Nina Gigante — Song of the Nina

The song that announces Christmas

On the evening of December 24th, Christmas Eve, Thiene (province of Vicenza) celebrates one of its oldest and most distinctive traditions: the Canto della Nina. The "Nina" is a song announcing Christmas, sung from a high position – a ladder or a tree – while people gather around and respond in chorus.

A centuries-old tradition

The song consists of 33 verses and has very ancient origins: the first forms of oral tradition date back to the 14th century, while the first written evidence is found in the 18th century. Each neighbourhood in Thiene has its own Nina (or more than one), which announces Christmas by singing through the streets in the days leading up to Christmas Eve.

The Nina Gigante and the UNESCO nomination

The climax is the Nina Gigante: on the evening of December 24th, all the Ninas from the neighbourhoods gather in Piazza Chilesotti to sing together in a large collective choir. In the afternoon, there is also a Nina dedicated to young people. The Municipality has initiated the process to request recognition of the song as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The tradition is preserved and promoted by Pro Loco Thiene along with the neighbourhood committees.