Today on the eve of the Italian holiday Ferragosto(Ferragosto) it would not be superfluous to tell what it is and where it came from in the ancient expanses of Italy.
When is Ferragosto celebrated?
Let's start in order. Ferragosto in Italy - exactly in the middle last month summer and this celebration seems to be the start for widespread holidays throughout Italy.
That is, after August 15, almost all offices and most stores are closed for 2 weeks. A holy time is coming for Italians - vacanza (or vacation translated into Russian).
The most interesting thing is that this Ferragosto holiday intertwined two Italian holidays at the same time - church and pagan.
Day of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Church holiday is Day of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which passed away precisely on August 15, which is known for certain from surviving historical evidence.
However, despite the fact that the death of the Virgin Matter should theoretically be mourned and mark a sad day, but according to Christian traditions, this day is celebrated in a very positive sense, because it embodies the hope of humanity for rebirth and eternal life.
What is Ferragosto
The pagan roots of Ferragosto go back to the heyday of the Roman Empire, to the 1st century BC, when the Roman emperor Caesar Octavian, who managed to conquer Egypt and stop civil wars within the Roman Empire, was named Emperor Augustus by the decision of the Senate for his merits. It was also decided to name the eighth month of the year in honor of the emperor Augustus.
Under Augustus, the local festival of the end of the harvest, which fell in the middle of the month, began to be called “Augustalia” and, accordingly, the greetings exchanged by the Romans sounded like “ Bonas ferias augustales", and over time the words were shortened to " Buon" or " Have a nice Ferragosto". Which has survived to this day.
As noted by Ferragosto
Italians, even those who do not leave for two weeks, go from their cities to nature for at least a few days.
On this day, they turn into deserted ghosts, along which only tourists who wander here can scurry about alone, in search of at least some open bar to have a drink. However, often their hopes are not justified. Since finding an open establishment on Ferragosto day is truly a feat! Italians sacredly honor their traditions. Especially when it comes to relaxation!
This song by the famous contemporary Italian singer Samuel Bersani is called “Ferragosto”. It’s a little strange, probably the same as Samuel himself, but listening to it you feel the heat of a summer day, sadness about the passing summer and a little melancholy….
How did you feel after listening to this song?
August in Italy is rich in holidays and festivals, which the inhabitants of the Apennines organize in every region, in every province, and almost in every town, trying to show the best that they can do, be it food, wine, music, dancing or revival ancient traditions. Therefore, try to attend at least one of these events, well, at least from this short list.
Enogastronomic holidays
Wine Festival "Star Glasses"(Calici di Stelle) - On August 10, on the night of St. Lawrence, tastings of various wines will be held in the squares of many Italian cities High Quality. “Star Glasses” is a traditional summer event, organized by the “Wine Tourism Movement”. In historical centers, squares and ancient castles, wine tourists who know a lot about good wine will be able to taste the best wines from local cellars in combination with traditional products from the regions of Italy in which this holiday will take place. Tastings led by experienced sommeliers and renowned oenologists will be accompanied by a series of initiatives: concerts of jazz and classical music, historical processions, theatrical performances and pyrotechnic displays. Full list of cities where the holiday will take place.
Photo: amalfieventiguide.com
A celebration of the taste of mozzarella Bufala(Festa delle bontà di bufala) from August 4 to 12 is taking place for the 13th time in Campania in the town of Matinella (in the province of Salerno). In addition to the delicate mozzarella Bufala Campania, awarded the DOP seal, at this celebration of taste you can taste caprese salad, fire-grilled buffalo meat (bufala) and salsicci, as well as soft ricotta ice cream, ricotta with honey and chocolate and many other products that are made here from buffalo meat and milk. In total there are eight various menus from local cheese dairies.
Mozzarella Bufala. Photocamperlife. it
Alpine Meadows FestivalAlpages Ouverts» - until August 18, the high alpine pastures of the Alps will be open to everyone who would like to get to know the secrets of creating raw milk products in Valle d'Aosta. Among the Alpine meadows you can try Fontina cheese, butter, yoghurts and many other raw milk products from this area. An educational program is provided for children. The pasture, open these days to tourists, is called Place Moulin, it is located near the lake of the same name, at an altitude of 2115 meters above sea level. There are 70 buffaloes and 15 dairy goats grazing here.
Alpine Meadows Festival. Photoarev. it
Musical events
Ferrara Buskers Festival- From August 17 to 26, an international festival of street musicians will be held in Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna) for the 25th time, this time it will be dedicated to the countries of the European Union. Twenty invited musical groups will represent the entire European continent. The festival will open its curtains on August 17 in the city of Comacchio in the province of Ferrara, and for the next nine days the street musicians will settle down in Ferrara. The festival includes solidarity initiatives in support of those affected by the earthquake in Emilia-Romagna in May.
Ferrara Buskers Festival. Photothetravelnews. it
Night Taranta(La Notte della Taranta) - this festival of folk music of southern Italy and dances such as taranta and pizzica will take place from August 7 to 22 simultaneously in many cities and towns of the province of Lecce in Apulia, but its central location will be the town of Melpignano, for of which this festival is the main event of the year, the big final concert will also take place there on August 25. The festival will be attended by the folk orchestra “Night Taranta” and musician of Yugoslav origin Goran Bregovic.
Night of Taranta. Photogiornaledipuglia.com
Umbria Folk Festival- the festival of folk music and culture will take place from August 21 to 26 in the historical center of Orvieto (Umbria). This musical festival, organized by the Umbria Folk Festival Association, has already become one of the most exciting events of the musical summer both in Umbria and throughout Italy, combining music, enogastronomy, folk traditions and different cultures. After last year's success, when the festival attracted more than 30,000 guests, this year the Umbria Folk Festival plans to further expand its horizons, adding both musical performances and high-level cultural events.
Photo festival.blogsfere.it
Historical holidays
Palio of Siena- in Piazza del Campo in Siena on August 16, the second Palio horse race will take place, which the residents of Siena hold twice a year - on July 2 (in honor of the Madonna di Provenzano) and on August 16 (in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin). Each race involves 10 of the 17 contrades into which Siena is divided. After the traditional medieval procession and the performance of the standard bearers, the horses begin to enter the main city square. Each of the riders receives a whip, with which during the race he can drive the horse or try to hinder his rivals. A horse that is left without a rider but comes first also brings victory to its contrade.
Photo toscanaetirreno.com
Medieval crossbow shooting(Balestro del Girifalco) - in the Tuscan city of Massa Marittima (province of Grosseto) on August 14 at 21.00 a historical medieval festival will begin for the 109th time, during which crossbowmen will compete in shooting accuracy at an image of a hawk placed on the wall. These competitions, according to ancient rules, are traditionally held in May and August and are reminiscent of the times when Massa Marittima became a free city. The first mentions of these competitions date back to the 14th-15th centuries.
Shooting from a crossbow. Photoviverelatoscana.blogspot.it
Termini Roman(Termini Romana) - For one week from August 13 to 20, the Sicilian city of Termini Imerese in the province of Palermo will go back 2,000 years to experience the life and customs of the ancient Romans. How the ancient Romans lived, how they dressed, what and how they ate, who the gladiators were... during the holiday you can see with your own eyes the answers to all these questions. The culmination of the holiday will be on August 18, 19 and 20. On these days, from 21.00 to 24.00, a large performance will take place at Villa Palmeri, bringing together more than a hundred participants in traditional clothes characteristic of the distant past. A Roman camp will be set up, ancient baths with their ancient traditions will appear, an arena with gladiators, a Senate, and of course, a real Roman dinner will be offered. The central line of the holiday will be the story of Stenio, the famous citizen of Termini, who lived in the 1st century BC. and, unjustly accused by Gaius Licinius Verres, the despotic ruler of Sicily (73-71 BC), was defended by Cicero before the Roman Senate.
Moment of the Termini Roman holiday. Photo eventisagre.it
Art exhibitions
On August 15, when Ferragosto is celebrated throughout Italy, combining the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the end of summer agricultural work, as well as the height of the holiday season, all state museums in Italy will be open to the public.
"Behind the Set"(Fuori dal set) - an exhibition of photographs by Chiara Samugeo under this title will run throughout August at the National Cinema Museum (Mole Antonelliana) in Turin. The exhibition reflects the more than 40-year career of the first Italian female photographer, Chiara Samugeo, who, since the 50s of the last century, photographed famous actresses around the world for the most famous magazines. The exhibition is open all days of the week except Monday, from 9 to 20 hours, on Saturday - from 9 to 23.
One of Chiara Samugeo's works. Photo torino.blogsfere.it
Other holidays
Fireworks Festival "Fire Flowers"(Fiori di Fuoco) is the most spectacular pyrotechnic event of this summer. From July 28 to August 26, in Piedmont, from Lake Maggiore to Lake Orta, these summer nights will be lit up with colorful lights from the world's best pyrotechnic teams.
On Saturday, August 4, in the city of Arona on the shores of Lake Maggiore, a fiery performance by the Brazilian group Domberg Show Pirotecnico is expected at 23.00.
On Saturday, August 11, at 21.30, the Spanish Elite Fuegos Artificiales will perform in the city of Verbania on Lake Maggiore. On Tuesday, August 14, at 21.30 in Santa Maria Maggiore, the Austrians Feuerwerke Jost will show their fiery performance.
On Wednesday, August 15, at 22.30 in Laveno-Mombello, the fourth evening of the fire festival will be presented by a group from China, Forward Fireworks.
On Sunday, August 19, at 21.30 in the city of Omegna on Lake Orta, the Italian team of fireworks masters FAS will show their art.
On Sunday, August 26, at 21.30, also in the city of Omeña, the final evening of the fire festival will be held by a group from Canada, Apogee Fireworks.
Photo eventi.com
International Sand Sculpture Festival entitled “The Miracles of Basilicata” (Meraviglie di Basilicata) takes place from August 1 to 5 in the south of Italy, in Marina di Pisticci (province of Matera), on beach 48 (Lido Quarantotto). This festival of giant sand sculptures, up to three meters high, is being held here for the fifth time, this year the theme chosen for it is “The End of the World Foretold by the Mayans.” For sand works, 40 tons of sand are used. Among the honorary participants are sand sculptors from Japan, America and Holland, who together will create one impressive sand composition 10 meters long, 20 meters wide and 4 meters high. During the festival, spectators can not only admire the finished sand sculptures, but also observe the process of their birth. The finished sculptures, secured with a special spray, will remain on the beach for some time after the end of the festival, as an open-air museum.
Sand castles. Photo eventiesagre. it
Aeroshow in Porto Recanati (province of Macerati, Marche region) on August 4 from 16.00 and August 5 from 14.30 on the Scarfiotti promenade there will be an aerial performance with the participation of the famous Italian aerobatic team "Frecce Tricolori" (Tri-colored arrows).
“In Italy, the Lord God himself goes on vacation for August!” - Gabriel García Márquez once wrote absolutely correctly.
Mid-August on the Apennine Peninsula is marked by complete calm in business and in the lives of ordinary people. Firms are closing (of course, those that are not engaged in maintaining the life-supporting processes of the country), shops (including some grocery stores!), many bakeries, trattorias and pubs. Italians are going on vacation! That's it, en masse!
The holiday period in August in Italy is often called Ferragosto, although this is not entirely correct. Ferragosto is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or Assunzione, celebrated on August 15th. This day also always marked the end of the big summer work season. Thus, the Ferragosto holiday combined elements of Christianity and paganism, and modern life imposed a period of vacation on him.
The origin of the word "Ferragosto" goes back to the times of the ancient Romans. The Latin phrase "Feriae Augusti" literally translates to "rest of Augustus." In 27 BC. The Roman Senate gave Caesar Octavian the name of Augustus, and soon a month was named in honor of the emperor. Previously held in September to mark the end of summer field work, the festival of consularia, dedicated to the pagan god of grain crops Kons, was shifted to August - the month bearing the name of the emperor.
Ferragosto is often celebrated right on the beaches. Beach parties around bonfires can last all night. One of the traditions of the holiday is dousing everyone with water; for a long time in the squares of Rome one could find oneself doused with water from fountains on the night of Ferragosto. In ancient Rome, horse races were held on these days; today the tradition is maintained in Siena, organizing the Palio on August 16.
The celebration of Ferragosto is so ingrained among the people that pagan customs did not disappear with the spread of Christianity. In the 6th century, “Feriae Augusti” turned into the celebration of the Assumption and Ascension of the Virgin Mary into heaven. In addition to Italy, Ferragosto is also celebrated in France.
In many cities of Italy, religious processions take place on August 15, and volleys of festive fireworks fly into the sky everywhere. In some places, the tradition of cash or food gifts from superiors to subordinates is still preserved, dating back to the times when the Emperor generously gave gifts to the people during celebrations.
A popular Italian proverb states: “A ferragosto si mangiano i piccioni arrosto” (In Ferragosto they eat roasted pigeons). However, today the tradition of eating pigeons has almost disappeared. In Emilia-Romagna at this time various events are held gastronomic holidays, on which you can even try frogs and snails. An indispensable dessert on Ferragosto day is watermelon.
Most Italians go to the sea or to the mountains during the Ferragosto period. When it comes to choosing a vacation spot, the descendants of the ancient Romans are very constant and prefer to go to the same places year after year in the same company of relatives and close friends. Hotels in Italy are crowded at this time, and finding a free room is not easy. Those who have not left home are sure to go on a picnic or on an excursion on Ferragosto Day.
“Notte di Ferragosto” (“On the Night of Ferragosto”), the famous song by Gianni Morandi, is heard everywhere these days. Ferragosto is still ongoing! Italians rest day and night. And let all things wait!
In Italy there is a holiday that is unlike any other - Ferragosto. It is very ancient. In the era of the ancient Roman Empire, the end of the harvest occurred in mid-August. Then consularia were celebrated in honor of the god of the earth Konsu. Residents brought first fruits to his altar, gave each other gifts and wished to have a good rest after working in the field. Under Emperor Julius Caesar, the holiday was dedicated to him, calling it Augustalia. Ferragosto or Feriae Augusti literally means "rest of Augustus". In modern times, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on this day.
In mid-August, all of Italy is on vacation. Millions of people are leaving cities, rushing to the sea and nature. And tourists remain in the cities, who, however, do not have to be bored. Festive processions, fireworks and festivals are a constant feature of Ferragosto in Italy. If you decide to come to this country in mid-August, you will always be welcome.
Ferragosto: what a holiday
According to tradition, on August 15, in the cities of Italy, solemn processions are organized to the temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as in the old days, bringing the first fruits of this year. Then comes the turn of the folk festival, with concerts, festive fireworks and loud music. Young people light a fire on the beach and walk all night. Italians douse themselves with water (because it’s hot) and throw water-filled balloons at each other.
Margeritine di Strezza cookies are baked for the holiday. Queen Margarita treated her subjects to it in the mid-19th century. Italian hotels and tour operators are reducing prices for their services. So a holiday in Ferragosto is in any case more profitable than in other summer months. You can join the cheerful crowd of tourists and fully experience the beauty of this ancient holiday by visiting Italy in mid-August. To do this you need:
- Buy a ticket, book a hotel in one of the main tourist cities (Rome, Florence, Venice);
- instructing him to ensure that you have best places at this holiday;
- Don't listen to the grumbling of skeptics about the August heat and the flight of Italians from the cities
An experienced guide to Italy, Slavomir Lazarov, can become your faithful companion and guide on this celebration of life. He will show you everything you want to see in this country, what you have only heard or dreamed about. The Ferragosto holiday in Italy is only two days of fun, a riot of colors and emotions in the city that you decide to visit first. The country is rich in traditions, and each city has its own, including on the day when Ferragosto is celebrated. In Italy 2019, despite the holidays, all hotels, restaurants and cafes, museums and galleries are open. A lot of interesting things await you. You will take with you only good impressions and pleasant memories of Italy and the Ferragosto holiday.
August 16th, 2012
Many tourists, arriving in Italy in mid-August, are puzzled by the deserted streets of big cities, shutters on the windows and bars on the doors of shops. Some, scratching the top of their heads in bewilderment, leave in ignorance; others, after talking with local residents, discover one of the most long-awaited holidays of Italians - Ferragosto.
The origins of Ferragosto go back to Ancient Rome. Since ancient times, at the end of the main agricultural work, the Romans celebrated consualia - festivals in honor of the god of the earth and crops, Konsu. In order to extend the days of rest (and increase his rating, not without this), Emperor Augustus, after coming to power, also established Augustalia. Ferragosto is thus literally translated as the rest of Augustus (feriae Augusti). The peak of the holidays occurs in the very middle of the month, August 15, when Catholics celebrate the Dormition of the Mother of God. Cities are dying out as if during a plague, and those who remain are looked at as lepers (which I, in fact, was able to experience very well this year). But outside the city, madness reigns - there are traffic jams on the roads all day long, there are almost gladiatorial fights at sea for sunbeds and umbrellas, in the mountains goats and chamois begin to bleat pitifully, as everywhere you look, trekkers, stunned by the heat, are jumping from bump to bump.
However, the festivities are not limited to Ferragosto alone. Just like in ancient Rome, horse races are still organized throughout Italy. On August 16, Siena hosts the most famous Palio, in which 10 of the 17 existing contradas (districts of the city) present their best riders in the main square of Piazza del Campo. The name of the race comes from the word “pallium”, a piece of expensive fabric given to the winner back in Ancient Rome.
Ferragosto and culinary traditions
As the Italian proverb says, “In Ferragosto they eat pigeon roast” (“Al Ferragosto si mangiano i piccioni arrosto”). The tradition, which originated in Tuscany, then spread throughout Italy. These days, however, not all families see a toasted dove in the center of the table. In Rome, for example, it was replaced by regular chicken with peppers. And in Sicily they prefer the typical gelu di muluna - a watermelon dessert.
