• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
    • Photo Use Policy
    • Media
    • Podcast
    • Videos
  • Pro Tips
    • Resources
    • Blogging
      • How to Start a Blog
    • My Presets
  • Recipes
    • Recipes by Season
      • Christmas Recipes
      • Fall
      • Easter
      • Summer
    • Meals
      • Breakfast
      • Side dish
      • Appetizers
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Special Diets
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Healthy recipes
      • Keto
      • Paleo
      • Sugar free
      • Mediterranean Diet
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Ingredients
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
    • Popular
      • American Recipes
      • Baking
      • Bread
      • Cookies
      • Sourdough
      • Slow cooker
      • Soup
    • Recipe Stories
  • Italy
    • Italian Baking
    • Italian Recipes
    • Italian Travel
    • Italian Language
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
    • Freebies
      • Lightroom Filter Freebie
      • Packing List Freebie
      • Content Scheduler Freebie

Savoring Italy logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Italy
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Italy
    • Resources
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Italian Language

    November 5, 2022 Italian Language

    Merry Christmas in Italian (Buon Natale Meaning)

    In Italy, Christmas is a very important holiday that the country celebrates. To wish your Italian friends and family a Merry Christmas, you can say "Buon Natale!" which means "Merry Christmas!" in Italian.

    So how do you say Merry Christmas in Italian?

    "Buon Natale"

    • The meaning of Buon Natale is "Merry Christmas", and it is the most common way to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Italian.
    • "Buon" means good
    • "Natale" means Christmas.
    • The standard way to wish someone something, you use the word "buon". Like when you wish someone a happy birthday you say: Buon Compleano
    • Natale comes from the latin "natalis", which means "birth".
    • Dies Natalis originally only meant 'birthday', as seen in the expression Natale di Roma (Rome's Birthday). However, the holiday came to be known as Christmas in Italy very rapidly after its Christian debut!
    • So, Buon Natale is literally translated as "Good Christmas".
    • This phrase can be used for both family and friends, and it is the most universal way to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Italian.

    How do you use the phrase Buon Natale?

    You can wish someone a Merry Christmas with the phrase Buon Natale, like you do in English. For example:

    • "Ti auguro un Buon Natale!" - I wish you a Merry Christmas!
    • You can also use it when sending cards or letters. Or, if you're feeling extra festive and creative, try incorporating the phrase into a festive poem or carol!
    • If you want to make a toast during the holiday season, say ‘Buon Natale.’
    • If you're giving someone a gift, you can also wish them ‘Buon Natale.’
    christmas in rome with a christmas tree

    "Auguri di Buon Natale!"

    • This phrase means "Happy Christmas Wishes!", and it's often used to express a more formal or sincere wish than just Buon Natale.
    • "Auguri" means wishes, and "di" is a preposition that connects the phrase to the noun: Natale (Christmas).
    • So it's literally "Wishes of Good Christmas".
    • This phrase can be used for people you know well or are close to, like family members and good
    • This phrase is derived from the Latin phrase "augurium" which means “to wish a good omen”.

    "Felice Natale!"

    • The meaning of this phrase is "Merry Christmas!", and it's the most informal way to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Italian. It can be used for friends and family alike

    “Buone Feste!”

    • This is a more general phrase which basically means “Happy Holidays !” and it can be used to wish someone well during the festive season, regardless of which holiday they celebrate.
    • Buone means ‘good’ and feste means ‘holidays’ or ‘festivals’, hence the phrase Buone Feste.
    • It is also commonly used as a greeting throughout the entire month of December!

    Auguri

    • You can also just use the word Auguri when wishing somone a Merry Christmas .
    • It is a general term for wishing someone well.
    • You can use it on a birthday, holidays, and even new years.
    • Auguri comes from the Latin word Augurium, which means "to wish good omen".
    • So, when you say “auguri” to someone, you are essentially wishing them good luck and prosperity.

    Other useful words related to Christmas in Italy

    Babbo Natale= Santa Claus or the Father of Christmas
    Albero di Natale= Christmas tree
    Elfi= Elves
    Renne = reindeer
    Slitta=sleigh
    Decorazioni
    = decorations (for the Christmas tree, table, your house, etc)
    Presepe = Nativity scene / crib
    Palline di Natale = Christmas bubbles
    Brindisi = drinking toast
    Regalo / regalo di Natale = present / Christmas present / Christmas gift
    Biglietto d’auguri= greeting card
    Vigilia =Christmas Eve
    Messa di Mezzanotte =Midnight mass
    Notte di Natale =the night before Christmas (24th/25th December)
    Pranzo di Natale= Christmas lunch
    Giorno di Natale = Christmas day (25th of December)
    Santo Stefano= St Stephen’s day / Boxing Day (26th of December)
    Befana = Epiphany
    Notte di Capodanno = New Years’ Eve
    christmas tree in rome

    How to write a Christmas Card in Italy?

    Here is an example:

    Cara/o (Nome),

    Ti auguro Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo! Spero che queste feste portino gioia nella tua vita. Divertiti con i tuoi cari e goditi le decorazioni festose.

    Con affetto,

    (Your Name)

    This means:

    Dear (Name),

    I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope these holidays bring joy to your life. Have fun with your loved ones and enjoy the festive decorations.

    With love,

    (Your Name)

    christmas card in italy

    Lastly, don't forget to say “Arrivederci” when saying goodbye to your loved ones during the festivities.

    Arrivederci! = Goodbye!

    Buone Feste a tutti e Buon Anno!! = Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!

    Buon Natale! = Merry Christmas!

    More posts like this:

    • How to Say Happy Birthday in Italy
    • What does D.O.P mean in Italy?
    • Christmas in Italy (Typical Traditions)
    « Slow-Roasted Turkey Wings
    Easy Recipe for Turkey Stock (Homemade) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    lora and gabby

    Welcome to our Italian kitchen! We are Lora and Gabriella, the mother-daughter team behind Savoring Italy. With more than 30+ years of experience in the kitchen, Lora has had a great advantage – receiving guidance from both her husband who is an executive chef/restaurant owner and her mother who is a renowned private chef. 

    More about me →

    Popular

    • pasta rapini closeup image
      Easy Pasta with Rapini Recipe
    • pasta alla gricia closeup
      Easy Pasta alla Gricia Recipe
    • Easy Torta Sbriciolata (Italian Apple Crumble Cake)
    • peperonata in a white bowl
      Traditional Peperonata Recipe (Sauteed Peppers and Onions)

    Pasta

    • penna arrabiata overhead shot
      Easy Penne all' Arrabbiata (Spicy Tomato Sauce Recipe)
    • spaghetti algio e olio
      Easy Garlic and Oil Pasta (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)
    • pasta amatriciana
      Easy Pasta Amatriciana (Roman Recipe)
    • cacio e pepe overhead with red wine on the side.
      Authentic & Easy Cacio e Pepe (4 ingredients)

    Lake Como Travel Guide

    lake como

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Photo Use Policy
    • Podcast
    • Press
    • Videos

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Savoring Italy