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# 63 • JUNE 28 , 2015
(Umbria), Sagra della Ciliegia (Cherry Feast) in Lari (Tuscany), Sagra della Frittura
di Pesce e della Fava ( Fried
Fish and Fava Bean Feasy) in
Arcille (Tuscany), Sagra della
Porchetta di Costano (Perugia- Umbria) [Pork Feast], la
Sagra della Cipolla (Onion
Feast) in Cannara ( Umbria),
not to mention the Sagra
del Carciofo (Artichoke Feast) in Sezze ( Lazio) or the
Sagra della Fragola ( several
locations in Campania). The
list is too long and the space
too short to list all of them:
each region, each town has
its seasonal celebration
often accompanied by concerts, historical representations and parades in the
local customs. Why we do
that? The answer is simple:
we celebrate the past while
evocating old traditions in
view of making meaning for
the future.
I will be forgiven if I have not
mentioned other acclaimed
historical events and feasts
that make Italy the “traditional excellence” that it is:
the Palio in Siena with its
horse race (the fastest and
shortest probably in the entire world), or the Carnival
in Viareggio and in Venice,
representations of a pagan
past with masks and colorful
costumes, or the Festa dei
Gigli in Nola(Campania), a
secular celebration with tall
constructions that take a
year to be built, just to name
a few.
34 | WE THE ITALIANS
www.wetheitalians.com
In sum, Italians are “indeed”
party addicts: however, celebrations in all forms and shapes are, for us, the “colorful”
way we celebrate our history,
our regional and national
identity and the secular value
of traditions and customs.