Celebrating Italian Public Holidays: Traditions, Vocabulary, and Phrases.
Public holidays in Italy are more than just days off work—they’re packed with history, culture, and traditions that give you a real taste of what Italy is all about. If you’re learning Italian, understanding these holidays can also help you connect more deeply with the language and the people.
In this blog post, I’ll explore some of Italy’s main public holidays, how Italians celebrate them, and give you useful vocabulary and phrases so you can join in the festivities!
Ferragosto (August 15th)
Ferragosto is one of the most popular holidays in Italy, celebrated on August 15th. It started a long time ago during the Roman Empire as a festival to honor Emperor Augustus.
The name "Ferragosto" comes from "Feriae Augusti," which means "August holidays" in Latin. Over the years, this day also became important for Christians, as it’s now associated with l’Assunzione (the Assumption of the Virgin Mary).
Today, Ferragosto is all about taking a break and enjoying the middle of summer. Many Italians use this time to go on vacation, often heading to the beach or mountains to relax and escape the heat. It’s a time to spend with family and friends, enjoying picnics, barbecues, or meals at seaside restaurants. In some places, you’ll see religious processions and fireworks in the evening.
As Ferragosto approaches, you’ll notice that cities start to empty out because many people leave for their holidays. Shops and businesses often close, and the usual busy pace of life slows down a lot.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases:
Buon Ferragosto! - Happy Ferragosto!
Andiamo al mare per Ferragosto. - Let’s go to the beach in Ferragosto.
La processione - The procession
L’Assunzione - The Assumption
I fuochi d’artificio - The fireworks
La grigliata - The barbecue
Natale (Christmas, December 25th)
Natale, or Christmas, is one of the most important holidays in Italy, filled with joy and rich traditions. The festive season kicks off on December 8th with l’Immacolata Concezione (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), when many families set up il presepe (the Nativity scene) in their homes.
On Christmas Eve, known as La Vigilia di Natale, Italians gather for a special dinner, often centered around fish dishes. After dinner, some people head to la Messa di Mezzanotte (Midnight Mass) to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Christmas Day itself is marked by a large feast that usually includes traditional sweets like il panettone and il pandoro.
Il panettone is a soft, dome-shaped cake with dried fruit, while il pandoro is golden, plain, but often dusted with powdered sugar.
Both cakes are delicious and are a must-have on Italian Christmas tables.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases:
Buon Natale! - Merry Christmas!
Il presepe - The Nativity scene
La Vigilia di Natale - Christmas Eve
La Messa di Mezzanotte - Midnight Mass
Il panettone - The Christmas cake (with dried fruit)
Il pandoro - The Christmas cake (without fruit, dusted with powdered sugar)
Babbo Natale - Santa Claus
Epifania (January 6th)
L’Epifania (Epiphany) is celebrated on January 6th and is known as the day that ends the Christmas season in Italy. This holiday is special for both religious reasons and fun traditions.
In Christian belief, L’Epifania honors the visit of i Re Magi (the Three Wise Men) who brought gifts to baby Jesus. That’s why on this day, many Italian families add the Wise Men figures to their Nativity scenes, or il presepe.
But L’Epifania is also famous for La Befana, a kind old woman who, according to legend, flies on her broomstick the night before Epiphany. She visits children’s homes and fills their stockings with sweets and small gifts if they’ve been good, or il carbone (coal) if they’ve been naughty. The "coal" is usually just candy, so it’s all in good fun!
For Italian children, waking up on L’Epifania is exciting because they get one last round of holiday treats and presents from La Befana.
In many towns, there are fun events and parades to celebrate the day. In Rome, Piazza Navona comes alive with stalls selling toys, sweets, and La Befana dolls.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases:
Buona Epifania! - Happy Epiphany!
La Befana - The Befana (kind witch)
Il carbone - The coal
I dolcetti - The sweets/candies
I Re Magi - The Three Wise Men
La calza - The stocking
Capodanno (New Year’s Eve/Day)
Il Capodanno (New Year’s Eve) is celebrated with lots of excitement across Italy. People gather with family and friends for il cenone di Capodanno (New Year’s Eve dinner), where they often eat le lenticchie (lentils) for good luck and wealth in the coming year. At midnight, fireworks light up the sky, and everyone toasts with lo spumante (Italian sparkling wine).
Il Capodanno, or New Year’s Eve, is a big celebration in Italy. It’s all about welcoming the New Year with happiness, good food, and special traditions. The evening usually starts with il cenone di Capodanno (the big New Year’s Eve dinner), where families and friends come together to enjoy a feast. One of the most important foods on this night is le lenticchie (lentils). Italians believe that eating lentils will bring wealth and good luck in the New Year because they look like little coins. People also eat lo zampone or il cotechino (types of pork sausage), as pork is thought to bring abundance.
As midnight gets closer, everyone gets ready to toast with lo spumante (Italian sparkling wine) or il prosecco. When the clock strikes twelve, italian shout “Buon Anno!” (Happy New Year!) and enjoy i fuochi d’artificio (fireworks) that light up the skies all over Italy. Fireworks are a big part of the celebration, symbolizing the hope to drive away bad luck and start the year fresh.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases:
Buon Anno! - Happy New Year!
Le lenticchie - The lentils
Lo spumante - The sparkling wine
I fuochi d’artificio - The fireworks
Il brindisi - The toast
Il cenone di Capodanno - New Year’s Eve dinner
Pasqua (Easter)
Pasqua, or Easter, is another major holiday in Italy, celebrated with lots of traditions. The week before Easter, called La Settimana Santa (Holy Week), includes processions and events remembering the Passion of Christ.
Easter Sunday is a joyful day when families come together to celebrate. After the solemn events of Holy Week, Easter Sunday is all about enjoying a big meal with loved ones. A traditional dish for this day is l’agnello (lamb), which symbolizes sacrifice and new life. The meal often includes spring vegetables like artichokes, and it ends with la colomba di Pasqua, a cake shaped like a dove, which represents peace.
One of the most popular Easter traditions is giving and receiving le uova di Pasqua (Easter eggs). In Italy, these are usually large chocolate eggs, often with a surprise toy or gift inside. Breaking open these eggs is a fun part of the celebration, especially for children.
The day after Easter, called La Pasquetta (Easter Monday), is also a holiday in Italy. It’s a day to relax and spend time outdoors. Many Italians go on picnics with their families or friends, enjoying simple foods like sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, and pasta salads. It’s a perfect way to continue the Easter celebrations in a more casual, laid-back setting.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases:
Buona Pasqua! - Happy Easter!
L’agnello - The lamb
Le uova di Pasqua - The Easter eggs
La Settimana Santa - Holy Week
La processione della Passione - The Passion procession
La Pasquetta - Easter Monday
La colomba di Pasqua - The Easter dove cake
La Festa della Repubblica (June 2nd)
La Festa della Repubblica, or Republic Day, is a very important national holiday in Italy, celebrated every year on June 2nd. It marks the day in 1946 when Italians voted to get rid of the monarchy and become a republic. This was a huge moment in Italy’s history because it was the start of a new democratic era after World War II. It was also the first time that Italian women were allowed to vote in a national election, which made it even more significant.
All over Italy, towns and cities hold concerts, cultural events, and ceremonies to celebrate. Public buildings, especially in Rome, are decorated with Italian flags, and many people hang flags from their homes.
While La Festa della Repubblica is known for its official ceremonies and military displays, it’s also a day for Italians to come together and celebrate being Italian. Many people spend the day with family and friends, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
In recent years, there has been more focus on celebrating Italy’s rich culture and regional diversity, with events highlighting music, art, food, and traditions from different parts of the country.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases:
Buona Festa della Repubblica! - Happy Republic Day!
La bandiera - The flag
La parata militare - The military parade
Viva l’Italia! - Long live Italy!
La festa nazionale - The national holiday
Italian public holidays are full of rich traditions that really help you understand the country’s culture. By learning some key vocabulary and phrases, you’re not just improving your Italian—you’re also getting ready to celebrate like a local. When one of these holidays comes around, don’t hesitate to use what you’ve learned. It’ll show Italians that you appreciate their traditions, and you’ll feel even more connected to this beautiful culture. Plus, joining in the celebrations is a fun way to practice your language skills and make lasting memories!
Buone Feste😊