Italian language, Italy, independent study of the Italian language. Italian holiday
If you spend August in Italy, then you should know about at least two features of this month: firstly, almost all local residents take vacation during this period, and secondly, on the 15th the whole country is partying! The Apennines celebrate the pagan-Catholic holiday Ferragosto. There are even fireworks for this occasion.
Throughout Europe, August 15 is the Catholic feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, when the Virgin Mary enters heaven. Once upon a time, grandiose performances were organized at night in honor of the Virgin Mary, 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 fire on a deserted beach at night.
Throughout the country, Ferragosto is celebrated in different ways. For example, in Pula, Sardinia, 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 released to the delight of the public gathered on Nora beach.
The name Ferragosto comes from the Latin Feriae Augusti, a pagan festival in honor of Emperor Augustus, and literally means "rest of Augustus". Even before Emperor Augustus, in Ancient Rome, on the occasion of a holiday in honor of the god Conso, who patronized 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 congratulation formula 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 Ancient Rome celebrated the end of the grain harvest: throughout the empire, cattle were decorated with bright ribbons, and workers rested for the entire month from righteous labors in the fields. During Feriae Augusti Feasts and banquets, accompanied by drinking and sexual pleasures, were thrown everywhere and for everyone, including servants and even slaves. The celebrations reached their peak 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 working animals - horses, mules and donkeys - by decorating them with flowers and giving the animals a “day off” from work in the field. This centuries-old tradition has been preserved in modern Italy to this day and “lives” in the Palio horse racing festival, which takes place in Siena on August 16.
Nowadays, the once pagan holiday Ferragosto has acquired religious overtones in Italy, although retaining its original name. The Catholic Church 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 was renamed the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, who, at the end of her earthly existence, was transported to heaven. The Virgin Mary in modern Italy is honored with grandiose religious processions. The most picturesque ones take place in Palermo, where children carry a statue of the Madonna, in Sassari, where papier-mâché “candlesticks” in the shape of a palm tree are carried throughout the city, in Tivoli (province of Rome), where a statue of the Virgin Mary “meets” a statue of Jesus Christ. Magnificent celebrations also take place in Genoa, Milan, and Abruzzo.
There are many beautiful places in the world. But each of them conceals not only external beauty, but also a rich history. It has evolved over centuries, filled with amazing traditions, creating the individuality of a particular place.
Italy is famous for its characteristic color. Everything about it is interesting: people, landscapes, cuisine, history, festivities. To visit one of them is to immerse yourself in another world that will swallow you whole. The last month of summer is especially memorable for residents. August 15 whose name is Ferragosto. This day is unusual and bright, like the country itself. This article will help you learn more about its origin and local traditions.
Ancient roots
The name of the holiday is of Latin origin. The exact translation of Ferragosto is "Rest of Augustus". The well-known Roman emperor is probably associated with its origin.
We mentioned that the Italian holiday Ferragosto is quite controversial. It combines seemingly incompatible concepts - church rituals and pagan ones. Of course, the latter are older and it was they who started the holiday.
The ancient Romans thus marked the end of summer work and the harvest. At this time, they dedicated rituals to the mythological god of agriculture, Consus. The owners gave the workers some food and money so that they could honor Ferragosto. The animals were also given the opportunity to rest.
The Catholic Church initially tried to abolish Ferragosto in Italy, but after a number of unsuccessful attempts, it finally accepted it.
Religious side of the holiday
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary or Ascension also took place on August 15th. This fact is confirmed by historical evidence. This helped to connect the festivities of the pagans with Catholic rites, because despite the fact that the transition to another world is a sad event, but for religious reasons, it testifies to the hope of rebirth and eternal life. Why not have a great event?
Peculiarities
August 15th is the date that all Italians dream of, as it marks the beginning of the holiday season. In this country there is no concept that everyone cannot relax at once. After the arrival of the cherished day, the country practically freezes. Local residents flock to nature, and offices, shops, bars and organizations cease operations for two weeks. The result is a lighter version of the post-apocalyptic plot of a film.
All in nature
Cities really become like abandoned havens that their inhabitants left in a hurry. Italians are very sensitive to maintaining traditions, especially when it comes to relaxation. But where does all living things go?
Local residents, even those who are not planning a trip to distant lands in the next two weeks, consider it their duty to visit nature. August 15th is a holiday in Italy and everyone celebrates it differently. Some people go to a water park, others prefer excursions (a good way to combine relaxation and cultural education), while others opt for picnics in tent camps.
Some activists arrange the necessary space in advance. There you can find large awnings to protect you from the scorching sun, plenty of firewood for a fire, a place for cooking and, of course, tents. Russians living in Italy claim that some people can spend the entire month of August outdoors, only occasionally stopping by to take a shower.
An interesting feature of tent cities is the concentration of a wide variety of people. It's no secret that each region here can have its own dialect and accent. Just listening to such an unusual conversation is enough to understand how multifaceted this country is.
The main thing is that Ferragosto in Italy is spectacular and delicious!
Real jam
Italy is famous all over the world for its cuisine, and the holiday menu can cause incredible gastronomic pleasure.
In times past, the remote delights of the people were much simpler. The most traditional and widespread dish was roast pigeons. All those who like to feed these cute birds in the park are probably shuddering now, but this is the truth of life. This culinary delight comes from Tuscany and originated more than a thousand years ago. Today, this dish is prepared only in a few regions of the country.
August 15 is a holiday in Italy, so tourists in other areas have something to enjoy. Sicily is famous for its frozen melon jam. For taste, it is garnished with lemon slices and delicate jasmine flowers.
The city of Stresa is famous for its special delicacy - Margheritine di Stresa cookies. It was invented by a local pastry chef in the 19th century. Over time, it became very popular among Italians and became extremely popular. Cookies were even served to Queen Margaret's guests during the holiday.
Ferragosto in Rome is celebrated with a delicious lunch. To begin with, they serve pasta with the most tender chicken liver, then chicken in a sauce with sweet pepper, and for dessert after a long, hot day, chilled watermelon is perfect.
In Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, locals bake aniseed pretzels, which they treat to friends and family. To do this, ready-made treats are placed in special holiday packaging.
In tent cities, the menu mainly consists of meat. It is better for vegetarians not to be there, because the number of piglets killed is simply record-breaking.
Pork is usually cooked over an open fire, rotating on a spit. Before eating, hot meat is placed between two large cork dishes with leaves of the myrto plant, which makes it much more aromatic. As for drinks, it is undoubtedly wine. It can flow like a river.
Program of events
To fully appreciate how Ferragosto is celebrated in Italy, you need to know about local traditions.
Among the most ancient of them are religious processions. Each city has its own unique features. In Palermo, the procession consists of young men who solemnly carry a statue of the Madonna. In Tivoli, it involves two figures at once - the Virgin Mary and Jesus. They are carried from opposite ends of the city to “meet” each other. In Sassari, the procession is decorated with large papier-mâché candlesticks, which are made in the shape of palm trees.
In Turin, until the middle of the 20th century, it was customary to go to a gala dinner in a restaurant or spend time outdoors, on a picnic near the Po River.
In Rome, throughout August, the townspeople filled it with water. The result was a huge pool, where fun swimming took place with games and jokes.
Unforgettable time
Let modern realities bring changes to this holiday in Italy. August 15 is still an expected date, because after it all worries will go away for two whole weeks. Try to share this unusual, tradition-filled day with the locals, and you will take a fresh look at the country!
Holidays in Italy in 2018 and 2019… where to begin?! Let's start with the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or Ferragosto. The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, locally known as Ferragosto or Ascension, is celebrated annually on August 15th. Ferragosto is one of the most revered holidays in Italy.
Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or Ferragosto in 2018 and 2019
August 15, 2018
- Wednesday 15 August – Ferragosto.
August 15 is the most revered holiday in Italy in August, which is also a public holiday in Italy.
August 15, 2019
This holiday is very important not only in Italy, but also in all countries where Catholicism is the basis of the Christian religion. However, it was in Italy that this holiday acquired special significance, thanks to the many unique qualities unique to this country.
History, customs and meaning of the Ferragosto holiday
Story
The holiday itself, like many others, comes from the religious traditions of pagan beliefs. Initially, this day was celebrated as the birthday of the goddess of the sea, Isis. However, over time, this holiday became part of Christian traditions, and since then it has been one of the most sacred holidays of the Catholic Church.
Meaning
The meaning of the Feast of the Ascension is to honor the day when the Most Holy Mary, the Mother of God, left her body in the earth to ascend to Heaven. According to legend, Mary was different from all other mortal women, and for this reason she was not supposed to die in the literal sense, but was supposed to go to heaven calmly and painlessly. This is what the Roman Catholic Church has been saying since the days of the Roman Empire.
Customs
As explained above, the holiday is very popular in all countries where the Catholic faith is a central element of the culture. However, there are many customs that can be seen on this day that are unique to Italy. For example, many cities in Italy organize special holidays in which there are many regional dishes available at discounted prices.
In conclusion - holiday in Italy today!
Italians are very fond of holidays, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is, of course, an excellent reason to celebrate. On this day, many fireworks are launched, and the general atmosphere of the holiday is filled with joy. This is one of the largest and most fun holidays included in the Italian social calendar.
Today Ferragosto is an Italian holiday!
To learn more about the Ferragosto festival or what holidays in Italy in 2018 there is more, contact us and study the articles on our site. If you are planning your trip to Italy in August, then the following articles will be useful to you: “, “
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 is exactly in the middle of the last month of 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?
This site is dedicated to self-learning Italian from scratch. We will try to make it the most interesting and useful for everyone who is interested in this beautiful language and, of course, Italy itself.Interesting about the Italian language.
History, facts, modernity.
Let's start with a few words about the modern status of the language; it is obvious that Italian is the official language in Italy, the Vatican (simultaneously with Latin), in San Marino, but also in Switzerland (in its Italian part, the canton of Ticino) and in Several districts in Croatia and Slovenia, where a large Italian-speaking population lives, Italian is also spoken by some of the residents on the island of Malta.
Italian dialects - will we understand each other?
In Italy itself, even today you can hear many dialects, sometimes it is enough to travel only a few tens of kilometers to encounter another of them.Moreover, dialects are often so different from each other that they can seem like completely different languages. If people from, for example, the northern and central Italian “outback” meet, they may not even be able to understand each other.
What is especially interesting is that some dialects, in addition to the oral form, also have a written form, such as the Neopolitan, Venetian, Milanese and Sicilian dialects.
The latter exists, accordingly, on the island of Sicily and is so different from other dialects that some researchers distinguish it as a separate Sardinian language.
However, in everyday communication and, especially, in large cities, you are unlikely to experience any inconvenience, because... Today, dialects are spoken mainly by older people in rural areas, while young people use the correct literary language, which unites all Italians, the language of radio and, of course, television.
It may be mentioned here that until the end of the Second World War, modern Italian was only a written language, used by the ruling class, scientists and in administrative institutions, and it was television that played a big role in the spread of the common Italian language among all inhabitants.
How it all began, origins
The history of the formation of modern Italian, as we all know it, is closely connected with the history of Italy and, of course, no less fascinating.Origins - in Ancient Rome, everything was in the Roman language, commonly known as Latin, which at that time was the official state language of the Roman Empire. Later, from Latin, in fact, the Italian language and many other European languages arose.
Therefore, knowing Latin, you can understand what a Spaniard is saying, plus or minus a Portuguese, and you can even understand part of the speech of an Englishman or a Frenchman.
In 476, the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, abdicated the throne after the capture of Rome by the German leader Odocar, this date is considered the end of the Great Roman Empire.
Some also call it the end of the “Roman language”, however, even today disputes still rage as to why exactly the Latin language lost its relevance, because of the capture of the Roman Empire by barbarians or was it a natural process and in what language? spoken towards the end of the Roman Empire.
According to one version, in ancient Rome by this time, along with Latin, the spoken language was already widespread, and it is from this popular language of Rome that the Italian that we know as Italian of the 16th century comes from, according to the second version, in connection with the invasion of the barbarians Latin mixed with various barbarian languages and dialects, and it is from this synthesis that the Italian language originates.
Birthday - first mention
The year 960 is considered the birthday of the Italian language. This date is associated with the first document where this “proto-vernacular language” is present - vulgare, these are court papers related to the land litigation of the Benedictine Abbey, witnesses used this particular version of the language so that the testimony would be understandable to as many people as possible, until this moment in all official papers we can only see Latin.And then there was a gradual spread in the ubiquitous life of the language vulgare, which translates as the people's language, which became the prototype of the modern Italian language.
However, the story does not end there, but only becomes more interesting and the next stage is associated with the Renaissance and with such well-known names as Dante Alighiere, F. Petrarch, G. Boccaccio and others.
to be continued...
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