Ferragosto Celebrations

Ferragosto is an Italian holiday celebrated on August 15. Initially, it was related to a celebration of the middle of the summer & the end of the hard labour in the fields. In occasion, Roman Catholicism adopted this date as a Holy Day of Obligation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary-the real physical elevation of her sinless soul & incorrupt body into Heaven. Ferragosto, the 15th of August, is one of Italy's most important & most cherished holidays.

It has its origins in antiquity & has changed and evolved over the centuries, but as Gianni Di Gregorio's wonderful film Pranzo di Ferragosto illustrated so powerfully, the Italian who finds him or herself working or away from family on this summer holiday feels especially hard done by. The Festival is a celebration of Italian Music, Entertainment, Art, Games such as "bocce ball" and Food that's an Art all its own. FERRAGOSTO celebrates the traditional Italian arts and crafts, music, dance and delicious food of the Italian communities living in the Salt Lake Valley.