THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED. NO MORE RESERVATIONS  WILL BE ACCEPTED. SORRY!!!

Ciao, Amici –

Why go on vacation like most Italians do to celebrate Ferragosto?  We’ve got a better way to celebrate this popular Italian summer holiday.  Just join us for a great Italian Festa at the Montecito’s beautiful Lower Manning Park!  It will be a FABULOUS, “FUNTASTIC” FESTA DI FERRAGOSTO!  And, better still, it will benefit our local students by helping us raise much-needed money for our Scholarship Fund. All for a good cause!

As promised a few weeks ago, here are the details about this year’s Ferragosto.

 LA FESTA DI FERRAGOSTO

First of all, what is the Festa di Ferragosto all about? When did it get started and how present-day Italians celebrate it? It is an interesting story dating back to 18 BC and you will find it at the end of this post.

As in the past, our Ferragosto will take place in the lovely Lower Manning Park in Montecito. The menu has been improved and will now better reflect the taste of Italy. Eataly in S.B.? Perhaps, you will be the judge. We will offer a 3-course Italian “pranzo” (midday meal) that will include the following: “antipasti” (appetizers), main course and desserts. Wines, beer, water, soft drinks and coffee will be included.  Some of the dishes will be prepared by our volunteers according to Italian family recipes. I know you will be delighted with our choices!

As for the wines, we will offer something wonderful this year! You will drink two great wines donated by Palmina: Pronto Rosso and their lovely Pinot Grigio. And if you want to check PALMINA and their great wine selection on line,  please click on this link .

And while you are eating the delicious food, you will be entertained by live music! Some of you might like a bit of activity after the “pranzo” to burn off excess calories, so our Games Committee is organizing a bocce tournament for good fun and comradeship.

Italians are big on families so we would like to have local families participate.  As in the past, this event is open to everyone, “grandi e piccini” (adults and children)!

And here are the details:

 Sunday, August 16, 2015
Time:   12:30 pm 
Place:  Area 9, Lower Manning Park, Montecito (off San Ysidro Road across                from Montecito Union School – look for signs and balloons)
Cost:    $25/adults

 $8/children (5-12 years of age)

Children under 5, free. 

               Want to bring your special wine? NO Corkage fee!

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND PAYMENT MUST BE ENCLOSED WITH THE RESERVATION

DEADLINE FOR RESERVATION: Monday, August 10th, 2015

ANY QUESTIONS?  PLEASE CALL ME AT 805-969-1018.

Ciao,  Gabriella

THE FERRAGOSTO STORY

August is when all Italy, or so it seems, stops work to celebrate.

What we Italians are celebrating on that day is actually quite interesting because the festival has elements of both the ancient and Christian worlds. First proclaimed by the Emperor Augustus in 18 BC the feriae Augusti originally lasted for all or most of the month of August.

It was a time when everyone felt they could relax after the hard work of the harvest and, unusually, a period when the nobility mixed with the laboring classes. The Romans feted the gods of agriculture and those associated with the change of seasons.

Roman women feted Diana, goddess of hunting but also of maternity because of her association with the phases of the moon.  Along the centuries, the festival evolved from being a month-long event to an event celebrated in the second half of August and later became a one-day celebration especially due to the Christian celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary that falls on August 15th.

Yet in some parts of Italy there are echoes of the ancient, longer feast in the habit of closing down shops for a week or two. “Chiuso per ferie” is what is written on the notices on the closed rolling shutters of the shops.  During the day, the center of many Italian towns are deserted as people gather in the countryside or at the beach with relatives and friends to celebrate. But the night is a different matter as in many towns and even in small villages fireworks will illuminate the sky.

If you are going to be in Italy during this period, it is always worth checking whether there will be a special Ferragosto celebration where you are staying. It will be a lot of fun and something to remember!