Italian Word of the Day for Dec. 24, 2024: Cenone

Meaning: Big dinner, feast

Part of Speech: noun

Translation: The Christmas Eve feast is an important tradition.

Context: Il cenone della vigilia è una tradizione importante.

Cultural nugget: The Christmas Eve cenone (big dinner) is an important family gathering in Italy. Following Catholic tradition, it's typically meat-free, with regional variations featuring local fish and seafood specialties, along with various antipasti, pasta dishes, and seasonal desserts. Each region and often each family has its own traditional menu for this special evening.