SPRINGFIELD — An Italian holiday tradition is coming to the city’s South End.

From Sicily to Naples, “Mercatino di Natale,” or Christmas Markets, bring craft vendors, food stalls selling traditional Italian sweets, and other holiday fare to Italy’s bustling cities.

The Springfield Sons and Daughters of Italy are bringing their own “Mercatino di Natale” to Winthrop Street for three days, beginning on Friday and running until Sunday. The festival, which is free and open to all, will be held entirely outdoors, just like an Italian market.

”It’s a tradition that goes back thousands of years. Influenced by that, we said, ‘Let’s bring a little piece of that to Springfield to showcase not only what it means to celebrate Christmas as Italians, but also to celebrate our own neighborhood in the S

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