According to the Gregorian Calendar the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God falls on August 15. All over
Italy people have days off, which are known as “Ferragosto”: «feriae Augustales” – “holidays of Augustus”. Historians trace the tradition of “Ferragosto” to the ancient Roman times. The emperor of the Ancient Rome Octavian Augustus used to come back from the wars to
Rome, though in different years, celebrating triumphs related to his conquests. At that time
Egypt was dominated by the Roman power and the civil war was also finished. Having understood that these events were prophetic signs of the future glory of the
Roman Empire, senators officially named this beautiful month “August” in the honor of the Emperor. And in 18 BC the Emperor himself ordered to establish annual holidays for the Roman citizens. As they fell on this summer month they were traditionally named «feriae Augustales”. Times have changed, epochs and customs are gone, but the tradition of “Ferragosto” became the integral part of the Italian life mode and is accurately preserved.
