By happy coincidence, our holiday to Calabria encompassed the Italian national Ferragosto holiday.
Celebrated on August 15th, it originates from a Roman festival, later co-opted by both the Catholic Church to commemorate the Assumption of Mary, and Mussolini for a scheme allowing poorer people to travel to cities or other holiday destinations cheaply.
In practice, for me it meant going for a special meal followed by a fun beach rave party.
All capped off with a classic seaside fireworks show.
