What is Ferragosto? Ferragosto is an Italian public holiday. Ferragosto not only refers to the 15th of August, but by extension, the period around it when most people get a holiday from offices, factories, and work in general. When is Ferragosto? It takes place on the 15th of August all over Italy – the same …
Buon Ferragosto! – Origins of Italian Ferragosto and How We Celebrate Read More »
What is an Italian Digestif? Fancy a little after-dinner drink? In Italy, that’s a digestivo – literally something to help you digest after a heavy meal. The Italian digestif is not a cocktail but a ‘short’ drink with a mid-high alcohol content served in a small glass, often neat but sometimes with a little ice …
Italian Digestif – Your Guide to Italy’s After Dinner Drinks Read More »
What is a Presepe? A presepe (plural presepi and sometimes also called a presepio) is an Italian nativity scene. An Italian presepe often tells the whole story from the angel’s announcement to the shepherds, through the birth of Christ and the arrival of the three wise men. Unlike typical Christmas scenes featuring just baby Jesus, …
Presepe – The Italian Nativity Scene (+ Where to See Them) Read More »
The Italian national anthem is a rousing crowd-pleaser, especially when sung by a passionate throng at soccer games. But do you know the history behind it? And that despite being sung everywhere it only become official in 2017? Let’s take a look at this popular anthem. History of the Italian National Anthem What is the …
Italian National Anthem – Lyrics & Translation (+ Printable!) Read More »
Aperitivo – what it is, how to order it, typical aperitivo drinks, and more. Written in collaboration with Clair Rogers. What Is Aperitivo? In your home country, you may be used to eating dinner a little earlier than we do in Italy. Italians typically start dinner around 8:00pm (or even 9:00pm in Southern Italy). So …
Aperitivo – All You Need to Know About Italian Aperitif Read More »
Italy’s Festa della Donna – International Women’s Day “Ogni volta che una donna lotta per se stessa, lotta per tutte le donne.” (“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”) -Maya Angelou If you’re anywhere in Italy on March 8th, you’ll see yellow …
La Festa della Donna – How Italy Celebrates on March 8th Read More »
Valentine’s Day in Italy, the land of love. It must be a day full of Hallmark cards, kids exchanging Valentines, and buying gifts for everyone you love, right? Nope – In Italy, Valentine’s Day is celebrated, but it’s by no means a national holiday, and it’s not celebrated in the same way as the holiday …
Valentine’s Day In Italy – How We Celebrate In The Land Of Love Read More »
Americans have Thanksgiving traditions. But are there any Italian Thanksgiving traditions? Do Italians Celebrate Thanksgiving? Not exactly. Italians do not have a national holiday that celebrates American Thanksgiving. However, you will find plenty of Italians toasting the holiday with their expat friends and family at a home or restaurant. Italians do love a celebration! Are …
Italian Thanksgiving Traditions – Celebrating La Festa Del Ringraziamento Read More »
Curious about Italian baby traditions? Italians have traditions for everything – from baptisms to wedding days to holidays. There are special traditions for each major life event, including the birth of a bambino (baby boy) or bambina (baby girl). As an expat in Italy, when I found out I was pregnant with my first child, …
