People around the world go absolutely bananas for Christmas, coming up with all sorts of traditional celebrations for the holiday. The relationship between us Tuscans and Christmas is a bit contentious, so to speak. It's not that we hate the holiday, it's just that it's too cold to properly celebrate. Now, Easter, that's our thing. Despite this, there are several places around the region that have come up with quirky and fascinating ways to celebrate the birth of Christ. This week we've listed five of these ancient traditions that have managed to survive to this day. Most of them involve fire and most probably born in pagan times as a way to celebrate winter solstice. We go from the massive bonfires in the town at the foot of an ancient volcano to the even more massive torches on the hills surrounding a Garfagnana hamlet. Did you know that until not many years ago, Tuscan children thought that their presents were brought not by Santa but by the magical tree stump that burned for days in their fireplace? There are also fun ways to celebrate the festivity, as the panforte cake throwing contest organized from Boxing Day in Pienza. Listen to these five eminently quirky ways to celebrate Christmas, Tuscan style. Next Friday we'll go one step further and tell you the dishes and specialty you have to have on your table to have a proper Tuscan Christmas - stick around, you'll love them! What do you think about these traditions? Do you have a favourite from your neck of the woods? Let us know what you think by joining the conversation on social media:
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Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.firenzetoday.it/social/ceppo-natale-firenze-storia.html
https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/it/le-leggende-di-natale-in-toscana/
https://www.visittuscany.com/it/idee/5-tradizioni-di-natale-in-toscana/
https://www.ursamajorbubble.com/2020/12/01/natale-in-garfagnana-tradizioni-e-curiosita/
https://www.sienanews.it/toscana/siena/natale-in-toscana-e-il-rito-magico-del-ceppo/
https://www.snapitaly.it/abbadia-san-salvatore-tutta-la-tradizione-della-citta-delle-fiaccole/
https://sentieridicioccolata.it/fiaccolata-di-natale-di-monteriggioni-lungo-la-via-francigena/
https://garfagnanadream.it/storia/le-leggende-di-natale-della-garfagnana/
https://www.lagazzettadelserchio.it/garfagnana/2019/12/a-gorfigliano-la-magia-dei-natalecci-il-cielo-illuminato-a-giorno/
http://www.pienza.org/gioco_panforte_it.html

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Coffee And Time
Artist: Pipe Choir
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-coffee-and-time-creative-commons-instrumental
http://www.pipechoir.com/