08/15/2026
Buon Ferragosto! ☀️
Ferragosto originated from the Festival of Augustus, Feriae Augusti, first celebrated in 18 BCE as a celebration of the harvest. It brought together the community and provided a well-deserved rest period after months of agricultural labor. 🌾
Historically, Italians would shut down their offices and shops starting on August 1st to embark on extended vacations to the mountains, beach, or countryside. Cities would empty out, making it difficult to find open businesses. As life became busier and times changed, these lengthy breaks became less practical, leading Italians to take shorter holidays. Nonetheless, Ferragosto continues to be a beloved national holiday, marking the peak of the summer season. 🌊🌄
It’s a time to rest, travel, celebrate the summer, and spend time with families and friends. Even in Italy’s major cities, bars, shops, and offices are still often closed.
Spend the day outside, have a picnic, pop some prosecco, and enjoy the last few days of summer! 🥂🍝
