Monday, August 15, 2011

Happy Ferragosto 2011

Ferragosto is an Italian holiday celebrated on August 15. This holiday is taken most seriously by every Italian – Non si tocca! Hands off!


The Catholic Church celebrates this date as a Holy Day of Obligation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Before the Roman Catholic Church came into existence, however, this holiday was celebrated in the Roman Empire to honor the gods—in particular Diana—and the cycle of fertility and ripening. In fact, the present Italian name of the holiday derives from its original Latin name, Feriae Augusti ("Festivals of the Emperor Augustus").

But in practical terms, how do Italians have fun during Ferragosto? Well, it is quite easy to find a reasonable answer just describing the huge tables of “sharing food” they are able to create on the beaches, in the mountains, on the boats… pizza, cheese, lasagne, pasta, grilled fish, mussels, BBQ and everything that you ever came across in a typical Italian restaurant, added to good company, selected wines, sun and relax… from noon until midnight. And last but not least fireworks!


Ferragosto makes for great people-watching, as beautifully adorned, perfumed and blissfully confident Italians laugh, chat and sing, safe in the knowledge that they are with a host of people they know & love, as they enjoy yet another course.

The holiday often coincides with peak activity of the Perseid meteor shower, leaving Italians at a particular advantage to view the astral event seen best at pre-dawn hours.

So think about it for next summer ……Ferragosto, 15th August 2012 in Italy!

Buon Ferragosto!

The following video might make my Italian readers smile. Welcome to Ostia beach:

 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It's really true, we confirm this situation in Ostia (Roma), ah ah!

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