What does Christmas really look like in a small town in Italy? In this video, I take you along for a cozy winter day as we prepare for Christmas the Italian way—through local food, small family-run shops, and quiet traditions you won’t see in big cities or travel guides. It's not as nice or put together as you might find in a city like Rome or Florence, but it's beautiful to me because this is home! We begin with Christmas shopping in Italy, visiting a local caseificio to buy fresh Italian cheese and stopping at a neighborhood pasticceria for traditional Italian pastries. These are the kinds of places locals shop for the holidays, especially in smaller Italian towns. Back at home, we make a classic Italian hot chocolate—thick, rich, and very different from American hot cocoa—before heading back out to see the Christmas lights in town and experience the peaceful holiday atmosphere of an Italian village. Italian-Americans and Italian diaspora are often so curious about Christmas traditions in Italy, once they realize things they thought were "Italian" are actually part of their own evolved culture (I see you, feast of the seven fishes). But even if you're not Italian and simply dreaming of traveling to Italy in winter, or intereste4d in real life in Italy beyond tourist hotspots, I got your back! Italian food, culture, and slow travel are my jam. If you’ve ever wondered how Christmas in Italy compares to Christmas in the US, this is an authentic look at everyday holiday life—simple, warm, and deeply connected to local traditions.