In December most families set up a presipio depicting the Nativity Scene, this is usually home-made and as extravagant as possible.On Christmas Eve, candles are lit around the presepio as the children in the family take turns in telling the Christmas story and the family join together to offer prayers.December 24th is a day of abstinence from meat, but the evening meal is usually a very extravagant banquet. It generally includes capitone, which is a dish made from fried eels. A traditional vegetable dish is cardoni, which have Jerusalem artichokes and eggs as the main ingredients. Sweets include torrone, which is a nougat, and cannoli, pastries made with cream cheese. The famous Panforte of Siena is also included in these feasts.Gifts are given out after Midnight Mass.
