APH: 1300-12-25 - Natale 1300

1300/12/25, just past midnight, returning from Christmas mass. As in the best Italian tradition, Romano and Veneziano spend Christmas together. The Teutonic Order, at the time residing in Venice, is also invited to join the party. Holy Roman Empire isn't supposed to be in Venice but he can't give up on his little stalking habit... ^_-

Extra note:
For who's interested to know...

History:
The Teutonic Order resided in Venice from 1291 to 1309.
At the time Venice was a free republic while the kingdom of Naples (that covered most of south Italy) was under Carlo d'Angiò.

Christmas in Italy:
Needs to be spent with family, which is why Romano is visiting Veneziano.
Requires a giant Christmas lunch, possibly with Tortellini in brodo, Zampone and/or Cotechino, (tradition however vary from region to region). On Christmas eve you're supposed to not eat meat but fish.
Although there are 4 masses (two on Christmas eve and two on Christmas) generally people need to go to one only (the most popular should be the one celebrated in the night between the 24th and the 25th).
At home we built nativity scenes and decorate Christmas trees. The first Nativity scene (a 'living' one) was made in 1223 by San Francesco D'Assisi at Greccio. For a while nativities were only living ones then people started making statues instead. Naples is famous for them! The first Christmas tree should have been done in 1510 but the tradition of making one should have reached Italy past 1815.
Santa Claus (Babbo Natale) is rather popular as of now but he wasn't in a not too distant past. Actually regions vary about who would bring presents and when.
Presents are exchanged among loved ones, family and friends. Sometimes also between co-workers and some give them to their boss too.
In some places fireworks are used to celebrate the event. Fireworks were invented in ancient China in the 12th century to scare away evil spirits. Venice had commercial relations with China back then so it's possible they exported them (though likely in 1300 they weren't using them yet to celebrate Christmas... )