Thinking of Italians you are most likely to picture a large noisy family of laughing red-cheeked merry-makers drinking plenty of good wine and eating pasta, olives and pizza at the same time or, at the very least, carelessly sipping cappuccino at 11 A.M. in the swing of the working day. Italians seem to know how to entertain themselves better than anyone else in the world. So it would be wise to plan your travel ther so that you could observe some holidays and festivals in Italy.
So try to avoid sticking to typical travel plans abounding in cultural and historical “must-dos” that make your holiday more like an exhausting marathon than a pleasant amusement. The brief overview below tells about some excuses just to kick back while travelling Italy.
As probably in every country, the most important Italian holiday is Christmas. Pope’s Christmas Eve speech is broadcast to dozens of countries and 800 beautifully illuminated fountains form the biggest Christmas tree climbing the side of a mount.
As Capodanno (New Year’s Day in Italian) passes, it is time for Epiphany’s holiday celebrating the arrival of the Magi. Legend has it that on Epiphany Eve (5 January) a good witch flies from rooftop to rooftop and pops gifts for obedient children down the chimneys. Does it remind you of anything?
Speaking about Italian holidays one just could not but mention numerous Carnivals celebrated all over the land up to the Lent. There are grand weeks-long events in Venice, Tuscanian seaside, near Bologna, etc. Not a single parade will do without decorated floats, colorful masks and costumes, music, food fairs and feasts.
‘Carnevales’ are originally meant to cheer people up before the 40 days’ abstinence.
In late February the suburbs of Turin see one of Italy’s most spectacular festivals, which is the Battle of Oranges. Symbolizing the town tyrannical ruler’s overthrow, this holiday features hurling and tossing of four hundred tons of oranges in the street fights.
Another carnival from this list yet very different from the ones described above is the Venetian carnival with fire-eaters, jugglers, acrobats and mimes, surreal masks and costumes.
Another beautiful celebration comes to a port near Genoa in August. Tourists are deeply impressed by the flower-decked boats aimed to protect the Holy Virgin and Child floating in the fiery water. Fishermen place thousands of little wax cups with candles onto the sea. The sight is really spectacular.
Autumn is naturally the time for harvest gathering and the consequent festivals of chestnuts, grapes and olives with degustations and lots of frivolous fun. In a word, you will hardly have an opportunity to get bored.
