Lazy Hazy Days of Ferragosto
Vatican Insider
Welcome to Vatican Insider on a weekend of scorching temperatures in much of the northern hemisphere of the world, with big time heatwaves in Europe and the United States! And welcome to a special I’ve prepared for what is normally the interview segment of VI – I call it the lazy, hazy summer days of ferragosto – life in Italy in August which, of course, starts this weekend. You learn the origin of the name August and the meaning of a very important word in the Italian language – Ferragosto! August is not just a month in Italy. It is THE month and life in Italy in August is very different from so many other countries from stores, offices, pharmacies, movie theatres, cafes and restaurants, and many more spots closing for a holiday period – chiuso per ferie. If that’s not enough, doctors and other medical personnel can take weeks, maybe even a month, off at ferragosto…situations we’d never think of finding in the US, for example. Not to mention the annual snowfall in Rome on August 5! It’s a fun special so stay tuned after the news segment.