Ciao !
Next to Christmas, Easter, and New Year’s, Ferragosto is one of the most celebrated holidays in Italy. This Italian national holiday takes place on August 15th and many businesses are closed as Italians head to the mountains, lakes, and beaches for some rest, relaxation, and an escape from the summer’s heat.
August 15th is also the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary, the day the Blessed Virgin Mary assumed into heaven. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthy life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
Now the modern holiday marks the peak of summer and is a time when the entire country slows down and Italians enjoy their vacation season. The religious aspects of the holiday coincide with the ancient origins to many Italians who see this as a time of rest and relaxation.
At Oliva Bella, our producers close down in Italy, the company where I worked in Pescara closed down each August for a month...you see many handwritten signs on stores and restaurants "closed for Ferragosto" especially in smaller towns.
And so...we are taking a page from our Italian friends and are taking the week off from our emails to celebrate our own Ferragosto.
Ci vediamo la prossima settimana! See you next week!
Lea Ann Vessels and Oliva Bella | 
