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