It's the season of joy and loving. Yes it’s Christmas and the best place to celebrate Christmas is in Rome, the country that fought for Christianity and housed the sacred city the Vatican City.  Though the weather might blow off a little bit (temperature is close to freezing)  but the events, celebrations and traditions of Romans in celebrating Christmas may be enough to make you stay.

The Christmas in Rome starts when the pope visits the Spanish Square it is on December 8 where flowers are placed at the steps as decorations it ends at the Santa Maria Maggiore where the pope gives a special mass.

There would be a little problem in transportation because in Rome, the railway shuts down completely during Christmas but as I said it is better to travel Rome by foot especially if you are living in the central Rome itself.

Christmas in Rome is usually celebrated at the Vatican City where the pope gives a special mass on December 24 at the Papal chapel St Peters. The next day the pope will also give a mass on December 25 at the high altar of St. Peters cathedral. There is also a Christmas lunch after the pope’s mass although some restaurants are closed at Christmas day some big hotels houses an open restaurant for travellers enjoying their stay.  The Hotel Eden is also known for its great restaurant,  it’s a bit of a high priced pay but it’s an experience where money is not a value.

The next big thing about Christmas at Rome is its Christmas bazaars in the piazza Navona where this huge space is literally converted into a Christmas central filled with lots of great Christmas gifts for your family.  Santa also walks at this Christmas central asking young kids what they want for Christmas. Large Christmas trees are found on the streets of Rome to part take the Christmas bazaar. The largest Christmas tree is located at the center of St. Peters cathedral in Rome where it became a tradition since pope John Paul II started it in 1982.  The tree is a gift from Italy’s nation.

Rome’s traditional holiday favorites are the sweet breads, the “Pandoro and Panettone". They are a must have at Rome in Christmas and is usually accompanied by the bubbly “Spumante”. No holiday in Rome is complete without these two.

Sometimes we can all benefit from the power of a little unselfish giving, especially during the holidays. Each year in Rome a massive banquet is organized by the Roman Community at the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. In recent years over 2,000 of Rome’s neediest citizens have been served a proper Christmas meal at this special event.  While most volunteers are organized in advance, surely last minute donations of clothes, toys and/or money would be much appreciated.

This is something that people in Rome are proud for, they show the essence of Christmas is in giving to those who need it the most.