It’s Carnival week in Italy. And our small town, like many, holds a traditional parade and a masked street party. But no Italian carnival celebration in Italy is more famous than that of Venice.
Wherever you go in Italy, it seems that is love in the air! With Venice and its gondola rides and Verona with Romeo and Juliet, Italy is known as one of the most romantic travel spots in the world. But Italy isn’t only for lovers. There’s something for everyone! And especially at Valentine’s time!! Italy almost seems made for the holiday!
We’ve mostly ditched Christmas. Because of the increase in materialism, not because we’ve become Scrooges. Finding true meaningful spirituality among the commercial trappings became more and more challenging. So for several years we did little during the holidays.
Matthew Henry in his commentary tells of Francis Junius, a 15th century reformed scholar and theologian, who reported that after his first reading of John chapter 1 that he “observed such a divinity in the argument, such an authority and majesty in the style, that his flesh trembled, and he was struck with such amazement that for a whole day he scarcely knew where he was or what he did; and thence he dates the beginning of his being religious.” (Matthew Henry)
Autumn in Italy is a delightful time of year! Mostly warm and balmy – almost warm enough for sun bathing through the first part of November. They’re known as Italy’s Roman Summers, much like the Indian Summers we used to enjoy back in the USA.
What better way to wind up the hottest part of summer than with a Ferragosto post, right? Yet I can hear you asking, “Ferragosto? What in the world is it?” Well, it means August holidays. And it’s the official celebration day (on August 15) of the summer vacation from work.