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

What we Italians are celebrating on August 15 is actually quite interesting because this festa has elements of both the Roman and the Christian worlds. First proclaimed by the Emperor Augustus in the year 18 BC,  the feriae Augusti (the Holidays of Augustus) originally lasted for all or most of the month of August, month that was so named in his honor.

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 the gods 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  celebration 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 celebrations where you are staying. It will be a lot of fun and something really special to remember!