While Italy’s cast of Christmas characters includes the familiar Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) and La Befana, there are plenty more obscure figures and rituals that decorate the seasonal landscape.
The usual Christmas-in-Italy circuit includes warming wines in Bolzano, charming huts in Florence and nativity scenes in Naples. We’re looking beyond that in this merry roundup.
A version of this nutty custard recipe dates back to the ancient Roman cookbook De re coquinaria by Marcus Gavius Apicius. You’ll want to make this again and again — and the ingredients are probably…