Lights, music, colors and fun: with the arrival of Christmas, Bari dresses up in wonder!
Bari is the ideal destination for those who want to rediscover that Christmas magic that enchants the little ones and makes us adults feel like children again.
Are you wondering what makes Bari so special at Christmas?
We at Free Walking Tour Bari are very ready to let you discover the folk-tales and Christmas traditions of our city so that you can live a festive experience in a pure like a local style!
Get ready to take notes, because we are about to start a journey to discover the history of the typical Bari Christmas!
Santa Claus lives in Bari
In Bari, Santa Claus is at home!
The very nice grandfather dressed in red and with a white beard was born from the figure of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra in the 4th century AD and patron saint of our city.
Saint Nicholas is one of the most loved saints in the world, not only for his good fortune in becoming Santa Claus.
His cult unites Catholics and Orthodox, who meet in Bari on 6 December each year to venerate the relics of the saint preserved in the Basilica of San Nicola.
But how did this saint of the Christian tradition transform himself into the character most awaited by children?
Let’s find out together!
How Saint Nicholas of Bari became Santa Claus
Saint Nicholas is celebrated as the protector of the poor, unmarried girls and children, so it’s no surprise that his figure inspired the character of Santa Claus!
In Bari tradition there are many folk tales linked to the goodness and kindness of this Christian saint. But there are two stories that well describe the bond between Saint Nicholas and our beloved gift-bearer dressed in red.
The legend of the three golden balls
The most famous legend about Saint Nicholas tells of when the bishop met three young girls forced into prostitution to repay the debts of their father, a well-known merchant who had fallen into poverty.
Moved by the story of the three sisters, one night Saint Nicholas hid under their window and slipped a large sack containing three pure gold balls into their room.
Thanks to the gift of Saint Nicholas, the three girls managed to repay their father’s debts and were able to get married to their loved ones.
This is why Saint Nicholas is still represented today with three golden balls in his right hand, while the sack that contained this gift for the three girls was transformed into Santa Claus’ sack!
The legend of the starving children
Another legend explains why Saint Nicholas is considered the protector of children.
While bishop of Myra, Saint Nicholas was informed that children in a nearby town were starving due to famine.
Saint Nicholas immediately sailed to this unfortunate city, bringing with him supplies of bread, grain, fruits and vegetables.
As soon as he arrived in the country, the saint visited every single house and gave each child a sack full of food with which to resist until the end of the famine.
With his gifts, Saint Nicholas not only saved the lives of those children but was also recognized as the patron saint of childhood. And like him, Santa Claus also spends the night of December 24th visiting the homes of the little ones to leave bags full of gifts!
The celebration of Saint Nicholas of Bari
Given the enormous celebrity of Saint Nicholas, it should not surprise us that in Bari the Christmas celebrations begin on December 6th!
In fact, the traditional feast of Saint Nicholas takes place on December 6th and on this date the whole city is filled with unmissable events to experience Christmas like a local!
The celebrations begin at dawn on December 6th, with the traditional mass in the Basilica of San Nicola followed by a long torchlight procession through the streets of Bari Vecchia.
During the torchlight procession, the elderly ladies of the historic center distribute cups full of hot chocolate to the participants with which to recover their energy in view of the magical events of the day.
In fact, on the evening of December 6th, you can’t miss the lighting of the majestic Christmas tree in Piazza del Ferrarese!
It is a Christmas tree approximately 16 meters high and illuminated every year by at least 50 thousand light bulbs, which with its light officially announces the start of the Christmas holidays in Bari.
The Christmas markets in Bari
Starting from December 6th, the feast day of Saint Nicholas, Bari transforms into a huge open-air Christmas market.
From Via Venezia to Piazza Mercantile, the historic center of Bari is filled with traditional houses that host the local craft market.
The craft market, an unmissable stop on our Free Tour The First, is a unique opportunity to buy original Christmas gifts and support the small artisans of our city.
For the little ones, the magical Santa Claus Village takes shape in Piazza Umberto every year with a large ice skating rink where you might happen to meet Santa Claus himself!
Typical Christmas recipes in Bari
Do you know what can never be missing from Christmas in Bari? That’s right, traditional desserts!
With the arrival of the Christmas holidays, the cuisine of Bari is filled with the aromas of recipes that are handed down from generation to generation.
If you want to enjoy the flavors of Christmas like a true Bari local, then you can’t miss three of our traditional desserts: the Cartellate, the Sasanelli and the Occhi di Santa Lucia.
READ ALSO: What to eat in Bari: the typical dishes of Bari cuisine
The Cartellate
The most famous Christmas desserts in Bari are certainly the Cartellate, with their iconic shape reminiscent of a small basket.
Their name derives from the Greek κάρταλλος (kàrtallos), which means “basket”. According to legend, in fact, the Cartellate represent the basket in which Baby Jesus was placed after being born in the manger.
Cartellate are prepared by kneading flour, oil, white wine, salt and water. After rolling out this dough with a rolling pin, it is cut into strips with a toothed wheel. Each strip is then rolled up on itself to create the classic spiral shape.
Once fried in abundant olive oil, the Cartellate can be seasoned with honey or vincotto.
The Sasanelli
If during the holiday period you happen to find small biscuits shaped like a wrinkled stone on the tables of Bari, don’t worry: these are Sasanelli, a typical Christmas dessert in Bari!
Their curious name derives from the rustic shape of these biscuits, which resembles that of a small stone.
Sasanelli are ancient sweets made with vincotto, cocoa and cinnamon, which are often offered as gifts to friends and relatives throughout the months of November and December.
The Eyes of Saint Lucia
Naturally, in Bari our beloved taralli can never be missing. But during the holidays, they too are transformed into delicious glazed desserts: the Eyes of Saint Lucia.
The Eyes of Saint Lucia are small taralli covered in sugar, which are prepared every 13th December on the occasion of the feast of Saint Lucia.
Made with very simple ingredients, these taralli are one of the most loved desserts by children during the Christmas period!
Now that you know all the traditions and legends of Christmas in Bari, all you have to do is experience it with us!
Book your Free Tour of Bari from our website in 3 clicks and set off to discover Christmas in Bari with the extraordinary guides of Free Walking Tour Bari!