Tombola ~ An Italian Christmas Eve Tradition

This month the children at our little yellow school have been experiencing holiday traditions from around the world.  A game my extended Italian family and I looked forward to playing every Christmas was Tombola. 

My Family's Much Loved Super Tombola Game (circa the mid-1980s)

Playing Tombola on La Vigilia Di Natale (Christmas Eve) is a must for Italians living in Italy and around the world.   As Maria Montessori was Italian, Tombola was most likely part of her family's Christmas celebrations.  

Dr. Montessori

Tombola is a game similar to Bingo.  It consists of 'il cartellone' (the caller's board featuring the numbers from 1 to 90), 'le cartelle' (cards with 15 numbers each), and a fabric sack containing 90 'pedine' (wooden tokens). 

Le Cartelle - The Cards

Tombola was much more than just a game.  It was a holiday tradition that brought our entire family, young and old, together.

Once the meal of homemade meatless lasagna and the Feast of the Seven Fishes (seven separate seafood dishes!) was over, the table was cleared and the Tombola game came out.  Each player paid for a card, 5 cents, which was put into the pot.   Our family usually played for all 15 numbers on the card with the winner taking all.  As the oldest grandchild, I had the privilege of being the number caller.

This year, I introduced the children at our little yellow school to Tombola (minus the gambling).  Each child chose 'una cartella' (a card) and opened all the plastic windows.  A window is closed when a number is called.  Our youngest students had such fun opening and closing the windows, regardless of the numbers that were being called.

Instead of designating one person as the caller, the graduates shared the number calling duties. 

It is important to shake the sack to 'wake up' the numbers.

Shaking the Sack

The children loved playing Tombola!  It was wonderful to see older children helping younger ones, just as older family members would help younger ones during our family Tombola games.  This is also the culture of an authentic Montessori classroom, with children of three year age spans learning and working together.

Most of all, it was lovely to witness the magic of Tombola bringing smiles to the faces of all who play it.

                       Buon Natale - Merry Christmas