Christmas in the village: christmas traditions in Liguria

But there is one tradition that warms my heart more than the others, and it is the collection of “Strenne” (traditional Christmas presents) in the town of Conio, in the Alta Valle Impero (the town of Martina’s grandparents).
A custom that goes back to Ancient Rome and that in this little town had been reinterpreted: despite the tradition would be exchanging gifts, here there was no real swap of presents…and that was the lovely thing!
Yes, because the gifts were simply bags full of sweets that grandmothers prepared for every child in town. The custom was that children, during the first days of the new year, wandered around the village and when knocking on the doors of sweet grandmothers had their arms filled with a myriad of gifts and candies as a good wish. In exchange? The pure joy in the eyes of all the children, whom for one day felt like real kings and queens.

There is no doubt about it: the countryside, at Christmas, is like a big family!

And from our small town, we all wish you a wonderful Christmas, together with your loved ones.