Events: La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 Spaghetti Fundraiser Friday, September 25th

 

A North County Italian American Spaghetti Fundraiser in Carlsbad

La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 — Friday, September 25, 2026

For visitors looking for a relaxed Italian American community evening in North County San Diego, the La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 Spaghetti Fundraiser offers a simple, welcoming local event built around food, fellowship, and heritage. Hosted by La Costa dei Fiori, the North County San Diego lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the dinner features spaghetti with meatballs, salad, and bread for $20, with the option to eat in or carry out.

The event takes place Friday, September 25, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at La Costa Valley Club, 2280 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009. The lodge’s official website describes La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 as a North County organization that brings together Italian Americans, spouses, friends, and supporters to celebrate Italian culture and community.

About the Host Organization

La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 is part of the larger Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, a national Italian American organization founded in 1905. OSDIA describes its mission as preserving Italian heritage, encouraging cultural connection, supporting charitable causes, and strengthening Italian American identity across generations.

The California Grand Lodge history identifies La Costa Dei Fiori Lodge No. 2424 as having been founded in Encinitas on October 22, 1978, making it a long-standing part of the Italian American community in North County San Diego.

Why Go

This is the kind of event that reflects the heart of Italian American community life: a plate of pasta, a local lodge, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a fundraiser that helps keep cultural organizations active. It is not a large street festival or tourist spectacle. It is a neighborhood-style dinner where visitors can experience Italian American fellowship in a more personal setting.

It also makes a good excuse to build a North County evening or weekend around Carlsbad, La Costa, Encinitas, the beach, shopping, and nearby family attractions.

Event Details

Event: Spaghetti with Meatballs, Salad & Bread Fundraiser
Host: La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424, Sons & Daughters of Italy
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: La Costa Valley Club, 2280 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009
Cost: $20
Dining: Eat in or carry out
Contact listed on flyer: sdilodge2424@gmail.com
Official lodge website: (2) Sons & Daughters of Italy, North County San Diego | Facebook

Before traveling, confirm directly with the lodge, since fundraiser details, payment methods, and meal pickup procedures can change.

Suggested Itinerary

Afternoon Arrival

Arrive in Carlsbad or La Costa by midafternoon. If you are coming from San Diego, Orange County, or Inland North County, give yourself extra time for Friday traffic. Check into your hotel, stop for coffee, or take a short walk around the area before dinner.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Dinner at the Fundraiser

The dinner begins at 4:00 PM, making it convenient for families, retirees, locals, and visitors who prefer an early meal. Arriving earlier may be helpful if you want to eat in, avoid the busiest pickup window, or spend more time meeting lodge members.

After Dinner: Easy North County Evening

After dinner, consider a short drive to Carlsbad Village for coffee, dessert, shopping, or a sunset walk near the coast. Carlsbad Village is one of the area’s most walkable districts, with dining, beach access, and free public parking lots in the Village area, though posted time limits may apply.

Where to Stay

For the closest upscale stay, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is the natural choice. The resort is located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, close to the La Costa area, and offers golf, spa amenities, restaurants, pools, and a full resort experience. Omni lists the property as having 36 holes of golf, eight pools, and a full-service spa.

For a broader range of lodging, Visit Carlsbad maintains a hotel directory that includes beach hotels, luxury resorts, vacation rentals, and budget-friendly options.

Good lodging areas include:

La Costa / Aviara: Best for staying closest to the fundraiser, resort amenities, golf, spa experiences, and a quieter North County setting.

Carlsbad Village: Best for visitors who want restaurants, beach walks, shops, coffee, nightlife, and a more walkable coastal experience.

Near LEGOLAND / The Flower Fields area: Best for families turning the fundraiser into a weekend trip with children.

Carlsbad beach hotels: Best for visitors who want ocean views and a more vacation-like stay.

Where to Eat

Since the fundraiser itself is centered on spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and bread, you may not need a full restaurant meal the same evening. Still, Carlsbad has plenty of options if you want to make a full day of it.

Near La Costa, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa lists several on-site dining options, including Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Bar Traza, VUE, Marketplace, Spa Café, and other resort dining choices.

For shopping-center dining, The Shoppes at Carlsbad lists a variety of restaurants and eateries, while Visit Carlsbad notes full-service options there such as The Cheesecake Factory, Yard House, Texas de Brazil, and Beshock Ramen & Sake Bar.

For a more local coastal feel, head into Carlsbad Village, where the Village dining directory includes options ranging from casual meals to fine dining.

Other Attractions Nearby

Carlsbad Beaches

Carlsbad is known for its coastal setting and beach access. Visit Carlsbad describes the city as having seven miles of Pacific coastline, with beaches suited for walking, surfing, fishing, birdwatching, and relaxing.

The City of Carlsbad notes that many of the beaches are managed by California State Parks, with lifeguards, restrooms, picnic areas, and parking lots provided through the state park system.

Carlsbad Village

Carlsbad Village is a good add-on before or after the dinner. It offers restaurants, cafés, shops, coastal access, and a more traditional beach-town atmosphere.

LEGOLAND California Resort

Families can turn the fundraiser into a weekend trip by adding LEGOLAND California. Visit Carlsbad lists LEGOLAND California Resort and SEA LIFE Aquarium among the city’s major attractions.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

The Flower Fields are seasonal, so they will not be in peak spring bloom during late September, but the surrounding area remains a major Carlsbad visitor district with shopping, restaurants, and family attractions. Visit Carlsbad lists The Flower Fields among the city’s well-known attractions.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Even for visitors not staying overnight, the La Costa area is strongly associated with resort culture, golf, spa experiences, and relaxed North County leisure. Omni notes that the resort is near attractions including The Flower Fields, LEGOLAND, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo.

Transportation, Getting There, Getting Around, and Parking

The fundraiser location is in Carlsbad’s La Costa area, which is easiest to reach by car. Visitors coming from San Diego can take I-5 north or I-15 north to Highway 78 / local roads, depending on their starting point. From Orange County or Los Angeles, the most direct route is usually I-5 south.

For visitors planning to spend time in Carlsbad Village, the Village is accessible by car from Interstate 5 via Carlsbad Village Drive or from the coast along Carlsbad Boulevard. Carlsbad Village Association notes that on-street parking and public lots in the Village are free, though three-hour limits are enforced where posted.

For the fundraiser itself, check the lodge or venue for event-specific parking instructions. Since the event is at a community club location rather than a large festival site, arriving early is wise, especially during the dinner rush.

Weather and What to Pack

Late September is usually one of the more comfortable times of year in coastal North County. Visit Carlsbad lists September averages around 73°F for the high and 61°F for the low, with light average rainfall.

Pack:

A light jacket or sweater for the evening
Comfortable shoes
Casual dinner clothes
Sunglasses if arriving earlier in the day
Cash and card, in case payment options vary
A cooler bag if carrying out multiple dinners

Practical Tips

Confirm the event directly with the lodge before traveling, especially if you are coming from outside North County.

Arrive early if you want to eat in, socialize, or avoid the busiest pickup period.

Bring small bills, even if digital payment is available, since community fundraisers sometimes use multiple payment methods.

Make a full evening of it by pairing the dinner with Carlsbad Village, a beach walk, or dessert nearby.

For families, the 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM time window is convenient because it allows for an early dinner and an easy drive home.

Final Thought

The La Costa dei Fiori spaghetti fundraiser is more than a pasta dinner. It is a small but meaningful expression of Italian American community life in North County San Diego. Events like this keep local lodges visible, bring people together around the table, and preserve the warm, informal traditions that have always been central to Italian American culture: food, family, friendship, service, and a good plate of spaghetti.

Facebook page: (2) Sons & Daughters of Italy, North County San Diego | Facebook

Events: A Retro Night Out in San Diego’s Little Italy: Rock & Roll Fundraiser at Amici House July 26th

 

Events: A Retro Night Out in San Diego’s Little Italy: Rock & Roll Fundraiser at Amici House

San Diego’s Little Italy is already one of the city’s best neighborhoods for an evening stroll, but on Sunday, July 26, it gets a full 1950s makeover. The Rock & Roll Fundraiser, a vintage-themed night at Amici House in Little Italy, brings together dancing, vinyl-era music, root beer floats, food, drinks, and a little old-school glamour under the stars.

The event runs 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 250 W. Date Street, right by Amici Park. Tickets are listed at $50 per person, ages 18 and up, with proceeds supporting Convivio’s cultural and heritage work. Convivio’s calendar also lists the event as the Rock & Roll Revival! Party at AmiciBar.

What to Expect

Think poodle skirts, leather jackets, classic cars, jukebox energy, and a dance floor made for a summer evening. The flyer promises DJ vinyl hits, retro dancing, root beer floats, and food and drinks, so guests can come ready for a casual but festive night.

The setting is part of the charm. Amici House is not a big anonymous event hall. It is a historic Little Italy home with a neighborhood feel, making it a fitting backdrop for a fundraiser rooted in memory, music, and community.

For visitors, this is the kind of event that turns a San Diego trip into something more local. Come early, walk through Little Italy, grab coffee or dinner nearby, then head to Amici House as the evening cools down.

A Brief History of Convivio Society

The event is connected to Convivio, a San Diego nonprofit dedicated to Italian arts, culture, heritage, and community-building. The organization was founded in 2003 by Tom Cesarini and is a registered 501(c)(3) charity. Its name comes from Dante’s Convivio, but the organization also uses the word in its everyday Italian sense: gathering, sharing, breaking bread, and enjoying conversation.

Convivio’s work focuses heavily on preserving San Diego’s Italian American story. Through education, archival projects, exhibitions, events, and oral-history efforts, it helps keep Little Italy’s immigrant history visible for future generations. Its Italian Digital History Initiative, established in 2006, collects and preserves photographs, documents, oral histories, and other historical materials from the local Italian community.

Why Amici House Matters

Amici House has its own story. The building was originally the home of the Giacalone family, part of Little Italy’s Italian fishing community. Antonino Giacalone and his wife Josephine arrived in San Diego in 1916, and Antonino became known in the neighborhood as “Cadorna,” or “the general,” for his reputation as a fisherman. When Piazza della Famiglia was developed, the historic house was moved and preserved at Amici Park. Today, it is home to Convivio and serves as a place where visitors can learn about San Diego’s Italian American community.

That makes the Rock & Roll Fundraiser more than a themed party. It is a night of music and dancing in a house that carries the neighborhood’s past, hosted by a group working to keep that past alive.

About the Event

The evening is built around a 1950s theme, with a DJ spinning vinyl-era hits, retro dancing, food and drinks, and classic throwback treats like root beer floats. Guests are encouraged to dress the part, but the atmosphere is meant to be fun and welcoming, not formal.

The location adds a lot to the experience. Amici House sits near Amici Park and Little Italy’s main dining streets, so visitors can easily turn the fundraiser into a full evening out before or after the event.

Event details:
Rock & Roll Revival! Party / Rock & Roll Fundraiser
Date: Sunday, July 26
Time: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Amici House, 250 W. Date Street, San Diego
Tickets: $50
Ages: 18+

Transportation, Getting There, and Parking

Amici House is located at 250 W. Date Street, close to Amici Park, India Street, and the heart of Little Italy. The neighborhood is very walkable, especially in the early evening.

For public transportation, the San Diego Trolley is a convenient option. MTS trolley service connects downtown San Diego with other parts of the region, including East County, UC San Diego, South Bay, and the Mexico border. The nearest useful stop for many visitors is County Center/Little Italy Station, which serves the Little Italy area.

If you are coming from San Diego International Airport, Little Italy is close by. Travel guides commonly describe the neighborhood as about a 10-minute drive from the airport, depending on traffic. Rideshare is usually simple, though airport and downtown traffic can slow things down around dinner time.

Parking in Little Italy can be busy, especially on weekends and event nights. The Little Italy Association lists several paid parking options, including the 610 W. Ash Street garage and Piazza della Famiglia Underground Parking on Columbia Street. Rates and availability can change, so it is best to check before you go.

A practical plan: arrive early, park once, and walk. Little Italy is best enjoyed on foot.

Where to Stay

For the easiest experience, stay in Little Italy, Waterfront, Columbia District, or Downtown San Diego. These areas put you close to Amici House, restaurants, the waterfront, and public transportation.

A nearby boutique option is La Pensione Hotel, located at 606 W. Date Street, only a short walk from Amici House. Visitors who want more hotel options can also look along the waterfront near Harbor Drive or downtown near Santa Fe Depot. Those areas are still close enough for a quick rideshare or trolley ride.

Little Italy itself is a strong choice for travelers who want to walk to dinner, cafés, galleries, bars, and Piazza della Famiglia. The San Diego Tourism Authority describes the neighborhood as a lively area with patio cafés, restaurants, pubs, galleries, shops, boutique hotels, and public gathering spaces.

Weather and What to Wear

July evenings in San Diego are usually comfortable, especially near the coast. Average July highs are typically in the mid-70s, with evenings cooling into the 60s. Rain is not common in summer, but the marine layer can bring cooler air after sunset.

For this event, wear something you can dance in. A light jacket or cardigan is smart, especially if you plan to stay outside into the evening. For the 1950s theme, think swing dresses, poodle skirts, red lipstick, rolled jeans, bowling shirts, leather jackets, cat-eye glasses, or classic sneakers.

Make It a Little Italy Evening

Arrive before the fundraiser and take time to explore the neighborhood. Little Italy is one of San Diego’s easiest districts to enjoy without a strict plan. You can walk India Street, stop at Piazza della Famiglia, browse shops, grab an espresso, or have an early dinner before the music starts.

If you are visiting from out of town, pair the event with a waterfront walk before sunset. The harbor, Maritime Museum area, and Waterfront Park are all nearby, so you can turn the evening into a relaxed downtown San Diego outing.

Food, Drinks, and Nearby Dining

The event flyer mentions food and drinks, along with root beer floats, so guests can expect light bites or refreshments as part of the evening experience. For a fuller meal, Little Italy has plenty of restaurants within a short walk.

Before the event, consider an early dinner so you are not rushing. Afterward, the neighborhood still has options for dessert, coffee, or a nightcap, depending on the day and restaurant hours.

Who This Event Is Best For

This event is a good fit for couples, friend groups, vintage fans, dancers, local-history lovers, and visitors who want something more memorable than a standard dinner reservation. It is also a strong choice for anyone interested in supporting cultural preservation in Little Italy while enjoying a lively summer evening.

Quick Travel Tips

Buy tickets early, since neighborhood fundraisers can be limited in size. Give yourself extra time for parking or rideshare drop-off. Bring a light layer, wear comfortable shoes, and lean into the theme. The more you dress for the night, the more fun the photos will be.

Learn More & Get Tickets Here

Events: Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner in San Diego November

 

Events: A Little Italy Tradition: Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner in San Diego

Every fall, San Diego’s Little Italy smells a little more like home. The streets around Our Lady of the Rosary Church fill with the kind of warmth you can’t fake: red sauce simmering, volunteers moving with purpose, families catching up in line, and plates of spaghetti served the way Italian Americans understand best, generously.

The Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner is one of Little Italy’s most beloved annual traditions. Hosted as a parish fundraiser, the dinner brings together longtime parishioners, neighborhood families, visitors, and anyone who appreciates a good plate of pasta made with care. The event has been promoted as the longest-running event in Little Italy, with the 2025 dinner listed as the 86th annual celebration.

For travelers, it is more than a meal. It is a window into the living culture of San Diego’s Italian community.

What to Expect

The dinner is simple in the best possible way: spaghetti, homemade meatballs, homemade sauce, salad, bread, dessert, and, for adults, wine. The Little Italy Association describes the meal as featuring homemade meatballs and homemade sauce, served with the classic sides that make it feel like a complete Italian American dinner.

The atmosphere is casual, welcoming, and family-friendly. You do not need to be a parishioner to attend. In fact, part of the beauty of the event is that everyone feels like they belong once they are seated with a plate in front of them.

The dinner is held at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Hall in Little Italy, close to the restaurants, shops, and waterfront that make this neighborhood one of San Diego’s most walkable destinations.

A Brief History of Our Lady of the Rosary Church

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church has been a cornerstone of San Diego’s Little Italy for nearly a century. The dream of an Italian parish began in 1921 with Father Sylvester Rabagliati, an Italian-born priest and student of St. John Bosco. The church was established in 1925 to serve San Diego’s growing Italian Catholic community.

For generations, it was more than a place to attend Mass. It became the spiritual, social, and cultural center of Little Italy, especially for fishing families and immigrants who helped shape the neighborhood. The Little Italy Association notes that the church “guided fisherman safely to shore” and served families who built the community around it.

That history is still visible today. The church remains one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks, and its restoration ahead of its centennial helped preserve the beauty of its artwork, marble, and sacred interior.

Why This Dinner Matters

I regularly support this fundraiser as a member of the community. When I can, I volunteer at the dinner as a parish member and as a brother Knight in the Knights of Columbus. When I cannot volunteer, I still support it by buying a dinner.

And it is absolutely worth it.

The spaghetti, meatballs, and sauce are made from scratch with authentic ingredients and recipes. This is not a small, polite serving of pasta. They fill your plate the way any good Italian American should: with pride, generosity, and just enough sauce to remind you why traditions like this last.

What makes the dinner special is not only the food. It is the feeling behind it. You see parishioners working side by side, Knights helping where they are needed, families returning year after year, and visitors discovering that Little Italy’s heritage is still alive in the people who show up to serve.

Planning Your Visit

The dinner is tied to the first weekend of November. Past event listings show Saturday dates, including Saturday, November 4, 2023, and Saturday, November 1, 2025.

For 2026, the first Friday of November falls on November 6, but I could not verify a published 2026 event listing yet. Travelers should check the parish’s official website or the event page closer to the date before making firm plans.

A good plan is to make an afternoon or evening of it. Walk through Little Italy, visit the church, enjoy dinner at the parish hall, then take a short stroll toward the waterfront or through the neighborhood’s cafés and shops.

Why You Should Go

San Diego has plenty of polished food events, but the Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner has something better: roots.

It is local, personal, and full of heart. It feeds the parish, supports the community, and gives visitors a taste of Little Italy that cannot be recreated by a restaurant menu alone. For anyone looking for a meaningful San Diego experience in November, this dinner belongs on the list.

For information on the 2026 Spaghetti Dinner, visit the parish website here: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church – Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy, San Diego and/or on Facebook here: (1) Facebook

Ideas On How To Celebrate An Italian American Christmas

 Ideas On How To Celebrate An Italian American Christmas

Christmas season 2024 is here and that means getting excited for familiar and comforting traditions, great food, gifts, parties, and getting together with family. For many it is their favorite holiday, not so much for the material or financial gifts they receive but for the gifts of family, friends and togetherness they celebrate. Much like the American Thanksgiving, but on a universal level, being shared by just about every peoples across the world. Here is a link to actual Christmas traditions in Italy, but for purposes of this article I want to focus on the American descendants of the great wave of Italian immigrants. You see, many of us have "Americanized" and integrated so well into American society that there is little that distinguishes us as "Italian," other than our last names, and for some even that has been changed. Christmas is no different. Many Italian American families today celebrate it the American way: Mass or church attendance on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, Christmas light looking, a big dinner and family get together, the story of Santa Claus, the one popularized by American writers, cartoonists and corporate advertisers like for Coca Cola, (go here and/or here for more about the history of Santa Claus), and the unwrapping of presents, usually on Christmas Day but sometimes on Christmas Eve. These are all great, fun and wonderful traditions, but fort those who want to reclaim a bit of their Italian heritage, or for non-Italians who simply want to add something different to their holiday traditions or enjoy some cultural diversity, here are some ideas on how to make your Christmas more "Italian American."

1.) Buon Natale!

If you forgot or never knew it, try learning and speaking Italian, starting with saying "Merry Christmas" in Italian, "Buon Natale!" "Happy New Year" is "Felice Anno Nuovo!" You may already have the Italian colors of red, white and green around of course!

2.) Attend Traditional Masses:

You could attend The Mass of The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics anyways, and of course, and when the Christmas season in Italy gets "into high gear" according to The Proud Italian, and a Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. I suggest attending ones that are held in Italian. Even if you're not Catholic, many parishes will do something special for Christmas. My parish, Our Lady of the Rosary, an Italian National Parish in San Diego's Little Italy, for example holds a Christmas play involving young parishioners dressed up as the Holy Family reenacting the first Christmas, then would sing Christmas carols before the final Midnight Mass.

Christmas Carols at Our Lady of the Rosary:

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary:

3.) Presepi

For the Presepi, or for Americans the traditional Manger or Nativity Scene, according to The Proud Italian, "Italians take pride in the amount of love and detail they put into all things creative. When it comes to building their own unique versions of the Nativity Scene, this is no different. They combine the traditional scene and add their own personal twists into their creation by adding Ferrari’s, football players, and a variety of other 'Italian things.' Not only are these masterpieces called presepi all individual and very personal. They are also created by their makers using all sorts of materials, including pasta and nuts, to name a few." You may want to personalize your American Nativity Scene in some way to imitate an Italian Presepi.

4.) La Befana! Italians have the story of La Befana, the Christmas Witch. According to The Proud Italian, "Christmas gifts to the children in Italy are believed to be given by the ever searching, good-hearted witch called La Befana. The legend goes that she was asked by the shepherds to accompany them on their journey to visit the baby Jesus. Apparently, she declined due to having had too many house chores to complete. It is said that she later had a change of heart and followed suit. She is believed to still be searching for this child today, and leaves gifts for the kids, wherever she goes along in her journey. To find out more about this magnificent and mysterious woman, read our La Befana Article." In addition to Santa, try telling the story of La Befana as well, it just makes the holiday that more fun and culturally diverse.

5.) Music

Of course, your choice of music is subjective and either way you'll have some Christmas songs playing. But try listening to Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli, and Dean Martin just to name a few old Italian American favorites, or to actual Italian Christmas music in Italian.

6.) Food

Next to Jesus Christ and family, food is the next important thing at Christmas time to Italians of course! Many Italian American families eat traditional American Christmas dishes, but, like in Thanksgiving, add something Italian to the table, usually a pasta dish like lasagna. Desserts of course include Italian cookies, cannoli, and such. Try adding something "Italian" to your Christmas dinner and dessert!

Panettone, an Italian type of sweet bread with a cupola shape, is also an Italian Christmas food tradition some families have. You can learn more about it here and here.

In addition, some families still celebrate The Feast of the Seven Fishes. Eataly.com says this about this "Italian tradition":

"Typically, the family gathers around a feast of seven different seafood dishes or one or two different types of fish prepared in seven different ways.

"Despite its popularity among Americans, many Italians do not even know about the tradition — or its origin. Surprised? The answer can be found in the biodiversity of Italy: the country boasts so many differences between the north and south.

"...The ancient tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic custom of abstinence from meat and dairy products on the eve of certain holidays, including Christmas. The number seven is rooted back in ancient times and it can be connected to multiple Catholic symbols: in fact, the seven seems repeated more than 700 times in the Bible. Also, according to the Roman Catholic Church, seven are the sacraments, the days of the Creation, as well as the deadly sins. Hence seven courses!

"Flash forward to the early 1900s, when the official "Feast of the Seven Fishes" first emerged. Italian-American families rekindled the Old Country's Christmas Eve tradition by preparing a seven-course seafood meal (hence the name of the newly found tradition) that both made them feel close to their homes, while celebrating the sea, a major connection in Italy. Today, it's considered one of the oldest Italian traditions — but we give America credit for that!"

If you have the time and energy and feel adventurous, why not have a meal of seven types of different seafood dishes and celebrate The Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas?

7.) Family togetherness....crowded and loud!

The most important part of Christmas is in fact celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but next to that is the gathering with family....or people we consider family. Why not make it a crowded one? Oh sure, because of covid now you might want to keep it smaller and have some social distancing, but that's not typically easy for Italians! Even if it has to be outdoors, I suggest having a big gathering of "family" and make sure, like any Italians, they talk loud and use their hands a lot! You non-Italians can watch and learn! lol

8.) Honorable Mention: Visit a Little Italy at Christmastime

Though not easy for everyone, I suggest visiting a Little Italy neighborhood at Christmastime. On the West Coast we have North Beach in San Francisco, Little Italy San Jose , Little Italy in San Diego, and now a "Little Italy" in LA (in San Pedro) and in Sacramento! Normally these neighborhoods, like any American neighborhood, would be decorated very festively for Christmas and other holidays and be bustling with holiday shopping and food, and sometimes even with events and activities like the Christmas Village and Tree Lighting in San Diego (Video of 2019) (2021 flyer).

Well, that's it, that's what I have found through some quick research and from family memories on ideas on how to make Christmas "Italian American." If there is anything I left out or if I made any mistakes, please let me know (respectfully) in the comments, and feel free to share how your own family and friends celebrate Christmas! Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!

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