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