Today is Ferragosto – a public holiday in Italy. It is a popular holiday and is celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption which commemorates Mary’s assumption to heaven, where Roman Catholic belief says that at the end of her life on earth Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven.
However, the traditions of Ferragosto go further back in time to Ancient Rome and was a holiday long before August 15th gained its Christian religious significance. Ferragosto comes from the Latin ‘feriae Augusti’ (the festivals of the Emperor Augustus), in honor of Octavian Augustus, the first Roman emperor, who also gave his name to the month of August.
It was first introduced in 18 BC as part of the longer Augustali period of rest that marked the end of the harvest as well as to celebrate Augustus’ victory in key battles of the time. August 15th was also the feast day of the goddess Diana, who had no less than 13 days dedicated to her during this period. As the Roman Empire turned to Christianity, this pagan holiday was adopted and converted into a holiday for the Assumption, the day the Virgin Mary was received in heaven.
Today, Ferragosto is the most important day of summer in Italy. It celebrates the middle of the Italian summer and marks the unofficial start of Italy’s summer holiday season. Italy effectively shuts down until the start of September as schools and businesses close for the summer break and many people take a trip to the countryside, lakes or the coast to escape from the stifling heat of the cities.
Today is the birthday, in 1950, of Tommy Aldridge, drums, Whitesnake, (1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single ‘Here I Go Again’). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyF8RHM1OCg
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