we did not know what Ferragosto is, everybody is talking about it. it is everywhere in italy in august. we figured it out - here some smarter writer with their explanation:
August 15th is Ferragosto in Italy
August 15th. It’s got to be the most dead moment in any Italian city. It’s the national holiday particular to Italy called Ferragosto. Everyone is at the beach, preparing for the night’s feast, fireworks, and camp-out under the stars. For an Italian, it is truly offensive to work on this day. When I was in grad school, my father in law once caught me trying to study on Ferragosto and I got in a lot of trouble for this. It’s not that it’s a religious holiday – it is ALSO the assumption of Mary – but rather it’s an instituted moment of rest that has roots in Ancient Roman culture. It’s the height of summer, the hottest days… Before Italy picked up the pace and joined the world economy, almost all businesses closed in August, probably because before airconditioning it was too hot to concentrate. You will find that many small businesses and stores still do close-, if not for the whole month, at least for the two central weeks that include Ferragosto.
look at these photos in this article:http://www.romeartlover.it/Ferragosto.html
und die deutsche erklaerung:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferragosto
wir haben also gar nicht erst versucht irgendwas zu kaufen was nicht essbar ist. alle repararaturen sind auf september verlegt :-)
the august is definitely the hottest time here, african winds are wilting the plants even the soil is moist underneath them - i spend long time to mulch around them. we got from our dear neighbor 2 old hay-bails and Jon drove over the unrolled hay and chopped it with the motozappa to pieces. wonderful stuff for mulch.
this are also the places where chicken prefer to scratch, when they can dig up something. so i put the strew underneath and they get it out again- of course they do not dig the plant out on purpose ;-( . the ducks make holes into the strew cover much less damage. but they DO love to eat my sorrel- almost gone - and they ate the tiny leaves from my rooted bougainvillea. but they are also much fun. we discovered the ducks forget everything when they have a chance to dig in a tomato. everything will be red after that. Jon thinks it's a bit like feeding sharks: red stuff flying around everywhere - the good thing is they do not have teeth and it does not hurt at all when they try to eat my fingers. so this is a very good recycling to give the old tomatoes to the bibies.
Jon had his 1.gig . he played at our contrada festa at the neighbors. it was a big success. the people liked the music, the setting was easy, so they could still chat and some got even to dance to the play. the food was great german potato-salad and american sweet corn and italian wine. Jon said after some german sausages: who would want to spend more time with eating, if he could play music. that's devotion. he got even compliments for his singing. well done. now he is learning italian songs.
in this time are all the festas, sagras und pallios, we went to some of it. the most visitors are italians watching the people playing in costumes, children dressed ancient, horses, flag thrower and of course, may be the most important there: food.
the marchigianer love what they eat. somewhere it even says they eat the most meat in italy?? we had some wonderful fried fish, gnocchi, penne arrabiata, wonderful meat, sausages for Jon. mostly the people of the town come together and prepare the food in some temporary tents and you get it on plastic plates with plastic "silverware". my recycling soul cramps every time - but that's how it is. i have to except or start a no-plastic revolution in the marche. i do not - so i better stop complaining......
these are the gnocchi they make behind that curtain - of course from scratch - everything is from scratch.
the priest has to give his blessings to all the play and the official photographers are in costumes
August 15th. It’s got to be the most dead moment in any Italian city. It’s the national holiday particular to Italy called Ferragosto. Everyone is at the beach, preparing for the night’s feast, fireworks, and camp-out under the stars. For an Italian, it is truly offensive to work on this day. When I was in grad school, my father in law once caught me trying to study on Ferragosto and I got in a lot of trouble for this. It’s not that it’s a religious holiday – it is ALSO the assumption of Mary – but rather it’s an instituted moment of rest that has roots in Ancient Roman culture. It’s the height of summer, the hottest days… Before Italy picked up the pace and joined the world economy, almost all businesses closed in August, probably because before airconditioning it was too hot to concentrate. You will find that many small businesses and stores still do close-, if not for the whole month, at least for the two central weeks that include Ferragosto.
