PRESENTATION

Hi,I'm Sofia and I'm 15. I live in Grottammare in the town centre, near the sea. I have a sister. My parents are divorced and I live with my mother, my sister and with my mum's partner. In the weekend, sometimes, I go to my father's home. I have any pets. I'm a cheerful and outgoing girl, but sometimes I'm shy and moody, too. I like to stay and to go out with my friends and to make new friends. I love reading books, watching movies and listening to music. I spend much time with my best friends in the weekend. I like cooking and making cakes. I love Spanish and English. Two times in the week I go to the gym.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas is an important event for the Italians, celebrated on 24,25 and 26 December. My family and I go to my grandparents' on 24 and there are all my uncles, aunts and cousins. We usually begin to eat at 8 to midnight and we eat fish like dried salt cod, salmon and tuna. We bring some gifts for everyone which we put under the Christmas tree and after dinner we unwrap every gift. On 25 we go to church and then my relatives and me have Christmas lunch and we eat meat. The most famous Italian cakes are 'panettone', made by candied fruit; 'pandoro' and 'torrone' made with chocolate and hazelnut. In my family, we eat 'pastiera', too, which is a typical Neapolitan sweet.

In Italy, like in other countries, we make the Christmas tree and we put lights inside the houses and outside, like in the streets, in the main street and on the seafront. The city suddenly lit up. During the holidays the nearby cities and mine organize some festivals and fairs, where there are traditional food and songs, there are live cribs, too. The best known Christmas songs are Bianco Natale(White Christmas), Astro Del Ciel(Star In The Sky) and Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle(You Come Down From The Stars).

ASTRO DEL CIEL

Astro del ciel, Pargol divin, 

mite Agnello Redentor! 

Tu che i Vati 

da lungi sognar, 

tu che angeliche voci nunziar, 

luce dona alle genti, 

pace infondi nei cuor! 

luce dona alle genti, 

pace infondi nei cuor! 

Astro del ciel, Pargol divin, 

mite Agnello Redentor! 

Tu di stirpe regale decor, 

Tu virgineo, mistico fior, 

luce dona alle genti, 

pace infondi nei cuor! 

Luce dona alle genti, 

pace infondi nei cuor!

Astro del ciel, Pargol divin, 

mite Agnello Redentor.

Tu disceso a scontare l'error, 

Tu sol nato a parlare d'amor, 

luce dona alle genti, 

pace infondi nei cuor.

Luce dona alle genti, 

pace infondi nei cuor.

STAR IN THE SKY

Star in the sky, divine infant.

Meek Lamb Redeemer

You that make poets dream

announce,

give light to the nations,

instill peace in the heart!

give light to the nations,

instill peace in the heart!

Star in the sky, Infany,

meek Lamb Redeemer!

You decor of royal lineage,

You virginal mystic flower,

gives light to the nations,

instill peace in the heart!

Gives light to the nations,

instill peace in the heart!

Star in the sky, Infany,

meek Lamb Redeemer.

You descended to expiate sin,

You only born to speak of love,

give light to the nations,

instill peace in the heart.

Give light to the nations,

instill peace in the heart.

CAKES

 PANETTONE

 PANDORO

 TORRONE

PASTIERA