Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is the most important holiday in Italy. Christmas marks the birth of Jesus. Families gather on this day, cook lots of food, play games, and exchange gifts. Children eagerly wait for Christmas morning to see if Santa Claus—a bearded old man who travels on a sleigh—has brought what they wrote in their letters. This is a wonderful time for children also because schools usually remain closed from December 23 to January 6. During this period, some people go to the mountains to ski in the Alps, which are full of tourists; this trip is often referred to as the "white week." The day before Christmas is called Christmas Eve, and the Christmas Eve dinner, known as the cenone, is one of the most important meals. Shops close early on Christmas Eve, and everything remains closed on December from 25 to 26. For the Christmas Eve cenone and Christmas lunch, Italians cook a lot, especially fish. Similarly, during the festive season, special dessert...