A table set for two hundred people, a Christmas tree adorned with flashing lights, and a climate more reminiscent of December than mid-August. This was the summer Christmas that took place in Terranera, a small hamlet of Rocca di Mezzo in the L’Aquila province. Situated 1,270 meters above sea level in the heart of the Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park, the local association (Pro Loco) decided to organize an out-of-season Christmas dinner in the town square due to the unusually rigid, winter-like temperatures. The event featured a lit fireplace and attendees wearing traditional red-and-white Santa hats.
The idea, born almost as a joke, was accompanied by panettone, mulled wine, and full festive decorations. The weather played its part: rain, fog, and evening temperatures near freezing completed the transformation of the Abruzzese summer into a perfect winter evening. Such conditions are not entirely rare in the Altopiano delle Rocche area. Amid red tablecloths and colorful baubles, the village welcomed residents and tourists, quadrupling its normal population.
Christmas carols, toasts, and photographs under a “snowy” tree—frosted by condensation—added to the surreal atmosphere. The initiative, which is held cyclically to mark the end of summer, features a different theme each year. In 2023, Disney characters were honored, while the previous edition celebrated 2000s pop culture.
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