An evening to remember…The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

celebrated in grand style at nearby Diecimo – after three years pandemic absence – with Vespers in the beautifully decorated Romanesque Pieve,

followed by a band-enhanced procession of the Virgin’s statue

and concluding with a superb fireworks display which contended with but was enhanced by an apocalyptic thunderstorm.

Italy at its traditional best!

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Do note….Ferragosto is a conflation of two holidays. The first derives from the holiday given to workers and slaves by the Roman emperor Augustus at the start of the month named after him. The second holiday is a religious one for the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.

Incidentally what is the difference between the Virgin’s Assumption and Jesus’ Ascension? The theological answer is that Jesus raised himself into Heaven through his own power and victory over death. It was an active action. The Virgin, however, was raised into Heaven by the Father. It was a passive action.  

Both pre-Christian and Christian ‘Ferragosto’ festivals are combined in several well-known Italian events.  Siena’s Palio with its famed horse race celebrates the Virgin Mary’s Assumption . Horse races were also held in ancient Roman times on the ‘Feriae Augusti’, the emperor’s festive day when the winner would receive a precious cloth called ‘pallium’ . And Diecimo in its own special way honours this great day in the Italian calendar.