Fun and festivities in Italy - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

In Italy, people love holidays, and any: both national and religious. Even a football match can become a real holiday, for this sport the locals have a particularly passionate attitude. The victory of the beloved team results in a grand celebration, in which the whole city is involved. Italians celebrate New Year and Christmas on a big scale. Dozens of holiday festivals and carnivals are held during the preparation, and tourists from different countries come to see it with pleasure. The inhabitants of Italy are very friendly; anyone can join the event chosen according to their taste. The end of Lent, beginning in February and ending in early March, is also marked by carnival parties. Even church holidays in this country turn into an exciting action with disguises and masks.

But the main carnival of the country is the Venice Carnival. In order to take part in it, thousands of people come from different parts of the world. This festival of amazingly beautiful masks has existed for several centuries, and its popularity keeps growing every year. During the festival, Venice becomes a kind of theatre play, where the participants play the role assigned to them. The festival lasts for two weeks, the celebrations that bring invaluable impressions and emotions do not stop. The atmosphere of fairy tale and mystery does not leave the participants for a minute. In order to take part in the carnival, you must buy an invitation earlier and be sure to be in a suit and mask.

The flower festival that takes place in Noto has less fame, but the scale of the works presented in it makes us admire it. On Friday and Saturday preparatory works are in progress, sketches of future paintings composed of flowers are drawn, and on Sunday the main street of the city, which is 122 meters in length, is covered with numerous flowers. Paintings consisting of four hundred thousand roses, gerberas, daisies and other intoxicatingly smelling flowers are created. Images of flowers can become knights, various emblems and coats of arms, as well as beautiful ladies. Applications for the creation of a particular plot made of flowers are given in advance; the organizers previously make up a picture of the future floral splendor. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Every year in late October and early November, all Italy honors the young wine. It is the pride of the country. Tasting is held in conjunction with the festive events. In each region, they are held in different ways, but some things remain unchanged: the guests stay with wine and dishes traditional in this area, as well as funny songs praising the gifts of nature and dances. Winemakers have been improving their skills for centuries, until they reach perfection of taste. Italian wines are appreciated by lovers of this drink for many centuries and it is believed that every fourth opened bottle of wine in the world was produced in Italy. The festival of wine allows you to plunge into the life of winemakers and better learn their traditions.

On the eve of the Catholic Epiphany in Italy, La Befana is celebrated, the main character of which is Epiphanius, a kind old woman. Upon giving, according to legend she, along with the magi, was to accompany the baby Jesus, but was delayed, and they went without her. Now she is looking for him, going into each house and giving out gifts, hoping to find the baby. The image of Epiphany is rather unfriendly; she wears a pointed hat and flies on a mortar. To make the festival more interesting, acrobats in old-fashioned costumes perform incredible tricks on special ropes. In addition to the masquerade, games and dances are arranged, in which anyone can take part. At the end of the celebration, guests can see the most beautiful fireworks. La Befana is held on the same day as the "Parade of Three Kings" in Spain, on January 5.

Grandiose races - Palio, are held twice a year and occupy a high place among the holidays of Italy. As early as the fourteenth century, there was a tradition to organize horse racing in the city of Sienna, but they were never held at the racetrack. The main difference from any other races is the place for their conduct - the main square of the city. According to the rules of the riders, shocks and provocations are allowed, so spectators are anxiously watching the unfolding action. Because of their features, the jumps do not last for long; only a couple of minutes and after them the guests enjoys acrobatic tricks, jugglers, a parade and a generous feast.