Christmas in Italy

Happy Holidays everyone!!!
Thought you all would like to hear about what Christmas was like in Italy. To be honest, the main events of Christmas weren't very different. We put up a Christmas Tree with ornaments and tinsel, we went to Christmas Eve Mass, and had a big meal with the extended family on Christmas Day. However, there were many small details of Christmas that were different, starting with school. For the last few days of school we did this thing called "autogestione" which is where the students get to do what they want (basically, they can pick from a bunch of different stations to go to for these 2 hours of the school day. For example, Musicale, School of Rock, or Literature). I went to the Musicale "circolo" which was so much fun! It was like a school dance except in the basement of the school. Then on the last day before vacation we had a local band come to the school to perform a concert (again in the basement) and my class had a party (I ate SO much!).
Christmas Eve we had a big dinner with the family and opened presents and after we went to church (however with friends). The mass was really beautiful, though I was pretty tired seeing as it was at midnight! I gave my host brother a Boston University sweatshirt and a red sox hat and I actually see him wearing it all the time! For Christmas we ate a bunch... AGAIN! Then that evening my host sister and I went to see the Nativity Scene in our town. And what was strange is that that night we went out with friends. Even though Christmas Day had ended the "festa" still continues up until Epiphany... when the "befana" comes! Merry Christmas all!!