Christmas wishes for in-laws USA families love to send at the holidays carry warmth, gratitude, and a little American cheer. Whether you are writing to your mother-in-law in Texas, your father-in-law in Ohio, or your brother-in-law and sister-in-law across the country, the right words can make the family dinner feel even closer. This list brings together heartfelt, funny, and short messages made for American homes, snowy mornings, and long drives home for Christmas. In-laws become family in the truest sense at Christmas. They welcome you to the table, share treasured recipes, cheer for the same football team, and help trim the tree. A thoughtful wish thanks them for that welcome and tells them how much their love means through the year. Use these 45 wishes in a card, a text, a holiday letter, or a toast at the table. Pick one that fits your family, add a personal line about a shared memory, and send it early so it arrives before the turkey is carved and the eggnog is poured. Last up...
Christmas in Rome is unlike Christmas anywhere else. The Eternal City pairs 2,000 years of history with some of the world's most moving holiday traditions — from the Pope's Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to handcrafted presepi glowing in every church doorway.
Roman Christmas is a full season, not a single day — December 8 to January 6. This guide covers the traditions, food, markets, and practical details for 2026. Buon Natale!
Last updated: September 19, 2026
Jump to: The Vatican at Christmas | Presepi Tradition | La Vigilia Feast | Roman Christmas Foods | Christmas Markets | Santo Stefano, New Year's & La Befana | Practical Tips | FAQ
The Vatican at Christmas: Tree, Presepe & Midnight Mass
Each December, St. Peter's Square becomes the spiritual heart of Christmas in Rome: a towering tree — donated yearly by a different region or country — stands beside a life-size presepe, unveiled in a fresh artistic vision every year.
The peak is the Pope's Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on December 24 — free tickets, requested months ahead, or watch on giant screens in the square with thousands under the December sky. A lovely alternative: midnight Mass in the ancient Pantheon.
On Christmas Day at noon, the Pope gives the Urbi et Orbi blessing ("to the city and the world") from the basilica's loggia, greeting crowds in dozens of languages.
The Presepi Tradition: Rome's Living Nativity Culture
The presepe (plural presepi), created by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223, is the soul of Roman Christmas. On December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, families set up their nativities — baby Jesus added on Christmas Eve — and presepi appear in shop windows, balconies, and piazzas citywide.
Where to see Rome's best presepi
- St. Peter's Square — the monumental life-size Vatican presepe.
- 100 Presepi exhibition — an international nativity show with artists worldwide.
- Santa Maria Maggiore — one of Rome's oldest, most venerated displays.
- Santa Maria in Aracoeli — famed for its beloved Santo Bambino (Holy Child).
- Via dei Coronari workshops — handcrafted presepio Napoletano figurines: shepherds, angels, market stalls, tiny pizza ovens. A hand-painted figurine is the most authentic Roman Christmas souvenir.
La Vigilia: The Christmas Eve Seafood Feast
La Vigilia di Natale is the most important food night of the Roman holidays. With no meat on December 24, families gather for the Cena della Vigilia — a multi-course seafood feast, sometimes called the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
What Romans eat on Christmas Eve
- Baccalà — salt cod, baked or fried; the star of the table.
- Capitone — marinated eel, a classic Roman specialty.
- Spaghetti alle vongole — spaghetti with clams.
- Frittura di pesce — golden fry of shrimp, calamari, and small fish.
- Insalata di rinforzo — pickled cauliflower, olive, and anchovy salad.
- Linguine ai frutti di mare — festive seafood linguine.
- Polpo — tender octopus salad with lemon and olive oil.
- Cozze gratinate — baked mussels with breadcrumbs and herbs.
- Salmone marinato — citrus-cured salmon.
Roman Christmas Foods: Panettone, Pandoro & Torrone
Beyond the feast, the season overflows with sweets from the city's historic pasticcerie:
- Panettone — Milan's tall fruit cake, beloved nationwide; Romans argue over the best bakery version.
- Pandoro — Verona's star-shaped golden cake dusted with vanilla "snow."
- Torrone — honey-almond nougat, hard Cremona or soft Sicilian style.
- Pangiallo — Rome's own Christmas cake: dried fruit, nuts, honey, and candied citrus.
- Mostaccioli — chocolate-covered spice biscuits.
- Befanini — buttery cookies baked for Epiphany (January 6).
On Christmas Day, lunch is the main event — tortellini in brodo, lasagne, roast meats, mountains of sweets. Book restaurants weeks ahead.
Christmas Markets: Piazza Navona & Beyond
Piazza Navona's market is pure magic: the Baroque square fills with wooden stalls of handmade toys, nativity figurines, and sweets beneath Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, with a vintage carousel spinning for children.
- Piazza Navona — Rome's largest market, open through early January with Befana toy stalls.
- Auditorium Parco della Musica — a Christmas village with crafts, food, and an ice rink.
- Castel Sant'Angelo — an ice rink beside the illuminated fortress.
For festive lights, stroll Via del Corso and Via Condotti after dark, and see the giant tree at Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum glowing at night.
Beyond December 25: Santo Stefano, New Year's & La Befana
- Festa di Santo Stefano (Dec 26) — St. Stephen's Day is a public holiday: a second long family lunch and an evening passeggiata through the lights.
- New Year's Eve (Capodanno) — fireworks over the Tiber, piazza concerts, and dinner of cotechino (pork sausage) with lenticchie (lentils) — the coin-shaped lentils symbolize wealth. Wear red for good luck.
- La Befana (Jan 6, Epiphany) — Italy's beloved Christmas witch fills children's stockings on January 5 night. Piazza Navona's market stays open through Epiphany, when the season closes.
Practical Tips for a Festive Season in Rome
- Key dates: Dec 8 (Immaculate Conception) to Jan 6 (Epiphany). Midnight Mass: Dec 24. Urbi et Orbi: Dec 25 at noon.
- Closures: Colosseum closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day; Vatican Museums closed Dec 25–26 and Jan 1 & 6. Many restaurants close Christmas Day — book ahead.
- Crowds: busy but far quieter than summer; book Vatican and Colosseum tickets weeks ahead.
- Weather: mild for Europe — 8–14°C (46–57°F), crisp days, chilly evenings. Pack layers, a warm coat, and an umbrella.
- Getting around: central Rome is wonderfully walkable in December — enjoy the lights on foot after dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Buon Natale" mean?
Buon Natale means "Merry Christmas" in Italian — heard everywhere in Rome through December and into early January.
What is La Vigilia?
Christmas Eve: a lavish multi-course seafood dinner (no meat), the Feast of the Seven Fishes — baccalà, eel, clams, fried seafood.
Is the Pope's Midnight Mass open to the public?
Yes, but free tickets are limited — request them months ahead via the Prefecture of the Papal Household, or watch on the square's giant screens.
What is Santo Stefano?
St. Stephen's Day (December 26) is a public holiday: a long family lunch and an evening stroll through the lights.
Who is La Befana?
Italy's Christmas witch, delivering candy to children on January 5 night (Epiphany Eve) — as beloved as Santa Claus.
When do decorations go up in Rome?
December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception: families set up their presepi and the city's trees and lights switch on.
More Christmas Inspiration
- 25 Best Christmas Traditions in Italy: Food & Customs (2026)
- 40 Best Merry Christmas Wishes in Italian (2026)
- 15 Best Christmas Markets in Germany (2026)
- 50 Best Christmas Eve Wishes & Messages (2026)
Midnight Mass under the Vatican's glow, a hand-painted presepe figurine, pangiallo in a candlelit trattoria — Christmas in Rome is a season you'll carry with you long after the lights come down. Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!
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