Today we are in Liguria! Christmas is the most awaited festivity of the year. And liguri still hand down and respect many popular Christmas traditions.

Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy with beautiful towns, beaches and hills lying immediately beyond the coast.

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Gallery exerpt from Visit Genoa

In Liguria the Yule log is a deeply felt tradition. In Genoa as well as in other towns a very old ceremony takes place, the Confeugo Ceremony. It is a celebration born in the 1300 and dedicated to the exchange of greetings between the People and State. As for centuries, the Abbot of the People (now an elected representative) brings a bay tree log decorated with white and red ribbons to the Mayor, once the Doge. The log then burns in front of the Palazzo Ducale. The public present at the ceremony wants to win a piece of burnt wood that brings good luck.

This year the Confeugo will take place on 17th December.

An olive or bay tree trunk still burns today in the fireplaces. It burns slowly until the New Year as a symbol of the old year that is ending.

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