Italian Christmas begins in the kitchen. Amid familiar aromas, passed-down recipes, and tables that bring generations together, Italians once again choose the classics: pasta for Christmas Eve, panettone and pandoro as the undisputed symbols of the holiday season, cookies for slow holiday breakfasts, and chocolates, pralines, and nougats to share with family and friends. During the festive period, many of these products experience their busiest time of the year, reinforcing their status as icons of Italian culinary culture. Unione Italiana Food, the association representing 26 categories of the Italian food industry, shows that this strong connection Italians have with these products also translates into extraordinary production. In 2024, Italian industry produced 3.5 million tons of pasta, 1.5 million tons of baked goods and pastries, over 380,000 tons of cocoa and chocolate, along with significant figures across all sectors that fuel the holiday season. The undisputed symbols of Christmas are panettone and pandoro, the cakes that mark the height of the celebration. More than 33 million pieces are sold in December alone, accounting for 70% of annual consumption, highlighting the deep bond between these products and Christmas traditions. For eight out of ten Italians, these sweets are the true stars of the table, rounding off the abundant holiday meals. In the eternal rivalry between the two leavened cakes, pandoro wins the preference of the majority, chosen by 52.6% of consumers, compared to 47.4% who continue to choose panettone. Panettone and pandoro are also ambassadors of Italian culture worldwide: in 2024, exports reached 13,468 tons, valued at 113 million euros. Pasta remains an essential part of holiday menus. Italy is the country with the highest pasta consumption in the world, at 23.3 kg per capita per year, with 1.5 kg per person consumed in December alone, including semolina pasta, egg pasta, and stuffed pasta. On Christmas Eve tables, fish is also indispensable, with frozen varieties proving to be a practical choice that aligns with tradition. During December, 8,200 tons are consumed – about one or two portions per person – reflecting the central role of fish in Christmas Eve meals.