Italy from the Inside

The day after Easter: Pasquetta

Even though in Italy Easter is not as important as Christmas (which is why they say “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi“, meaning: “Spend Christmas with your folks, Easter with whoever you want”), it still is a significant celebration. Most of us spend this day with either family or friends, many go to Mass, have a succulent meal together and then end the day with a relaxing stroll (“passeggiata”). What makes this holiday different from what we see in the States is that in Italy we celebrate also the following day, on Monday, known as Pasquetta.

Pasquetta is a well established tradition: schools are closed, banks and offices are closed, stores are closed and Italians usually enjoy this day outdoors. But it is not a catholic holiday such as Easter, because it was introduced by the Government after the second World War to allow the citizens to enjoy the day of Easter in a more relaxed way, without the concern of going back to work the day after. So while today my friends in Italy either enjoyed a field trip, or a picnic together, I went to school, as any other Monday…

Ferragosto

If you happened to visit Italy during August, you may have noticed that many businesses are closed for the traditional summer vacation and many Italians have already headed to the beach. August is the month when most of the country shuts down, including the big manufacturing industries.

The pinnancle of the summer in Italy is August 15th and is called Ferragosto. This day is also a national holiday celebrated by the Catholic Church. For tourists, Ferragosto can be a good moment to visit the big cities, unusually empty, even if some museums and services may be closed too. Local festivals (called sagre) and bigger events abound all across the country. The Italy for Visitors guide on About.com has compiled a nice list of key events happening this summer.

Buone Feste!


How do you say Merry Christmas in Italian?
There are a couple of ways to convey your best wishes for the holidays in Italian. You can say Buon Natale which strictly means Merry Christmas, or Buon Anno which means Happy New Year. Or you can combine the two greetings together and say Buone Feste.
And this is what we, the staff at ItalyFromTheInside.com, want to wish you all: Buone Feste and thanks for supporting our efforts in sharing via this blog, podcasts, and eBook some insights on the fascinating Italian culture.