We the Italians October 5, 2015 - 69 | Page 31

th # 69 •OCTOBER 5 , 2015 every year during the last days of September, is a ritual - and an appointment - as old as the world: every year the cows, in retreat in the summer pastures, with the end of the summer get down to the valley. Years ago this meant a significant change of life and habits for farming families, who left the mountains with the cattle, settling back into their homes in the valley. This, then as now, was celebrated with the "Great Feast of Desmontegar". The evocative event has not undergone changes over the years: all the cattle are adorned with necklaces of flowers and tree branches and the most beautiful cows get precious bells and are beautifully decorated. Then, the cows are paraded through the streets of the villages of the Valle del Primiero, where the people who attends the event will be able to taste the best products of the valley and greet the arrival of the mild autumn. WE THE ITALIANS | 31 www.wetheitalians.com