Emilia - Romagna:
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What culinary traditions have survived into the new millennium?

	Pandoro, Panettone and Dried Fruits

In Italy, it used to be that the Christmas season began the night of Christmas Eve, with the revelation of the tree and the presents under it, and would end on January 6th, the day called of the Epifania, or Epiphany, in Italian. Nowadays, following trends imported from the U S, the Christmas season shows up in the streets, stores and on the doorway of private homes starting at the end of November.

Traditionally, at Christmas time the whole Italian family would gather around a festive table however, nowadays there are several ways to interpret the yuletide tradition, especially with regards to the Christmas feast.

Some families eat "lean", that is, no meat, on Christmas Eve and celebrate with a feast on the day of Christmas. Others have a family feast the evening before Christmas, while still others, enjoy the big celebration the afternoon of Christmas Day in order to include friends in  addition to family. Finally, there are folks who, in order to celebrate traditionally with friends separately from the 'official' family celebration, organize a 'Christmas Banquet' a week in advance, respecting however the traditional menu and decorations as well as the typical exchange of presents and traditional toasts.

The seafood that is traditionally served as a first course in many parts of Italy can be capitone (a kind of large eel), marinated eel, and stockfish, but mussels and shellfish may be added. Afterwards, in Emilia it is time for either the tortellini in brodo or a wonderful risotto, followed by the main meat courses that usually consist of broiled capon and turkey.

The end to this gastronomic indulgence is signaled by abundant fruits and desserts. The panettone, though originally from Milan, is now part of the overall Italian tradition, and the same can be said of the light, velvety pandoro. Nougat and nut brittle, along with a variety of pastries, are served with dried fruits, oranges and tangerines.

The apple, however, reminiscent of original sin, is traditionally banned from the festivities of this season.

What is typical of the Emilia Romagna tradition?

Seafood is mandatory on Christmas Eve, thus it is common to serve seafood soups, cioppino, capitone, codfish, eel, pasta with beans and seafood, and other similar entrees.

Christmas Day though, is the time to live out our food fantasies according to individual taste.

Between the primi (pasta and/or soup entrees) and the secondi (main courses) it is traditional to serve boiled meat with homemade sauces.

How to prepare a vegetarian Christmas meal

Let's take a look at a different tradition: Christmas in Brazil

Christmas is celebrated with great joy, spending time with family and friends. Everything is prepared with great care and decorated using patterns of green, red and gold colors. The traditional meal is refined and abundant.

In Brazil this is considered a truly unique time of the year that must be celebrated with love and the sharing of glasses, the best silverware, red roses, stelle di Natale, or pointsettias and colored candles for decoration.

The main part of the event however, is the menu. The food is what makes the difference and ensures the success of the party. The following dishes are a must for a traditional Brazilian Christmas meal.

• Carpaccio with zucchini
• Turkey
• Chicken with farofa (organic manioc root)
• Sweet potatoes with apples
• Christmas present cake
• Traditional Christmas drink

The decoration of the Christmas table: tablecloth, decorations, and centerpiece

The Brazilian Christmas table consists of a red tablecloth covered with white lace and white napkins tied with a red ribbon. Dinnerplates are put on under-plates, the glasses are set with a red candle between them, and the centerpiece is a butcher's broom sprayed gold. The placecards are written in gold on cardboard decorated with a red and gold angel in the corner.

At the table, the teenagers all sit together, while the younger kids seat beside their parents.

The grandparents sits in seats of honor and beside them sit the relatives that are rarely seen during the rest of the year.

A special centerpiece

The centerpiece is what personalizes the Brazilian dining table most.

If the table is placed against a wall the centerpiece may be developed vertically and in tone with other room decorations.