Ferragosto (August holiday)

Sorry it has been so long since I've written a blog...it's not that I don't have anything to write about, but that times just gets away. I will have a new blog (or 2 or 3) up sometimes this week. In the meantime, here is a little history lesson on Ferragosto & what Rome is like in August. I am also going to embrace this time of vacation & will be leaving Rome on travels from August 15th - September 2nd traveling to Padova, Italy (Northern Italy), the Netherlands, Orlando (for a training I am attending), Houston/Wallis, & then back to Rome. Unfortunately I'm only spending a couple days in Houston/Wallis, so I will not get to see most of you.

I was actually told last month that I should take vacation during this time because most stores, restaurants, etc. will be closed and barely anyone will be in the office. I've started to notice closings and people going on vacation for the last week or so, & I'm told by the week of the 15th barely any places will be open. Oh it's so horrible to be forced on vacation! ;-)

(The following was obtained from the website www.inromenow.com - which is a great resource for anyone living or traveling to Rome!)

The Roman feriae Augusti was a festival of eating, drinking and sexual excess, for patricians, plebians, servants and slaves alike, which reached its frenzied peak on the ides of Augusti, our August 15th. Enter the Catholic church. So popular was the festival that the church was unable to stamp it out, pagan though it may have been. So in the sixth century AD, it was decided that August 15th would be the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, when the Virgin Mary's body and soul were assumed into heaven. Centuries later, the festival known as Ferragosto marks an almost mandatory exodus from Rome, and not for a day, but for at least a two weeks of vacation time. In fact, for many, the holiday extends to include the entire month. Most restaurants are closed. Many shops are closed. Some movie theaters close for the month. Even the supermarket can be appallingly barren. If you stay in Rome for the month — or if you choose to visit the Eternal City in August, it may seem a bit deserted. The activities of the Estate Romana festival are all but over by August 10th. The good news is that there are few crowds, almost no traffic.