In this video, https://youtu.be/KQFRI_Dun1w, I show you how to make the most of your time in Italy; I created a PowerPoint to show you all of the months of the year and what some of the things Italy is known for when it comes to celebrating, for every single month! Let me expand on this a bit… I hope you enjoy! Continue reading below!
In short, Italy is amazing, speaking from an unbiased point of view. Every single month there is something to do! There are fascinating festivals as well as happy-go-lucky individuals just wanting to celebrate and enjoy Italy as much as possible. Knowing what events take place each year can help you reach those goals.
If you get the chance to go to Italy, consider yourself lucky and enjoy every moment of it!
On the first of January, it’s New Year’s Day…
The Ephiphany is a Christian holiday, celebrated January 6. For kids, the Epiphany is celebrated from La Befana, or, the Witch, an old woman riding a broomstick – she delivers the sweets, treats, and everything neat, even toys the night before. If you are bad, you get coal! Kind of like on Christmas Day… When Santa Claus brings you nothing but coal.
Carnevale simply is a carnival but it has a deeper meaning, literally meaning, “Removal of meat.” Carnevale is huge in Venice and Rome! Done before Ash Wednesday. Full of masks, and decorative design! This is a Mardi Gras type of event, with parades and balls – the same ideas. This marks the beginning of Lent, which is the start of a 40 day period before Easter in which no meat is eaten… Hence the name.
Although V-Day is not an official holiday in any country, it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion as well as the Lutheran Church… This is La Festa di San Valentino. It is for the lovebirds… Valentine’s Day, February 14.
La Festa della Donna celebrates and honors women on March 8. Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19. Easter, can occur either in March or April. Easter commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Palm leaves and olive branches are placed outside the homes – these are important symbols in the Christian faith. Food festivals, feasts, and more happen in the month of April. It is also the start of Spring, or primavera!
Liberation Day is very significant! Celebrated April 25, this marks Italy’s end of the Italian Civil War and its occupation from the Nazis from World War II (2). Another important facet is that in memory of this day, the Italian Fascist regime fell (1945), under Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator. The Italians fought alongside the Nazis during this time.
May Day, May 1, is filled with festivals, events, and parades. In Rome, there are concerts filled with notable singers and bands, reaching out to the community and putting on shows. This day is focused on Italy’s workers and accomplishments and strives to improve worker’s rights and their conditions. May also sparks the real blossoming of Spring. Flowers, food, and wine, they all start to come back into play – Medieval touches are a quintessential touch to this day; it is to honor the fight and efforts given to be where Italy is today.
La Festa della Repubblica, June 2, also known as Republic Day, or, Italian National Day… This is prominent. This day marks when the Fascist regime ceased, entirely, and when the Italians established a republic, shutting the dictatorship and burying the hatchet. In June, you have a wide variety of activities to engage in, see, and be a part of. From the scenery as summer begins, to concerts, more festivals and gatherings, it is sure to be a “hot” month to visit, no pun intended…
One of the busiest months… There is so much to do in July. From food to more food, music, concerts, to festivals and medieval festivals, fireworks, like here in the United States, on July 4, our Independence Day, July is surely a month you do not want to miss! However, something very notable in Siena, which sits in northern Italy, holds the Palio horse race. The winner gets some intense bragging rights as it is a huge honor, being competitive, and gathering many people to this event. While the race is 3 revolutions around the track, it only takes roughly 2 minutes. The race is 1,000 meters.
Let’s look at August… Assumption Day celebrates the Christian belief that God assumed Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. In Italy, food, festivals, medieval times, outdoor music concerts and performances of all kinds. Ferragosto, pretty much celebrated the entire month, is one of the most major Italian national holidays, but its main focus is August 15. This is something you do NOT want to miss.
In the month of September… Wondering all what all the hype is? This all originated when immigrants in 1926 from Naples, Italy, flooded Mulberry Street, in Little Italy, NYC… This is a massive tourist attraction! The San Gennaro Festival, September 19, has so much to offer: sausages, zeppole, games, parades, fireworks (depending on location), street vendors, and other things, the whole nine yards. All festivities go from morning to night. There are festivals honoring San Gennaro elsewhere, like the other Little Italy in the Fordham/Belmont community in the Bronx, and Belmar, NJ. The aim is to highlight and centralize focus on every contribution positively made by Italians and Italian Americans.
Other than the continuation of food festivals, truffles are a major thing in Italy. White truffles are very expensive as well as black truffles. There are lots of fall food festivals and events with wine, from vineyards to harvests. Today, Halloween is beginning to make a part of Italy’s culture, but in the past, it did not.
La Festa di Ognissanti (La Festa di Tutti i Santi), also known as All Saint’s Day is held on November 1. La Festa dei Morti, or, All Soul’s Day, is held on November 2. The first celebrates all saints, while the latter celebrates and honors the dead. Another famous and popular attraction is the International Film Festival which is held in Rome; it attracts cinema stars from all over the globe!
Celebrations and events are focused around Christmas time. Santa Lucia, a young Christian martyr died during persecution, so she is honored and venerated as a Saint, and in this month of December, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, as well as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception are heavily celebrated.
Below is the video. Feel free to watch, but go to the link above and check it out, and leave a comment, like, and subscribe!
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This blog post was crafted and created by The Italian Guru also known as Real Italian Guru. This blog post was designed for all viewers and readers to learn Italian and to utilize these free Italian lessons in a way to build structure and provide material in learning the Italian language. The Author of this blog and its content is Christopher Vincent Carovillano / Christopher V. Carovillano / Christopher Carovillano. The material herein this blog is © Copyrighted, with ® Registered ™ Trademarks of The Italian Guru and Real Italian Guru belonging to the said Author. No material from may be used unless given full authorization and disclosure from the said Author, Christopher Vincent Carovillano. All Rights Reserved.
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