The 26th December marks Santo Stefano or St. Stephen's Day , a public holiday in Italy celebrating the first Christian martyr. Every corner of the country comes alive during this time. Museums reopen, villages sparkle, and markets invite visitors to explore wooden houses and nativity scenes that tell ancient stories. Almost every city in Italy hosts its own Christmas Village this year and on Boxing Day or Santo Stefano, in many Italian cities, wooden stalls remain open, offering crafts, traditional sweets, and gift ideas, and often ice-skating rinks for both adults and children. In Milan, the Piazza Duomo Christmas Market continues December 26th, along with attractions like ice rinks and performances. Rome also celebrates with its historic Christmas market in Piazza Navona, where visitors can wander among festive lights, sweets, and artisanal nativity scenes. The Nordic markets in Merano and Bolzano are still open and create a magical atmosphere.
On Santo Stefano or Boxing Day, people primarily enjoy leftovers from Christmas lunches but also prepare dishes that repurpose ingredients or celebrate regional traditions. Some popular dishes include Minestra Maritata (a vegetable soup from Campania), Tortellini in brodo (tortellini soup from the North), Stracciatella romana (a broth with eggs and parmesan), and desserts such as struffoli or Ligurian Pinolata. These meals often emphasise reducing waste and providing winter comfort.
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