All calendars, of course, were invented by people, but August is a special time. Harvesting, an abundance of vegetables and fruits, taking stock and anticipating the end. At the height of summer, you suddenly realize: autumn has come. As in a poem by B. Pasternak about another August holiday:
The sixth of August in the old way,
Transfiguration.
Usually light without flame
It goes on this day from Tabor,
And autumn, clear as a sign,
It attracts the eyes.
Italians in August arrange themselves a siesta of the year: this is the time of general vacation. The peak of holidays falls on August 15, the Ferragosto holiday. This day, probably the hottest of the year, is a public holiday in Italy. For a week, big cities turn into a desert, shops and pizzerias are closed, residents take vacations and go noisy companies to the mountains or to the sea. Only tourists, Afro-Italians and migrant workers wander the empty streets, glancing at each other in disbelief. Eternal Rome seems like a dried-up museum piece, planted on a skeleton of attractions: square-church-fountain-obelisk.
Ferragosto! Ferragosto!
The city died out. The fat is in the fire!
Where are the cars? Where are the people?
Rome is deserted like an island
The Romans are sitting in the water.
This is from a poem by Gianni Rodari.
Italians have been waiting for Ferragosto all year round and love probably more than New Year or Christmas. On the one hand, this holiday embodies the national myth of the Italians about dolce farniente, blissful "doing nothing", and man's longing for eternal summer, for a paradise rest from work is universal and invariably in demand in European culture. On the other hand, the image of an empty city abandoned by its inhabitants is very attractive and romantic. Maybe that's why Ferragosto became a favorite topic for Italian writers and filmmakers. The last film about Ferragosto was released in 2008 (Lunch on the Day of the Assumption, Pranzo di Ferragosto) and received several film awards, including Best Culinary Film of 2009 (Berlin Film Festival). This film tells exactly about the people who remained in the deserted Rome. On the relationship of a son and mother. Gianni, a middle-aged bachelor, goes in the morning for groceries, reads The Three Musketeers to his old mother and makes sure that she does not eat Parmesan, which the caring doctor has forbidden. At the end of all the heroes a sumptuous dinner awaits on the day of the Assumption. Such connoisseurs of cuisine as Italians, of course, celebrate their favorite holiday with a lavish feast.
Madonna assunta
In the Orthodox Church, we also celebrate the Assumption on August 15th. Old style, of course. But if in Russia they say about the Assumption "Theotokos Easter", then the Italians call it "Theotokos Ascension", Madonna Assunta, ie Madonna of the Ascended. In western iconography, it is customary to depict not the Assumption, but the Ascension of Mary. In the famous painting by Titian Assunta ("Ascended"), which is in the altar of the Franciscan church in Venice, there is not even a hint of death. Only the triumph and light of heavenly glory prepared for the Mother of God.
The doctrine of the Ascension of the Mother of God was officially dogmatized in the Catholic Church in 1950. Some Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary did not really die, but only fell deeply asleep and then was bodily ascended to heaven. Be that as it may, both events: the Dormition and the Ascension of the Virgin - are celebrated on August 15.
In Rome, until the 16th century, the celebration of the Assumption took place in a special way. Early in the morning of August 15, a procession with the icon of Christ walked through the city from the Lateran Basilica to the Forum, and then to the temple of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the procession was greeted with the icon of the Virgin Mary. Thus, the whole procession illustrated how Christ comes to the Mother and takes Her with Him. The Pope walked at the head of the procession, and at sunrise he celebrated Mass in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
In our time, not every Italian will remember that Ferragosto is actually the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin. The priests are forced to remind their flock of this. History has made a circle: the once pagan festivities in honor of the harvest and the completion of summer agricultural work were assimilated by Christianity and associated with the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin. Now the Catholic feast of the Assumption, in turn, has become the secular Ferragosto, the holiday of the August holidays.
Ferragosto in the village
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| Ferragosto in Tofia |
I found Ferragosto celebrating in the town of Toffia. Despite its proximity to Rome (only 40 km to the northeast), Toffia gives the impression of a remote province: around the green fields, the Sabine hills, olive tree plantations. Residents communicate with each other not in the state Italian language, but in the local Roman dialect, "Romano". Buses and electric trains do not go here, in the town itself there is only one street (not counting many lanes and back streets) and as many as three churches, one of them from the 8th century. This place has a rich and interesting history, but tourists never come here. The residents themselves call Toffee a village (il villagio), but to be honest, I don’t understand how a stone fortress on a cliff can be called that, in which all the houses are four-story palaces of the 14th-15th centuries.
August 15, Ferragosto day, the narrow streets of Toffee are full of people. You seem to find yourself in another world, where ordinary modern people, car owners, users of the Internet and mobile phones, are turning into a medieval urban community. Long tables are displayed right in the streets, next to the tables there are barbecues with fried sausages, tents with food and wine. It's all free of charge, at the expense of the municipal community or commune, as they say in Italy.
On the main square there is a fair of folk crafts. Several music venues hidden in the most unexpected places. They play different things: jazz, rap, even "Moscow Nights". Despite the non-childish time, kids rush through the streets and periodically encounter carnival characters on stilts. But at a table under the lamp, representatives of the local administration, indistinguishable from the rest of the townspeople, chatting animatedly with some smart old women. Fireworks started, and we need to get ready for home. It's a pity, because all the inhabitants of Toffee will probably stay to celebrate until the morning. I look into the black sky of August and think: it is worth learning from these people the ability to rejoice in the simplicity of the heart.
Tonkosti.ru
As noted by Ferragosto
August 15 Feast of Ferragosto and the Assumption of the Virgin in Italy
Ferragosto is a traditional Italian holiday celebrated annually on 15 August. In the summer days preceding it, cities all over the country seem to die out - beaches and secluded villas lure people to themselves.
It is on Ferragosto that Italians prefer to take vacations. Rome, Milan, Turin give themselves over to tourists, confused by silence and closed cafes and shops.
Tonkosti.ru writes that the holiday takes its name from the phrase Feriae Augusti, which is translated from Latin into Russian as "August's rest". The fact is that the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus, to whom, in fact, Ferragosto is dedicated, postponed the September celebration of the consuals for a month named after himself.
In ancient Roman times, Ferragosto's main companions were lavish banquets with collective feasts and tables literally bursting with food and wine. Horse races and horse races were organized throughout the country. The festivities culminated on August 15, on which slaves and servants were awarded a prize and several days of rest. Draft animals were also released from work: bulls, oxen, donkeys and mules.
The tradition of venerating Octavian Augustus was so rooted among ordinary people that even with the advent of Christianity, the church decided not to cut it alive and adapted the pagan holiday to the new faith. So in the 6th century Feriae Augusti was transformed into the day of the Assumption of the Virgin.
As noted by Ferragosto
Italians, who by this time did not dare to take a weekend, leave their city apartments on Ferragosto and go on excursions and picnics, go to the mountains, go to the sea. Often they have a barbecue in the backyard, they invite family and friends.
To get to know Ferragosto and not go broke, it is better to either take care of booking accommodation in advance, or wait until the last: a few days before the holiday, travel agencies and hotels offer advantageous hot deals.
Performances are performed in the central squares of Italian towns and villages. At sea, they are arranged right on the beach: the most popular entertainment of local youth is pouring cold water on familiar and unfamiliar people.
Ferragosto is a traditional Italian holiday celebrated annually on 15 August. In the summer days preceding it, cities all over the country seem to die out - beaches and secluded villas lure people to them. It is on Ferragosto that Italians prefer to take vacations. Rome, Milan, Turin are given over to tourists, confused by the silence and closed cafes and shops. yandex_stat_id \u003d 1; ya ... CULTURE 2018-08-14 Rating: 5 / 0
August 15 - the day of the Assumption of the Virgin. In Italy, the holiday is called Ferragosto. In southern Europe, this holiday also has a secular meaning. Even in Ancient Rome, a tradition arose to complete the harvest on this day and celebrate this business well. August 15 is always a day off, and for many it is the day of the beginning of the vacation, which often has the character of a national or regional vacation. When planning a trip to Italy in August, check if the shops or businesses you need are open at this time in the region of your stay.
The word "Ferragosto" translates as "August's rest". The holiday was established in honor of the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus, postponing to this date the holiday of the end of summer fieldwork, which was previously in September. It’s terrible to say how long ago - in 18 BC. e. The celebration was lush, satisfying, drunk. The peak was on 15 August.
Ferragosto was so rooted that the church, fighting against paganism, adapted it to Christian traditions. In the 6th century, it turned into the feast of the Dormition and Ascension to heaven of the Virgin.
Here is such a roll of centuries - pre-Christian times, a new era, begun by the appearance of Jesus, our days.
On this day, cities are empty, people try to go on vacation to the sea or the mountains. The rest go to a restaurant, pizzeria, to visit. The ubiquitous tourists, of course, are there, there are many of them, as always. It’s even interesting to get to Italy during the holiday!
These days there is a varied program - concerts, performances, outdoor performances. Fireworks in all cities. The holiday has many traditions that are not forgotten today.
For example, in Porto Santo Stefano (Tuscany), an old rowboat competition is held - the maritime Palio del Argentario. It resembles a carnival with brightness and fun. Locals dispute the title of the best rowers.
Ferragosto has its own traditional dishes and culinary traditions. In Sicily, it's a sin not to try eggplant caponata salad, in Calabria - pork frittole and many other dishes. In Umbria - spaghetti with goose sauce, on the island of Giglio - Ischitanese rabbit, snails from Belluno. All in all, a gourmet paradise. Every small town tries to stand out and offer its own unique dish.
In Tuscany, anise pretzels have long been baked on Ferragosto. They are delicious, beautifully packaged.
Preparations are underway for this year's holiday. Museums, galleries, villas, temples, parks and so on will open throughout the country.
In Milan it is planned to hold a pyrotechnic festival accompanied by live classical music. City museums on this day will be free.
In Venice a concert by Japanese pianist Seki Takahiro will take place.
In Padua there will be a film festival.
In Udine A gift will be given to the museum ticket - an ice cream cone.
In Bologna the famous gastronomic festivals (sagra) will take place.
In Genoa traditional watering will be played on the beach.
In Rome museums, parks, swimming pools, and in the evening - clubs and discos will also be open. There is a holiday dedicated to Maria Snezhnaya. Once a noble couple prayed for a long time for children. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to them and said that the Lord would send them a son. For this they must build a temple in the name of the Mother of God on Equilin Hill. In the morning on the site of the future temple there will be a sign - snow. And it was in August. It started snowing. There are other legends, but snow is everywhere in summer. In honor of this in Ferragosto, in the square of Santa Maria Maggiore, an artificial snowfall is arranged.
The belly festival will take place not only in Bologna, but also in Florence. It will be sagra too. These festivities are dedicated to sweets, wild boar, porcini mushrooms, grilled meats and so on. Sagra is a wonderful tradition. In Tuscany, and indeed in Italy, some kind of sagra often happens.
A thousand years ago, in the Carolingian era in Tuscany, the tradition was born to eat roast pigeons on Ferragosto. It has survived to this day.
This year in Florence in Ferragosto there will be a competition for the best sand castle.
On this cheerful holiday, people do not forget that this is the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Her Dormition was not sad. After the ascension of Christ, She lived for another 12 years in the house of John the Theologian in Jerusalem, firmly knowing that she was waiting for a meeting with the Son. The Mother of God loved to visit the places where the Savior visited, prayed there.
Once on the Mount of Olives, the archangel Gabriel appeared to Her. He brought Her a branch of paradise and a message that Her earthly life would end in 3 days.
The apostles at this time preached in different countries, but almost all miraculously appeared in Jerusalem and said goodbye to the Virgin Mary. At the hour of Her death, the room shone with light. It was Jesus Christ himself who appeared with the angels and saints and received Her immortal soul.
In many cities in Italy, religious processions are held dedicated to this event. In Palermo, the statue of the Madonna is carried by young men, the procession goes through the whole city. At Sassari, large candlesticks are carried across the city. In Tivoli, they arrange a meeting of the statues of Christ and the Virgin. In Siena (Tuscany) on the 16th August, the day after the holiday, a horse race called Palio is held. They are dedicated to the Ascension of the Virgin.
There is a holiday in Italy that is unlike any other - Ferragosto. It is very ancient. In the era of the Roman Empire, the end of the harvest was in mid-August. Then consualia were celebrated in honor of the god of the land, Konsu. The inhabitants brought the 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 him Augustalia. Ferragosto or Feriae Augusti literally means "August's rest". In modern times, the Assumption of the Virgin is celebrated on this day.
All Italy rests in mid-August. Millions of people leave the cities, rushing to the sea, to nature. And in the cities there are tourists who, however, do not have to get bored. Celebratory processions, fireworks and festivals are a constant feature of Ferragosto in Italy. If you decide to come to this country in the middle of 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 Mother of God, as in the old days, bearing the first fruits of this year. Then comes the turn of festivities, with concerts, festive fireworks and loud music. Young people kindle a fire on the beach and walk all night. Italians pour water over themselves (because it is hot), throw balls filled with water at each other.
Margeritine di Strezza cookies are baked for the holiday. Queen Margarita treated her subjects to them in the middle of the 19th century. Italian hotels and tour operators are cutting 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 make sure you have the best seats on this holiday;
- Don't listen to skeptics grumbling about the August heat and the flight of Italians from the cities
An experienced guide in Italy Slavomir Lazarov can become your faithful companion and guide on this celebration of life. He will show you everything that you want to see in this country, what you have only heard or dreamed of. Ferragosto in Italy is just 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 are waiting for you. You will take with you only good impressions and pleasant memories of Italy and the Ferragosto holiday.
If you spend August in Italy, then you should know about at least two features of this month: firstly, almost all locals take vacations during this period, and, secondly, the whole country walks on the 15th! The Apennines celebrate the pagan-Catholic holiday Ferragosto. On this occasion, even fireworks are supposed.
Across Europe on August 15, the Catholic feast of the Assumption of the Virgin is celebrated, when the Virgin Mary goes to heaven. Once upon a time in honor of the Mother of God, grandiose performances were organized at night, with torches and lights. Today in Italy, on the pagan holiday Ferragosto, widely celebrated throughout the country, it is customary to organize fireworks. And young people like to gather around a campfire at night on a deserted beach.
Ferragosto is celebrated in different ways throughout the country. For example, in Sardinia in Pula, a real action takes place: first, a statue of the Madonna is "bathed" in the sea from a fishing boat to bless the fishermen and sailors, and then, again from the boats, firecrackers and sparklers are fired to the delight of the audience gathered on the Nora beach.
The name Ferragosto comes from the Latin Feriae Augusti, a pagan festival in honor of the emperor Augustus, and literally means "Augustus's rest". Even before the emperor Augustus in ancient Rome, on the occasion of the holiday in honor of the god Conso, who patronizes the harvest, it was customary to exchange gifts and wish each other "Bonas ferias consulales". And when the month of August was named in honor of Emperor Augustus, the formula of congratulations was renamed "Bonas feria augustales", which is very consonant with the modern Italian wish for a good holiday "Buon ferragosto"!
It was in hot August that the celebration of the end of the grain harvest fell in ancient Rome: throughout the empire, cattle were decorated with bright ribbons, and workers rested all month from righteous labors in the field. During the period Feriae Augusti everywhere and decisively for everyone, including servants and even slaves, feasts and banquets were held, accompanied by drinking and sexual pleasures. The celebrations peaked in the middle of the month.
So in the old days in Italy, in memory of the ancient Roman celebrations of the end of agricultural work on August 15, it was customary to honor draft animals - horses, mules and donkeys - by decorating them with flowers and giving the animals a "day off" from work in the field. This age-old tradition has survived in modern Italy to this day and "lives" in the Palio horse race, which takes place in Siena on August 16.
Now the once pagan holiday Ferragosto has acquired religious overtones in Italy, while retaining, however, its original name. The Catholic Church has simply made a very wise decision to give a Christian face to the holiday, instead of openly fighting pagan rituals. This is how in the 6th century Feriae Augusti were renamed the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, who at the end of her earthly existence was transferred to paradise. The Virgin Mary in modern Italy is honored with grandiose religious processions. The most picturesque are in Palermo, where children carry the statue of the Madonna, in Sassari, where "candlesticks" made of papier-mâché in the shape of a palm tree are carried throughout the city, in Tivoli (province of Rome), where the statue of the Virgin Mary "meets" the statue of Jesus Christ. Magnificent celebrations are also held in Genoa, Milan, Abruzzo.
