Saint Lucia and Christmas.
This is why ATP chooses to give Christmas bags not on December 25, but on the occasion of Saint Lucia’s Day.
Not everyone knows that before 1582, the year the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar, Christmas fell about 10–12 days earlier than it does today.
This calendar difference meant that the celebration coincided with the so-called “Festival of Light,” an ancient tradition marking the arrival of new light, connected to the winter cycle. It was a moment of hope and renewal, symbolically very significant for the communities of the time.
With the calendar reform, Christmas was officially moved to December 25. The Festival of Light thus lost its original date and became associated with the celebration of Saint Lucia, set on December 13.
However, some areas under the rule of the Serenissima Republic of Venice — particularly the territories between Bergamo and Venice — decided to keep the tradition of celebrating “Christmas” on December 13 alive.
Inspired by this historical custom, ATP has chosen to continue it every year, combining history, culture, and festive spirit into a single special occasion.