Christmas is coming, and you know what that means. Cinepanettone!

Cinepanettone is an Italian genre, specifically a comedy film that is released in December (or thereabouts). The word comes from cine, short for cinema (which means the same thing in Italian and English) and panettone, the traditional Italian cake served at Christmas time.

According to Italian filmmakers, the cinepanettone was born after the blockbuster success of a 1982 movie, Sapore di Mare, a light-hearted comedy. The producer immediately ordered another film with a similar plot but set on the ski slopes, instead of the beach, for a holiday release date. And throughout the history of the genre, the formula has remained the same: easy jokes, catchy soundtrack, raunchy humor, the latest sexy “it” girl, and plenty of cleavage.

Even though it’s a safe bet that there’s never been a cinepanettone Oscar winner over the past 25+ years, plenty of Cinecittà actors have starred in them. In fact, actor Christian DeSica, who appeared in that 1982 flick, has been a mainstay. Italian movie-goers have also been a mainstay, as the cinepanettone is always a box-office hit, despite the critics.