Antonio, who’s nearing 90, is a retired sales agent. When asked about his best Ferragosto memory from his youth, he grimaces. "When I was a child in Rome, the only thing on our minds was surviving the German bombings. Ferragosto was the last thing we thought about!" A bittersweet smile crosses his face. "You know, after the war, our only goal was to find work, become independent, and build a future in a world that was rebuilding after so much destruction." He adds, "These days, I’m simply happy with what I have on Ferragosto. When people say 'things were better back then'—I always wonder, better when exactly?".
It makes you wonder if, back in 18th century B.C., when Emperor Augustus established this holiday, he could have imagined all of this. Could he have foreseen the tragic events that would prevent some from enjoying this day, which marks the beginning of the end of summer? And what about the countless young people who, millennia later, still lose their heads over Ferragosto?
Diletta, 22, is a food technologist. Her first Ferragosto memories are of the “ventaglietti” cookies, first made by her grandmother and now by her mother. "For me, Ferragosto is literally the smell of these traditional cookies, which are sacred in my family." When asked for something less sweet and more memorable, she laughs and says, "Well, it’s obvious—here near Rome by the sea, we have the tradition of bonfires on the night between August 14th and 15th. As teenagers, that’s when you experience your first loves, first kisses, first cigarettes. It’s like a night where everything that’s usually forbidden seems possible."
Mara, 34, works in public administration, and her favorite Ferragosto memory is meeting Luca, 35, who she’s about to marry. "I met Luca on Ferragosto, and in a few months, we’ll be married. He was with a group of friends that my best friend and I joined for a beach bonfire. Thinking back on it still makes me laugh."
The funniest Ferragosto memories, without a doubt, belong to those currently in their 60s and 70s. Their generation had some truly wild experiences. As Lino, a 63-year-old lawyer, puts it, "Ferragosto meant one thing: a morning on the beach preparing water balloons to throw at everyone. We’d fill buckets and pails with water and then unleash a real battle on the beach. And then, there were the hot chocolate and cream-filled bombs." With a grin, he adds, "But I can’t tell you the really juicy stuff."
As they say, Ferragosto is the start of winter. So, let winter begin, and may these 24 hours create pleasant memories for everyone.
Illustration by Gloria Dozio - Acrimònia Studios
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