Born as a religious tradition and becoming a national holiday for the Italian people in 1947, 26th December is St Stephen's Day, a further occasion for celebrating for Italians. On this date, when the Christmas atmosphere is still in full swing, there is no ordinary day for living the traditions of this festivity.
Some Italians keep on eating with family, friends, and good Italian food; others take a trip out of town, and others take the opportunity to rest before restarting the daily routine. St Stephen's Day in Italy began as a liturgical celebration on 26th December, immediately after Christmas day. The reason for choosing this date is that on the days following the manifestation of Jesus Christ, the so-called "comites Christi" are celebrated.
