The 8th of December is Italy’s Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a nationwide public holiday that quietly kicks off the Christmas season. Schools and public offices close, public transport runs on a holiday timetable, and many shops and museums keep shorter hours. Across Italy, 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, or Immacolata Concezione. It’s a nationwide public holiday and, more importantly for daily life, the moment the Natale properly kicks off.
Mornings often mean Mass or a local procession. Later, families decorate the Christmas tree and set up the nativity scene. Italian cities switch on their festive lights, big trees go up in central squares, and you’ll feel that steady build of festive buzz as markets open and winter events swing into gear.
