OSDIA CULTURAL NOTE FOR JUNE 2024
Italian Festivals
It’s summer and the tourists have arrived in Italy! The weather is warm, not yet uncomfortably hot, but the lines are long for the major tourist sites. Take a break from the crowds inside and go to a local “festa” or festival to experience the food, music, and local craftsmanship of Italy. These festivals are in almost every large and midsized town and provide a first-hand look at Italian culture and history.
Pisa has a big festa along the Arno River on June 16. 70,000 glass candles called “lumini” line the river and the four districts of Pisa compete in a historic regatta.
Lake Como celebrates the Festa di San Giovanni (John the Baptist) on June 24 by setting hundreds of floating lamps on the lake by day and fireworks at night. While many towns have street parade, Lake Como has a parade of flower-covered boats. Florence, Genoa, and Turin also celebrate San Giovanni Day with more traditional street entertainment.
For art lovers, an international ceramics festival takes place in Montelupe, Tuscany. In the neighboring region of Umbria, the town of Spoleto hosts a performing arts festival featuring opera, ballet, art, and film.
Food lovers can go to Puglia. Their June festival celebrates olives and olive oil and features local dishes made with these popular ingredients. (Isnt that every Italian dish?)
There’s another food fest in Modena, Emilia Romana, which has a famous tortellini festival on June Second called “Tortellini under the Porticos” which sounds delicious and romantic.
The biggest national holiday is the Festa Della Repubblica,also celebrated on June Second. Italy celebrates the day in 1946 when Italians voted to become a republic instead of a monarchy. 1946 was also the first time Italian women were allowed to vote, so they helped create the modern Italian state with their vote. Look for the Tricolore air show put on by the Italian Air Force to display the national colors on this day.
Of course, June continues to be a favorite month for weddings. Serving colorful, sugar-coated Jordan almonds at a wedding is a tradition that dates back to the 14th century. In Italy, these almonds are called “confetti”. They are always wrapped in groups of five almonds or any number not divisible by two (the bride and groom).
I leave you with a poem that explains the five good wishes the almonds represent:
Five sugared almonds for each guest to eat,
To remind us that life is both bitter and sweet,
Five wishes for the new husband and wife,
Health, Wealth, Happiness, Children, and Long Life!
And a Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers, grandfathers, and good examples in our lives!
Sources:
www.italianweddingexperience.
Submitted by Charlene Pardo