15 August 2006

Why ferragosto?


today in Italy is the special summer holiday: agoust 15th . Here it is called "ferragosto". who know why?

3 comments:

Run Around Paris said...

It's also a Catholic holy day celebrating Mary.

Sally said...

Well it's the feast of the Assumption, which is Mary's transportation into Heaven.

But I reckon the term "ferragosto" would have been derived somehow from it being half way through August. It reminds me of "il forno" and "agosto"....like the middle of August in Italy can feel like being in an oven...

Joe said...

The word "ferragosto" is from ancient latin construction : "Feriae Augusti"
Roman Imperator Augusto created the summer holidays and he gave them his name feriae augusti . At the beginning they was for all the month long.
Right now it's also the mary assunzione in cristian religion.
Bravi tutti