1. Project Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership – 2015- 2017
“YOUTH BRIDGES TO REACH EFFICIENT EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP AWARENESS”
Project Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership –
Project code: RO01-KA
Liceo “Vittorio Emanuele III”
Patti (ME) Sicily- Italy
deliverables

2. JANUARY 2017
New Year’s day
New Year’s Day in Italy falls on January 1 and marks the start of the year in the Gregorian calendar. Many Italians celebrate the end of the old year and the start of New Year with fireworks and with a New Year’s dinner with traditional dishes. There are also some symbolic traditions symbolic traditions are: throwing pots, pans, and clothes out of the window to let go of the past and move toward the future. Firing a Christmas log before New Year’s Day to turn away evil spirits (who don’t like fire) and invite the Virgin Mary to warm newborn Jesus. Wearing red underwear for good luck.
The Epiphany
The Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, it commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity, according to Christian belief, was manifested: when the three kings (also known as wise men or Magi) visited infant Jesus in Bethlehem offering Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and when John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan.
The Epiphany, also known as La Befana originates from a fairytale about a woman who flies on a broomstick bringing presents to children in Italy. La Befana is believed to be searching for baby Jesus, hence why she bears gifts for children. Many cities and towns in Italy organize festivities and parades to celebrate Epiphany.
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3. FEBRUARY 2017
Carnevale- Carnival
The Carnival is a feast that is celebrated in many European countries. It consists of a week of festivities such as public parades with allegorical carts and, behind the carts, groups and individual people in fancy dressdancing, singing and making jokes. The main festivities take place on Carnival Thursday and Shrove Tuesday, that are the last Thursday and the last Tuesday before Lent. The canival traditions are different from city to city nd one of the most famous Italian carnival is in Venice. The typical food of carnival are biscuits called “Chiacchiere”.
San Valentino- Saint Valentine
Saint Valentine, on Feubrary 14, is the feast of the lovers. On this day boyfriends and girlfriends give each others some gifts, like roses, chocolate and love letters. It is an occasion to demonstrate our love. In this day there are some people really happy and others, who haven’t a boyfriend or a girlfriend, quite sad.
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4. MARCH 2017
Ash Wednesday, this year on March 1, means the Wednesday before the first Sunday of Lent (Quaresima) it marks the forty days of fast and abstinence before Easter, symbol of the 40 days spent by Christ in the desert before His death on the cross. It is the first day of the period in preparation for the Christian Easter.
Women’s Day, on march 8, was issued to remind both the social, political and economic achievements of women.
Father’s day is celebrated on March 19, St Joseph, father of Jesus is honored on this day. Children show gratitude to their fathers by giving them gifts
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5. APRIL 2017
Easter, the most important Christian feast, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus as written in the Bible. The week before Easter, called Holy Week, is a sacred time whose rites begin on Palm Sunday with the blessing of olive branches and “woven palm”, typical example of artisan tradition. On feast day all the family gathers, children receive chocolate eggs with surprises inside. The day after Easter is called Easter Monday or Angel’s Monday because on this day the Church remembers the Angel’s meeting with the women who came to the tomb. In Italy we celebrate this day with family or friends having a picnic in the countryside.
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6. MAY
International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classest occurs every year on May Day (1 May). The date was chosen for International Workers' Day by the Second International to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886.
The first May Day celebration in Italy took place in It started initially as an attempt to celebrate workers' achievements in their struggle for their rights and for better social and economic conditions. It was abolished under the Fascist Regime and immediately restored after the Second World War. May Day is now an important celebration in Italy and is a national holiday regardless of what day of the week it falls. The Concerto del Primo Maggio ("1st of May Concert"), organised by Italian labour unions in Rome in Piazza di Porta San Giovanni has become an important event in recent years. Every year the concert is attended by a large audience of mostly young people and involves participation of many famous bands and songwriters, lasting from 3 p.m. till midnight
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7. JUNE
Republic Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica in Italian (Festival of the Republic), is a national holiday in Italy on June 2 each year. It celebrates the day when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy in 1946 so their country could become a republic. On this day there are many official ceremonies with military parades and the Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, inside the Altare della Patria in Rome
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8. JULY 2017
July is the month in which wheat is harvested in many Italian regions. As it is the summer season grain festivals are organized to make the Italian quality products known to the many tourists that spend their holidays in Italy
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9. AUGUST 2017
Ferragosto is probably the best loved holiday in Italy. Celebrated on the fifteenth of August, it honors Mary's Assumption to Heaven, where Catholic belief says She sits beside her Son, Jesus. It is a day of great festivities with
celebrations in the streets and prayers to the Virgin Mary for thanks and support. All of Italy shuts down to celebrate Ferragosto. During the years, just like Christmas, the religious connotation of the holiday has been overtaken by its mundane side. In most of Italy, especially in touristic areas and locations there are parties and celebrations. People organize picnics in the countryside or on the beach and young people spend the night on the beach around bon fires.
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10. SEPTEMBER
September and October are the months for the Italian “vendemmia”, the Italian word for the grape harvest. The exact date of the grape harvest is decided year by year, depending on the weather, the quantity of rain fall and the changes from one vineyard to another. The most important thing is that grapes must have the right level of sweetness.
The vendemmia isn’t just for local farmers. It is one of the most fascinating experiences you can enjoy in Italy. In some areas tourists come from all over the world to help since it is a wonderful way to learn something about local wine, food, local culture and to be
part of a hundred-year-old tradition (and sometimes get a free lunch!).
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11. OCTOBER
On October 4, Italians celebrate the feast of San Francesco of Assisi, that is the patron of Saint of Italy. Religious services take place in the Basilica of San Francesco and the Basilica of Santa Maria degliAngeli. Civic ceremonies presided by a representative of the italian Government and the highest regional, provincial and municipal authorities of the region which represents all of Italy by offering oil to fuel the votive lamp of the towns of Italy which burns before the tomb of Saint Francis.
Recently on October 31 have started to celebrate Halloween with the organization of costume parties.
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12. NOVEMBER
All Saints day, the first of November, and All Souls' Day, the second, are associated strongly with Catholic tradition and belief. All Saints celebrates the memory of every Catholic saint and martyr, known and unknown, whereas All Souls' day centers on the remembrance of those who departed this world. The two are usually considered as a continuum by most Italians, who use these days as a moment to reflect and remember the departed.
National Unity and Armed Forces Day is an Italian observance held on November 4 every year. It commemorates the victory of Italy (as member of the Allies) over Austria-Hungary in 1918 during the First World War.Despite not being a public holiday anymore, it is still marked with various commemorative events.
On the 11th of November, Italy celebrates San Martino, St. Martin, a soldier of the Roman Empire who became a Saint for his great humility and generosity.
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13. DECEMBER 2017
The feast of the Immaculate Conception (L'ImmacolataConcezione) is an Italian public holiday celebrated annually on December 8. The day commemorates wbelief.
Many Italians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day (Natale) on December 25 each year. As Christmas approaches, lights, Christmas trees, and other decorations begin to appear at marketplaces, malls, shops, homes, and along major streets.The most important decorations, however, are the presepios (nativity scenes), which can be seen in churches, squares and other public areas.
St Stephen’s feast Day (Il giorno di Santo Stefano) is celebrated as a public holiday across Italy on December 26. St Stephen is believed to be the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death sometime around the year 33 CE.
New Year’s Eve, also known as St Sylvester’s Feast (La Festa di San Silvestro) in Italy, falls on December 31. It is a festive time of the year for many Italians in the lead up to New Year’s Day. Many Italians love to celebrate New Year’s Eve with firework displays, festivals, bonfires, concerts, and parties
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