Italian celebrations in the four seasons
Januar y 1
New Year World Day of Peace
January 6
Epiphany
Celebrated on the sixth of January, it originally began as a celebration of the birth of Jesus, and is still celebrated as that in the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, when the Catholic Church decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25th the meaning of the holiday changed. Greek for "miracle,"Epiphany has evolved into a celebration of the end of the Christmas season, the literal Twelfth Day of Christmas.
The Befana is represented as an ancient Santa Claus-like figure whose name means "giver of gifts" and appears as a friendly old witch who rides through the air on a broomstick, dropping through chimneys to fill stockings up with toys and candy. The celebration dell'Epifania is accompanied by different symbols and traditions of very ancient derivation (solar cults) mixed up contamination as the most recent: * The Comet Star who leads the Magi (Eastern tradition contaminated by Christianity); * The ignition of fireworks wishes (solar cults); * Exchange of gifts; * Tour; * The tradition of gifts to children (in sock).
F ebr uar y 14
Saint Valentine: patr on saint of lover s
CARNIVAL ( CELEBRATION VARIABLE ) In our tradition the period from January 17 until the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday (Shrove Tuesday) is dedicated to the Carnival. The spirit of this holiday is expressed by an old proverb "a carnevale ogni scherzo vale" (a carnival every joke is good), in fact every one forget everyday problems and, protected by the mask that makes it unrecognizable, is free to laugh and eat their fill. Carnival has origins in ancient Rome where there were several celebrations in honor of the gods, along the streets of the city and that included the use of masks. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, in Italy born the "Commedia dell'arte", which used the Italian masks, ie characters that reappear in every comedy with the same name, the same costume, the makeup or masks, the same language. These characters, like Harlequin, Pantalone, Colombina, Dr Balanzone, Pulcinella became famous throughout Europe. Disappeared over time from the scene of the theater, the masks have survived only in festivals and masked carnival.
Today, the typical Italian ancient masks, such as Pulcinella, Arlecchino, Balanzone, etc.. are linked to caricatures of vices and defects of the inhabitants of various regions of Italy Each year many are the emergence of new and imaginative masks along with their ancestors and all together, like a long time ago, the same goal: to ensure happiness. Today the carnival is celebrated with events everywhere, masked parades, floats. The mask performs several functions: vegetative symbol of the forces of nature, animals or the dead, is to exorcise and mock the form of satire and hierarchical authority figures. Typical are the manifestations of mere tourist attractions, like the carnival of Viareggio, where "wagons" playing in caricature form, the events during the year. Often, the carnival ends with the trial, sentencing and execution at the stakeof a doll that embodies Carnival, which are assigned all the blame.
M ar ch 19
Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary . Father’s day
Celebr ation VARI ABL E
Easter
The Christian Easter, as celebrated in Italy, is preceded by a period of penance. This space of time, said Lent, the period of forty days go by Ash (Ash Wednesday is the day when the priest puts ashes on the heads of the faithful, in memory of olive blessed burnt residue) to Saturday Santo (Saturday before Easter), provides food moderation. Over the last few days before Easter Sunday, Italy, as in many Catholic countries, held various rituals that recall the Passion of Christ. On this occasion, take place many folkloristic ceremonies in which are represented some episodes of the Passion,are blessed the homes, are used the paschal lamb, eggs and sweets in the shape of a dove. ?The use of giving eggs is linked to the fact that Easter coincides with the beginning of spring, which was celebrated with ancient rituals for fertility and renewal of nature. The egg symbolizes, in fact, that life is renewed. ?
After the long preparation for Lent, the pace of evocative rites of the Passion is intensifying, reaching the summit on Friday. With Semana Santa community of the faithful live a day of mourning Universal, expressed through various forms of popular participation. In many Italian regions, at dawn on Friday, the women go to church and a bare knees on the floor, read a brief prayer. Many of the prayers of today are very old, some dating back to the fifteenth century. In addition to prayer, are recited copies of the events that accompanied the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the most direct way for people to participate in the pain of loss. Thus, in the regions of Italy are in place many performances in which, since the Middle Ages, it recalls the death of Jesus.
Apr il 25
Anniversary of the liberation (1945)
Celebration VARIABLE (from 11 May to 11 June).
Pentecost Sunday
M ay 1
Feast of workers
Celebr ation mobile (the second Sunday of M ay)
Mother's Day
June 2
Feast of the Italian Republic
June 24 The equinoxes and solstices were very important moments in the lives of farmers and shepherds. Since old time the change of direction that the sun makes between 21 and22 June, resuming his race on the horizon on the 24 was hailed as the beginning of a new period of life. This day, known as summer solstice, is still remembered and expected, as the first day of summer, and is associated with magical feast of St. John the Baptis.The sun at this time seems to stand always in the same place until June 24 when rising again to move gradually on the south of horizon determes the stretch or shorten of days. Even the old men realize these changes and celebrated the event with different festivities The name derives from the Christian religion, because according to its liturgical calendar is celebrated St. John the Baptist.
St. John and the summer solstice
In this holiday, according to an ancient belief the sun (fire) goes with the moon (water): hence the rites and uses of bonfires and the dew, in the popular tradition. It is no coincidence that the attributes of S. John are the fire and water Over time, there was a mix of ancient traditions, pagan ritual and Christian, which gave rise to beliefs and rituals still in use today and found mostly in rural areas. It is seen as a magical moment and as the period of collection of plants and herbs for use in operations magical.
August 9
Anniversary of the end of World War II
The night of St. Lawrence T he night of August 10 is the night of shooting stars considered according to the collective imagination as the tears of St. Lawrence. If scientifically the fall of the stars is attributable to step inside of orbit visual land, the asteroids in the constellation Perseus ( precisely those Perseids), culturally rain of stars was developed in a more poetic. Tonight is, in fact, from old time dedicated to martyrdom of San Lorenzo, from the third century buried in Rome, and shooting stars are the tears paid by the saint during his torture, wandering eternally in heaven, and descend on earth only the day when Lorenzo died. On this night, in fact, we believe we can happen the wishes of all those who remember the pain of San Lorenzo, and every shooting star pronounced the words "Star, my beautiful star, I wish you…", and expects the desired event during the year. In popular tradition, the stars of August 10 are also called fires of San Lorenzo, because remember the sparks coming from grate with fire on which the martyr was killed, then fly up into the sky
August 10
SaintLorenzo
August 15
Recruitment of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ferragosto.
Ferragosto (from the Latin Feriae Augusti = rest of August), is a very special day. Looking on the calendar says "Assumption of the Virgin Mary in heaven" and in fact the church celebrates the transfer "recruitment" of Mary Virgin in Paradise. In many places in Italy held processions in honour of this event. In fact, August was an ancient festival that took place on August 15 to celebrate the end of the main farm work At the same time, workers give their wishes to owners getting a tip in exchange. Such use is always held in Rome, so that during the renaissance was made compulsory by papal decrees. The anniversary also connects with "Consualia," the period of celebration and relaxation in ancient Rome is devoted to the god Conso, protector of agriculture. In the early imperial age (18 c) leave these were known as "Augustali", in honor of Octavian Augustus, from which derives the current designation of August. During the festivities, throughout the empire organized horse races and draught animals (horses, donkeys and mules) were exempt from work and embellished with flowers. The Ferragosto is for the Italians a day of rest and evasion. Many enjoy this day to go to sea, to visit cultural sites, to organize trips in the mountains or simply seek refreshment from the summer heat.
October 4
St Francis of Assisi patron of Italy
N ovember 1
All Saint day is celebrated in honor of all the Catholic Saints and Martyrs
All Saints day
November 2 The commemoration of deceases is the holidays that the Catholic Church dedicated to the the dead. It is a time to remember the deceases, a day of religious significance, which fuse with ancient rites and folk beliefs. A pattern recurs in the folk traditions of the feast of the dead is the belief that in this day missing loved ones come back to visit us on earth. For this reason, the rites of commemoration took throughout Italy meanings and purposes like: welcome, comfort, soothe the souls of dead ancestors.
commemor ation of the dead
November 4
Feast of the armed forces. Celebration in honor of the fallen
November 11
St. Martin of Tours patron members of the Infantry
December 8
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
It is a Holy Day of Obligation. The faithful are required to attend Mass, where they commemorate when Mary was graced by God to lead a life completely free of sin
December 25
Christmas
December 26
It is part of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and marks the day of St. Stephen, the first martyr for the newborn king.
F east of St. Stephen