| Carnevale Festival in ItalyCelebrated 40 days | | | | *Palio San Secondo (Asti) -- This is a |
| before Easter, Carnevale is a large festival | | | | 700-year-old ceremony in which participants |
| held before Ash Wednesday. The biggest | | | | wear costumes from the 13th century. |
| celebrations are held in Viareggio, Ivrea and | | | | |
| Venice. Carnevale celebrations are held in | | | | *Sagra di San Nicola (Bari) -- This is a |
| many cities around the world.Celebrate the | | | | historic costume procession held on May 7th. |
| New Year in ItalyItalians bring in the New | | | | |
| Year with music, dancing and fireworks. | | | | *Sagra di Sant' Efisio (Cagliari) -- A large |
| Celebrations may vary from one town to the | | | | colorful procession is held on May 1st |
| next.Festa della Madonna Bruna in Matera, | | | | through 4th where pilgrims dress in costumes |
| ItalyThis is a unique festival held in | | | | from the 1600s with accompanying horses, |
| southern Italy in July. The festival's | | | | carts and a statue of the saint on foot. |
| highlight comes when a Carro carrying the | | | | |
| Madonna is destroyed. The Carro is made of | | | | *Calcio Fiorentino (Florence) -- This is a |
| papier mache and takes an entire year to | | | | soccer match held in June that resembles |
| create. Making the Carro is a skill passed | | | | those football games of the Medieval times. |
| down from one generation to the next.L'Ardia | | | | |
| di San CostantinoHeld in Sardinia, L'Ardia di | | | | *Infiorata (Genzano) -- A beautiful flower |
| San Costantino is an Italian horse race. l | | | | festival, where a religious procession takes |
| Palio di Siena | | | | place on streets carpeted with flowers. |
| | | | |
| Il Palio di Siena is a famous festival and | | | | *Balestrieri (Gubbio) -- Known as the Palio |
| horse race - probably the most famous in the | | | | of the Archers, this is a Medieval crossbow |
| country. | | | | contest held on the last Sunday in May. |
| | | | Participants wear Medieval arms and costumes. |
| Umbria Jazz Festival in PerugiaThis is a | | | | |
| very popular international jazz festival | | | | |
| that's held in July in Perugia.A Carnevale | | | | *Feast of Santa Rosalia (Palermo) -- Held in |
| Ogni Scherzo ValeItalians have this carnival | | | | July, this event features fireworks, bands |
| before the 40 days of deprivation experienced | | | | and a procession in honor of the patron saint |
| during the advent of Lent. This type of | | | | of the city. |
| festival has become popular in cities around | | | | |
| the world.Valentine's Day in ItalyItaly | | | | *Epiphany Fair at Piazza Navona (Roma) -- A |
| celebrates Valentine's Day with shops selling | | | | January fair with sweets, toys and presents |
| china baskets or cups filled with candies | | | | that is held outdoors at the gorgeous Bernini |
| tied with ribbons. Getting engaged on | | | | fountains. |
| Valentine's Day is a tradition in | | | | |
| Italy.Christmas In Italy (Buon | | | | *Estate Romana (Roma) -- Coordinated by the |
| Natale)Christmas in Italy is marked with | | | | city of Rome, this event takes place from the |
| white, red and green colors, which are also | | | | end of June until August or during Roman |
| the colors of the Italian flag. Italians | | | | Summer. There is a summer season of open air |
| enjoy Christmas traditions, recipes and rites | | | | entertainment put on by the Rome Opera House. |
| each year.Easter In Italy (Buona Pasqua) | | | | Highlights include music, ballet, opera, |
| Italy holds many ceremonies during the | | | | drama and more. |
| holiday of Easter no matter when the date of | | | | |
| the holiday. Most ceremonies are conducted by | | | | *Carnival in Venice (Venice) -- Held in |
| churches.Thanksgiving in ItalyItaly | | | | February and March, this celebration features |
| celebrates Thanksgiving, but in a different | | | | masks and costumes, music, fireworks and |
| way than America. The family meal usually | | | | mimes. Entertainment is provided in the |
| consists of Italian recipes (instead of | | | | streets. |
| turkey) that have been passed down throughout | | | | |
| generations. Families gather for a | | | | Wherever you go in Italy, there's bound to |
| traditional meal during the holiday.Celebrate | | | | be a special event or festival nearby. Italy |
| at the Venice Carnival The Venice Carnival is | | | | is full of fun celebrations all year. You can |
| a traditional festival where partygoers wear | | | | join in and become a part of these great |
| masks. It is romantic and considered one of | | | | traditions when you visit Italy.You can find |
| the largest festivals in Europe.Festa del | | | | international cell phones and service for |
| RedentoreThis is a Venetian festival held to | | | | Italy from Free incoming calls from all |
| celebrate the end of a plague that occurred | | | | countries night and day and calling the |
| during the 16th century. It's usually held | | | | states is just US $.60 per minute! They rent |
| the second week in July with a fireworks | | | | and sell phones and satellite phones as |
| display and a regatta. An architect named | | | | well.John Dulaney, born Dec. 11th, 1946, |
| Antonio Palladio built the Church of the | | | | married with children. |
| Redeemer as a remembrance of the | | | | |
| occasion.Scoppio del CarroThis is an event | | | | Living most years since 1969 outside the USA |
| held on Easter Saturday in Florence where a | | | | and working in motion pictures since 1965 I |
| chariot pulled by an ox goes through the | | | | started with my wife, Jojo, in March of 1994 |
| streets on a journey to the Il Duomo. | | | | in San Francisco, Ca. |
| Fireworks are ignited from the | | | | |
| vehicle.Spoleto FestivalKnown as the | | | | I've lived in or been to approximately 36 |
| "Festival of Two Worlds," this is one of the | | | | countries and have lived under Democracies, |
| most popular musical events in Italy.Other | | | | Socialism, Communism, dictatorships, kingdoms |
| Traditional Events in Italy (City or region | | | | and others. There is nothing like home. |
| stated in parentheses)*Almond Blossom | | | | |
| Festival (Agrigento) -- Festival of song, | | | | I participated at Channel Four in Manila, |
| fireworks and costumes. | | | | Philippines during the "People Power |
| | | | Revolution" and stood, with my wife's |
| *Giostra del Saracino (Arezzo) -- Also known | | | | brother, along with half a million others |
| as the Joust of the Saracen, this is a | | | | against the threat of tank attack. |
| tilting contest that's held the first Sunday | | | | |
| in September. Knights in armor depict the | | | | I have witnessed the ruinous effects of |
| 13th century customs. | | | | Socialism /Communism /Dictatorship in dozens |
| | | | of countries and today enjoy the remains of |
| *Calendimaggio (Assisi) -- Also called | | | | our freedoms and protections of the |
| Celebration of Holy Week, this is Italy's | | | | Constitution in the USA here in California. |
| Easter event to celebrate Spring as they did | | | | |
| in Medieval times. | | | | Working in front of and behind the camera |
| | | | films around the world we removed to the |
| *Torneo Della Quintana (Ascoli-Piceno) -- | | | | suburbs and a quiet life, for a few years. We |
| This is the Joust of the Quintana that's held | | | | still have property in Umbria, Italy, some is |
| on the first Sunday of August. It's a pageant | | | | for sale. After all is said and done I count |
| in which contestants wear 15th century | | | | my children, wife Jojo and my friends as my |
| costumes. | | | | only real treasure. |
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