Cultural Group – Ferragosto Potluck lunch – Vista room – Hillside

Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 - 1:00 PM

Walnut Creek,

Potluck for Ferragosto  All members are invited.  Bring something to share. The club will have Prosecco and other beverages.

History of Ferragosto

The festivity has Roman origins and the term Ferragosto derives from the Latin “Feriae Augusti” (August rest), a locution referring to a festivity called by the Emperor Augustus in 18 BC.

The feast was part of the period of the festivities dedicated to Conso, god of the earth and fertility, and was called with the aim of ensuring an adequate rest after the efforts made in the previous weeks of work. On the feast day, horse races were organized throughout the empire.

The date of the ancient Ferragosto was August 1st. It was the Catholic Church that moved the date to the 15th, in order to make Ferragosto coincide with the religious celebration for the Assumption of Mary who died and was reborn on this day, being received into heaven.

Ferragosto became popular and began to be associated with summer holidays during the fascist period. The regime, through the after-work associations, began to promote ‘popular trips’ on ‘popular trains’ that had reduced fares between 13 and 15 August. In this way, even the economically disadvantaged classes could visit the country and afford a few days’ holiday.

 

 

 

The Cultural Group meets on the first and third Monday of the month in the Vista Room at 1 PM

The Italian Cultural Group is envisioned as a place where participants
can share their love of Italy and the Italian culture, Si parla
italiano, and English is spoken too!
This bilingual group encourages lively, informal conversations in
either language about anything Italian: food, music, travel, movies,
etc. Discussions will reflect the interests of attendees. Activities
could include games like Scrabble in Italian or Italian card games
like Scopa and Briscola.
Traditional Italian holidays will be celebrated. Bilingual newspapers
and magazines will be on hand to stimulate conversation. There could
even be a sing-along of favorite Italian songs. Since the Vista room
has a kitchen there is a possibility of a few cooking demonstrations.
This group is free and open to all residents and guests. It is not
necessary to be a member of the Italian-American Club to participate
in the Italian Cultural Group. The only requirement is an interest in
all things Italian. For more information about this group and all the
events of the Italian-American Club of Rossmoor, check out the website
www.ItalianAmericanClub.org or call Joe Casalaina at 1-925-482-0919.