sound of choral music filling the island\u2019s most beautiful churches and cathedrals can be very evocative.<\/p>\n
Outside churches, bonfires are lit to keep baby Jesus warm, and during processions such as the one dedicated to Santa Lucia in Syracuse<\/a> (13 and 20 December), streets are aflame with candles and the fiery red leaves of poinsettias.<\/p>\nEpiphany on 6 January bookends the last of the Christmas celebrations. Children leave their shoes and stockings out on the evening of 5 January ready for a visit from La Befana, a witch who brings treats for good children and lumps of coal for the naughty ones.<\/p>\n<\/a>Syracuse, the Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNativity scenes and \u2018presepi viventi\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou\u2019ll find nativity scenes in most towns and cities. In Trapani, handmade nativity scenes are to be found throughout the town and Christmas decorations adorn the piazza and churches. In some towns, the nativity scenes literally do come to life: \u2018presepi viventi\u2019 are live nativity scenes enacted by local people. The most dramatic are in Custonaci near Trapani where the nativity scene takes place inside a cave, and also in the Cava d\u2019Ispica, amidst rugged cliffs and catacombs.<\/p>\n
Christmas festivities in Sicilian towns<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou\u2019ll find plenty of colourful celebrations wherever you are but festivities do vary from one town to another. In Taormina, alongside the concerts, parades and live nativity scenes, a parade of brightly-painted traditional Sicilian carriages<\/a> hurtle through town providing an eye-catching spectacle. Festivities are more low-key in neighbouring Catania but a show-stopping tree is displayed in front of the Cathedral, and nativity scenes and crafted cribs dot the city.<\/p>\nMeanwhile, on the west of the island, in Erice, you\u2019ll be greeted by concerts, parades and handmade nativity scenes throughout the cobbled streets. In Palermo, the bustling markets are filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and provide an excellent opportunity to stock up on Christmas food.<\/p>\n<\/a>Sicilian cart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0Sicilian Christmas and New Year food traditions <\/strong><\/h3>\nPanettone and pandoro needs no introduction, but how familiar are you with buccellati? Filled with dried figs, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and honey, these biscuits are found in every Sicilian home at Christmas. And of course, they\u2019re different in every household, resulting from recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next.<\/p>\n
Epiphany on 6 January bookends the last of the Christmas celebrations. Children leave their shoes and stockings out on the evening of 5 January ready for a visit from La Befana, a witch who brings treats for good children and lumps of coal for the naughty ones.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find nativity scenes in most towns and cities. In Trapani, handmade nativity scenes are to be found throughout the town and Christmas decorations adorn the piazza and churches. In some towns, the nativity scenes literally do come to life: \u2018presepi viventi\u2019 are live nativity scenes enacted by local people. The most dramatic are in Custonaci near Trapani where the nativity scene takes place inside a cave, and also in the Cava d\u2019Ispica, amidst rugged cliffs and catacombs.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find plenty of colourful celebrations wherever you are but festivities do vary from one town to another. In Taormina, alongside the concerts, parades and live nativity scenes, a parade of brightly-painted traditional Sicilian carriages<\/a> hurtle through town providing an eye-catching spectacle. Festivities are more low-key in neighbouring Catania but a show-stopping tree is displayed in front of the Cathedral, and nativity scenes and crafted cribs dot the city.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, on the west of the island, in Erice, you\u2019ll be greeted by concerts, parades and handmade nativity scenes throughout the cobbled streets. In Palermo, the bustling markets are filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and provide an excellent opportunity to stock up on Christmas food.<\/p>\n Panettone and pandoro needs no introduction, but how familiar are you with buccellati? Filled with dried figs, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and honey, these biscuits are found in every Sicilian home at Christmas. And of course, they\u2019re different in every household, resulting from recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next.<\/p>\n<\/a>Nativity scenes and \u2018presepi viventi\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Christmas festivities in Sicilian towns<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0Sicilian Christmas and New Year food traditions <\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Cassata](\"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cassata-sicily-1.jpg\")
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