Thanksgiving in Italy: a quick guide (2024)

FAQs

How is Thanksgiving celebrated in Italy? ›

Thanksgiving is not widely celebrated in Italy however a number of restaurants in major Italian cities mark the event with a traditional holiday menu. Known in Italy as il Giorno del ringraziamento, Thanksgiving this year falls on Thursday 23 November.

But, they do commemorate La Festa del Ringraziamento, “The Feast of Thanks” — a way to offer thanks to a patron Saint for a bountiful fall harvest.

La Festa della Repubblica (June 2)

La Festa della Repubblica is the Italian national celebration. This holiday marks the day in 1946 when Italians collectively voted to end the monarchy and transition to a Republic.

November hits a sweet spot, however, with fewer crowds but enough buzz to feel lively. If you get good weather, you can even hit the coast for a balmy beach day; some areas of southern Italy boast water warm enough to swim in through December.

Italians have a name for our Thanksgiving — Ringraziamento.

A big tray of lasagna is an Italian-American Thanksgiving tradition that has long signaled “special occasion.” Italian immigrants to America began incorporating pasta into their Thanksgiving feasts as early as the turn of the 20th century.

On average, every year an Italian eats more than 20 kilograms (700 ounces) of poultry meat (chickens, hens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks) and in this context the annual consumption of turkey meat is more than five kilograms (175 ounces). It is important to point out that this is exclusively of farmed turkey.

The ceremony of the event, organized in Rome, includes the deposition of a laurel wreath as a tribute to the Italian Unknown Soldier at the Altare della Patria by the President of the Italian Republic and a military parade along Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome.

Fall back a few months, and you'll land on Erntedankfest—a similar concept to American Thanksgiving celebrated by rural communities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The "rural festival of thanks" is usually held in late September or on the first Sunday of October.

The most common and direct way to say Merry Christmas in Italian is Buon Natale.

What does Felice Ringraziamento mean? ›

Felice Ringraziamento! I came by to wish you Happy Thanksgiving. Felice Ringraziamento anche a te, Lily. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Lily.

Italians living in Italy do not celebrate Thanksgiving as we do here in North America although they do have many holidays called La Festa del Ringraziamento (or Festival of Thanks), which refer to a variety of religious holidays held throughout the year to honor patron saints.

While there's no traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Rome, you can explore the city's culinary delights. Try classic Roman dishes like pasta carbonara, pizza, gelato or tiramisu for dessert. And don't forget to savor some delicious Italian espresso for the grown-ups.

In the rural areas of Austria, Germany and Switzerland communities celebrate Erntedankfest. There is no official national observance and depending on the region celebrations usually take place in September or October.

In Southern and Central Italy, baked pasta is a must. In Northern Italy, Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are traditional Christmas fare. Next comes the main event, the meat. Roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages or braised beef are common Natale entrées worth celebrating.