Knowing by Sharing

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN BARRAFRANCA

In our tradition Christmas celebrations start on the 16th of December nine days before Christmas with the preparation of the crib and the Christmas tree in homes, big cribs in the churches and the “nuvere” in the town streets.
The “nuvere” , which symbolize the nativity scene, are small temples covered by laurel and decorated with oranges and tangerines. Inside there are the main characters of the nativity, while in the past there was a picture with Holy Mary and Baby Jesus.
Every evening many people gather around the “nuvere” to sing traditional Christmas carols played by the band or by “Ciaramellari”.
On the 24th of December people visit all the “nuvere” and watch the nativity performed by children.
An important tradition is the living crib “Natale tra fiaba e realtà” recited by adults in dialect on the 25th of December in some characteristic places of the town.
In the evenings relatives and friends usually join together in houses to play cards o bingo and to eat traditional sweet things such as panettone, biscotti di Natale
(Christmas biscuit in a shape of an S), mastazzola e vucciddati (biscuits filled with dried figs).
At school children and teachers use to sing and pray every morning in front of the “novena”. The last school days before Christmas holidays parents are invited to see their children’s recitals.
On the 6th of January parishioners wear beautiful costumes and act the nativity outside the mother Church.









Tu scendi dalle stelle

Tu scendi dalle stelle
o Re del Cielo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.

O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato!
Ah, quantoTi costò
L’averci amato.
Ah, quantoTi costò
L’averci amato.

A Te che sei del mondo,
Il Creatore,
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.

Caro eletto, pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
Più mi innamora,
Giacchè Ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Giacchè Ti fece amor
Povero ancora.

You come down from the stars

You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heaven,
And you come in a cave
In the cold and frost.
And you come in a cave
In the cold and frost.

Oh Baby my Divine
I see you trembling here,
O Blessed God
Ah, how much does it cost you,
Your loving for us.
Ah, how much does it cost you,
Your loving for us.

For you, who are of the world
The Creator,
Need clothes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
Need clothes and fire,
Oh my Lord.

Dear elect, little Infant
As this poverty,
Makes me love you more,
Since Love made you,
Poor now.
Since Love made you,
Poor now.