- Title: ITALY: CHRISTMAS TOY MARKET.
- Date: 20th December 2002
- Summary: (EU) ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 17, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. ROME'S PIAZZA NAVONA WITH CHRISTMAS STALLS 2. VARIOUS CHRISTMAS STALLS 3. CHILD AND GRANDMOTHER LOOKING AT STALLS 4. GOOD WITCH 'BEFANA' HANGING FROM STALL 5. VARIOUS ZAMPOGNARO PLAYING INSTRUMENT 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) 13-YEAR-OLD MELISSA SAYING: "I want the latest Barbie doll." 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) 13-YEAR-OLD ANGELICA SAYING: "No but every eight-year-old wants one of them, it's a sickness, they are horrible." 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GIRLS SAYING: "I want Playstation 2" 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GIRL SAYING: "A real Vespa" 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GIRL SAYING: "World peace." 11. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CHORUS OF GIRLS SAYING: "No more school" 12. VARIOUS PIAZZA NAVONA 13. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) 4-YEAR-OLD ANGELO SAYING: "I want some new tools - I want to be a bricklayer." 14. INTERIOR TOY STORE 15. VARIOUS PINOCCHIO PUPPETS 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) SHOP ASSISTANT SABRINA LAZZARONI SAYING: "Most requested are the dolls' houses and hand and finger puppets." 17. STUFFED TOY SELECTION 18. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MOTHER OF TWO TODDLERS, MARIA SOLE DE FELICE, SAYING: "Certainly the best present I could buy my children would be real animals." 19. VARIOUS OF TOYS 20. CHILD LOOKING AT TOYS 21. WIDE OF MARKET 22. CAROUSEL IN MARKETPLACE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 4th January 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA9UVLYCK6MZ85EKPW7UEJG709D
- Story Text: Rome's central piazzas are packed with Christmas stalls
as the festive season swings into full gear.
Many Italians make the most of the outdoor settings to
show their children what is on offer rather than fighting
their way through crowded shopping centres.
As in most European countries, Christmas in Italy is a
time for the family, particularly for children, and it is
packed full of tradition.
Historically the mountain shepherds or "Zampognaro"
descend from their pastures to the towns, to play their
version of the bagpipes for children. The children are
supposed to give the shepherds thanks in money, although many
would venture to say parents often dole out the cash in the
hope the Zampognaro will move on.
There is also the "Befana" or good witch who, in January,
will decide if children have behaved themselves or not,
leaving either coal or sweets by their bedside.
But for most children it is all about what Father
Christmas will give them and the list is never ending.
"I want the latest Barbie doll' said thirteen-year-old
Melissa.
"No but every eight-year-old wants one of them" replied
her friend Angelica implying the toy was too young for her.
"They are horrible" Angelica said.
"I want Playstation 2" said a chorus of twelve-year-old
girls.
"A real Vespa' said another.
"World peace" said a girl from the back of the crowd with
a rather more convinced chorus of "no more school" from her
classmates.
"I want some new tools" said four-year-old Angelo who
explained he wanted them to develop his preferred career path
to become a bricklayer.
A popular new trend with parents this year is to buy
children's toys made from wood and not synthetic materials.
Top of the list are wooden Pinocchio toys and puppets to
coincide with the Christmas film "Pinocchio" launched a couple
of weeks ago.
"Most requested are the dolls' houses and hand and finger
puppets" said shop assistant Sabrina Lazzaroni.
Mother of two toddlers, Maria Sole De Felice, said she
was at the toy store to buy 'second best' presents after
continuous requests from her children for pets.
"Certainly the best present I could buy my children would
be real animals" she said looking at the stuffed toy
collection.
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