December has arrived, bringing with it the magic of Christmas, the time of year when families come together to spend quality time, often around the table.
To warm up the atmosphere and take you on a journey full of Christmas spirit, we’ve come up with a series of four delicious holiday recipes. Each week, we’ll share a dish with you: by the end, you’ll have our complete Christmas menu to enjoy with your loved ones.
To start, our Cesarina Cristina from Florence has shared with us her recipe for preparing these traditional toasted bread slices with chicken liver pâté.
The origins of the most beloved holiday
For many, December means celebrating Christmas, but few may know that December 25 originally marked a pagan celebration later adopted by the Catholic Church.
This holiday, beloved by both children and adults, has roots in both pagan and Christian traditions. Initially, the festival wasn’t tied to the birth of Jesus Christ. Only in the 4th century did Emperor Constantine formalize it as such.
In the pagan context, celebrations coincided with the winter solstice, such as the Saturnalia and the festival of the "Unconquered Sun" (Sol Invictus), symbolizing the sun's rebirth after the darkest period of the year.
A renewed iconography
In the centuries that followed, Christmas adopted distinctive iconographic elements. The figure of Mary and the Child became central themes in sacred art, while traditions surrounding the depiction of the Nativity—with the Holy Family, shepherds, and later, the Magi—began to take shape. However, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that Christmas celebrations gained popularity among the faithful, thanks in part to the establishment of the nativity scene, a tradition traditionally attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.
Evolution and contemporary tradition
Over time, Christmas evolved into not only a religious festival but also a cultural and social one. In many countries, it has become a time for celebrating family and fostering solidarity. The figure of Santa Claus, inspired by St. Nicholas, is one of the most recognized modern symbols of Christmas, embodying the spirit of generosity that defines this holiday. However, Santa Claus as we know him today only emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries through literature and marketing.
Today, Christmas is a global celebration observed around the world with a variety of traditions, ranging from religious rituals to more secular customs. Despite the many changes and cultural influences over the centuries, Christmas retains its original message of hope and renewal, bringing together people of different faiths and cultures.
