200. TWO HUNDRED Episodes !!! & Don’t Miss Italy’s Unforgettable Holiday Feasts
Author: Kimberly Holcombe
November 26, 2025
Duration: 37:04
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In this special 200th episode, Kimberly and Tommaso celebrate a milestone while discussing their upcoming move to Italy. They share insights into Italian holiday traditions and meals, offering a look at how these differ from American celebrations.
Key Points:
The Podcast’s Journey:
Kimberly and Tommaso il Favoloso reflect on 200 episodes of their podcast which they started during COVID..
Their podcast’s goal has always been to share their love of Italy and offer travel insights.
Future plans include returning to a weekly episode schedule after their move to Italy.
Thanksgiving in America vs. Holidays in Italy:
Kimberly describes the traditional American Thanksgiving meal, which has remained largely unchanged for 400 years.
Tommaso shares his enjoyment of the Thanksgiving meal.
The conversation shifts to Italian holiday meals, highlighting their variety and cultural significance.
Visiting Italy during a holiday offers a chance to experience unique traditions and less crowded destinations.
Italian Christmas Eve (La Vigilia):
Most Europeans celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with their main meal.
The traditional Christmas Eve meal in Italy is seafood, a “lean day” without meat.
Italian Christmas Eve dinner begins early with aperitivo, followed by antipasti (no meat), pasta or risotto and fish as the main course.
Desserts include panettone, pandoro and torrone.
Kimberly recounts loud, lively Christmas Eve dinners in Milan with extended family.
Italian Easter (Pasqua):
For Easter, Italians eat lamb, not ham.
The day starts with Colomba, a dove-shaped, sweeter version of panettone, symbolizing peace and rebirth.
Eggs are important, appearing in dishes like torta pasqualina and brodetto pasquale.
Artichokes, asparagus, or chicory accompany the lamb.
A popular dessert is pastiera napolitana, a creamy, sweet cake from Naples.
Other Italian Holidays:
Italy celebrates several non-religious holidays, such as Liberation Day and Festa della Repubblica.
Religious holidays like Ognissanti on November 1st involves eating Pane de Morti (bread of the dead).
New Year’s Eve (Capodanno) is a religious holiday focused on symbolic foods for luck and prosperity.
Old school Italians eat 12 grapes at midnight for luck in each month of the year.
Epifania (Epiphany) on January 6th, marks the end of the Christmas season and includes a fun tradition with La Befana, a kind witch who brings treats.
Celebrations for La Befana include a regatta in Venice and a national festival in Urbania
Planning Your Trip:
Experiencing Italian holidays offers a chance to enjoy different cultural traditions and foods.
Agriturismos or small family-run hotels are ideal for experiencing traditional holiday meals.
Join us in this episode as we uncover the true essence of Italian holiday traditions, providing a realistic and enriching perspective on what to expect and enjoy.
