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ITALY EXPLAINED

Why August 15th is a public holiday in Italy

August 15th, or 'Ferragosto', is one of the most deeply felt Italian holidays. But do you know why it is a public holiday in the first place?

Published: 14 August 2022 08:03 CEST
Updated: 15 August 2024 15:17 CEST

Beachgoers sunbathe at a public beach near Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa. Photo by OLIVIER MORIN / AFP

August is holiday season in Italy and Ferragosto, which falls on the 15th day of the month every year, officially marks its peak.

On the day, Italy is known to experience a sort of collective shutdown, with everything from post offices to public transport being unavailable and only a few bars and restaurants keeping their doors open.

But why is August 15th a national holiday and why is it called Ferragosto?

Briefly, August 15th is when Catholics commemorate the Assumption of Mary: the day on which the Virgin is believed to have entered Heaven. Every year, this liturgical event is celebrated with church masses and religious processions taking place around the country.

However – possibly to the surprise of many – Ferragosto was a holiday long before it took on a religious significance.

In fact, the name of the holiday itself comes from the Roman Feriae Augusti, a series of festivals and public celebrations which were likely introduced back in 18 BC to celebrate a battle victory achieved by Emperor Augustus.

The Feriae Augusti belonged into the longer Augustali period – a number of days where farmers were allowed to rest and get some reprieve after the hard work of the harvest season.

In Roman times, celebrations included horse races, theatre performances and hunts.

The mid-August holiday survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD as Christianity removed the more pagan aspects of the festival and made it coincide with liturgical observances and celebrations for the Assumption of Mary, falling on August 15th.

Finally, in the first half of the 20th century, the Fascist regime further legitimised Ferragosto as a national giorno di festa, with dictator Benito Mussolini himself enshrining it in the nation’s official holiday calendar as a much-deserved period of rest from the hard work carried out in factories and fields.

When is the next public holiday?

After Thursday, the next national public holiday won’t be until November 1st, when Italians celebrate All Saints’ Day (Ognissanti).

However, there’ll be a number of regional and local holidays before then. For instance, on September 19th, Naples residents will celebrate their patron saint, Saint Januarius (San Gennaro).

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Eight of the most common complaints about Italy – and the solutions

Italy is a popular country to move to or to visit, for many obvious reasons. But at the same time, it also regularly tops polls of countries where new residents find it hardest to settle.

Moving countries is challenging wherever you go, and homesickness can strike anywhere. But there are some particular challenges in Italy which many readers have told us they didn’t expect.

We look at the most common complaints made about life in Italy by foreigners, and suggest some possible solutions.

The bureaucracy is a nightmare

Let’s start with the big one. There’s no getting away from the fact that life in Italy involves a big pile of red tape, and if you move here you’re going to have to get used to it.

There have been some improvements in recent years, as an increasing number of services have moved online, cutting down on time spent queuing in person.

Still, Italian bureaucracy hasn’t been transformed just yet.

To minimise stress, you’ll want to arm yourself with as much information as you can find: see The Local’s sections on essential issues like tax, residency, or healthcare for guides and updates.

Just as importantly, readers often tell us that the key to dealing with these situations is to take a few deep breaths and maintain a sense of humour and perspective.

It’s undeniable that it also helps to have lots of free time, money to hire professionals who can help you navigate the system, and Italian friends who are willing to translate.

In any case, if you can remain calm and friendly in the face of bureaucratic challenges, you’re always much more likely to find someone willing to help you – or at least to explain how things actually work at this particular office.

Everything happens so slowly

How come so many things move at a glacial pace in a country where everyone seems to be in such a hurry?

Don’t ask us why – but it’s true that any expectations you may have brought with you from your home country about efficiency will have to be cast aside.

Everything from getting a mortgage to renewing your residency permit will probably take longer than you’d normally expect. (Of course, sometimes things do go smoothly – but if you brace yourself for a long wait, this feels like a bonus.)

In such situations, it can be necessary to hire a lawyer or agent to help move things along. But there are also plenty of more everyday frustrations that could test the patience of Italy’s many saints.

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There’s probably no satisfactory explanation as to why your parcel from home has been stuck at customs for two months, or why the prefettura insists on taking two full years to look at your citizenship application.

Italians will probably shrug and tell you “pazienza” (be patient). Adopting a zen attitude might be the only way to save your sanity, as sometimes there’s not much you can do but wait.

It’s really hard to find a (good) job

Another common complaint, and unfortunate truth, is that finding work in Italy really can be difficult.

For anyone of working age who wants to move here, there are myriad obstacles to finding employment: the sluggish economy makes things hard enough for Italians themselves.

Foreigners must also navigate a protectionist system that means work permits and visas can be hard to get. There’s also the language barrier, a particular working culture, and the fact that Italy has the biggest problem in Europe with refusing to recognise international qualifications.

We’re not saying it’s impossible: there are employment opportunities with international companies in Milan and Rome, and being a native English speaker often gives you an advantage – though you may be offered a lower salary than in some other parts of Europe.

Many people who move to Italy for love or the lifestyle are able to make a living by teaching English, setting up a small business, or freelancing for international companies.

Remember that in Italy, who you know is everything. If you have Italian friends, neighbours, or relatives, they’ll probably be keen to suggest possible work opportunities and might put in a good word.

In any case, keep an open mind – your move to Italy could mean a switch to a new career path altogether.

Customer service is non-existent

This is a complaint often levelled at waiters, shop staff and others working in customer-facing roles: many non-Italians say they often find service slow or impolite.

While there are numerous examples of truly bad service – especially in tourist areas – some common visitor complaints are actually culture clashes.

Depending on where you are in Italy, service in restaurants generally is on the slow side – and that’s at least partly deliberate. Meals are viewed more as an experience that should be savoured, not rushed. (Even on a Tuesday lunchtime.)

It’s pretty relaxing once you get used to it. And it’s far nicer than being told by the restaurant that you must leave the table by a set time for the next party.

Yes, Italian restaurants, we know 🙂 pic.twitter.com/QFMtMNWYsE

— Clare Speak (@ClareinItaly) October 15, 2023

Of course, this means that if you’re travelling and just want to quickly refuel before hitting the next attraction, it’s best to choose the most casual dining option you can find.

If brusque service gets to you, remember that there’s not much of a tipping culture here, as service is included in the bill. So you can’t expect an Italian server to act like your best friend.

In fact, if they disagree with your choice, they’re likely to tell you so: particularly if you ask for, say, your bistecca fiorentina well done.

While this pushback can be jarring to non-Italians, it’s a good sign if a restaurant takes pride in how its food is served. And you’ll probably have a better meal if you take their advice.

There’s no information in English

In general, Italian public offices are not known for providing information in foreign languages. This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise in a country with some of the lowest rates of English-language proficiency in Europe.

It does vary depending on where you are: you’re obviously more likely to find assistance in English if you live in central Milan.

Some offices have certain forms and information available in English, so there’s no harm in asking. And some public service information is available in English online.

For example, the Italian interior ministry’s citizenship application website gives some information in English, as does Italy’s tax office (Agenzie delle entrate) – though citizenship applications and tax forms must be completed in Italian.

But when you first arrive, you’ll probably need to take an Italian friend with you to public offices to translate.

Longer term, the only real solution is to prioritise learning Italian: it’s going to be essential for every aspect of daily life.

There’s no public transport

Many an optimist visits Italy’s rural regions expecting a minimum of train or bus services, or perhaps even a taxi – and finds themselves doing an awful lot of walking instead.

But a lack of transport connections is also a common complaint for people living in the centre of the capital city.

Rome’s public transport network is frequently rated poorly. Things are somewhat better in northern Italian cities, but residents will usually say they still need their own set of wheels. There’s a reason Italy has one of Europe’s highest rates of car ownership.

If you’re used to jumping in a cab or an Uber when travelling around Europe, you might find this isn’t really an option either.

Taxi, Rome

A taxi sign in front of Rome’s Colosseum. Visitors used to jumping in a cab in other cities worldwide may have a different experience in Italy. Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP

A chronic shortage of taxis in Rome and other cities is a frequent source of complaint – though the capital, at least, is now taking some steps to address it.

If you’re travelling through Italy and hopping between major destinations, you’re likely to be able to manage this easily by rail. Italy’s long-distance high-speed train services can be very comfortable, and affordable too.

But if you’re here for the longer term, or want to explore further afield, your own transport is probably going to be necessary; whether that means hiring a car, borrowing an Italian relative’s vehicle, or – unfortunately for many foreign residents – retaking your driving test in Italian.

They’re always on strike

Italy is not far behind France in its international reputation for striking. Travel disruption – or the threat of it – due to strike action is something many people complain about.

In truth, most private sector workers rarely strike. The strikes that happen in Italy usually affect certain sectors such as railways, air travel and education.

But Italian strikes are frequent. They’re also attention-grabbing and often target transport services used by tourists, attracting international media coverage.

This is not to say that they always actually cause much disruption.

Strikes vary hugely in how disruptive they are depending on the unions involved and the level of support they get.

They are normally announced well in advance, and many planned strikes end up being cancelled.

See our guide to figuring out whether or how a strike is really likely to affect your journey, and follow the latest news about strikes from The Local in our strike section HERE.

Everything closes on Sundays/in the afternoon/in August

This is something that takes many visitors by surprise and which some foreign residents struggle to get used to, especially if they come from an always-on culture where things are open 24/7.

It varies depending on where you are, but in small towns or rural Italy it’s common for almost everything to close on a Sunday (bakeries are usually open on Sunday mornings, and sometimes supermarkets as well.)

Likewise, afternoon closures between 1-2pm and 3, 4 or even 5pm are normal, particularly in the south of the country.

Not only is lunch the most important meal of the day – to be eaten at home with family rather than al desko – but working through the afternoons in the hotter months is understandably seen as a bit of a health hazard.

In Milan and other major cities though you’ll also find plenty of people have adopted more of a 9-5 schedule, and there’s certainly no time pencilled into their weekdays for a post-lunch nap.

It is also true that much of the country closes down in August – from administrative offices to independent shops and even some non-urgent healthcare. This is because Italians are largely on holiday.

The key is knowing about the closures in advance (and memorising the public holiday calendar) so you can plan ahead.

It can take a bit of getting used to, but it’s all part of the typically Italian mindset of prioritising health, family and relationships.

Once you adapt to the rhythms of life in Italy, you’ll probably never want to go back: after all, the lifestyle is one of the most common reasons people give for wanting to move here.

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