15/08/2026
Provincial by birth, Augustus maintained a genuine sentiment for small town values. His deep understanding of his people inspired him to declare a holiday on an unprecedented scale. He combined several rural festivals tied to the grain harvest into a recognized period of rest and attached his name to it: the Feriae Augusti. The celebration arrived after the heaviest labor of the season and gave every person, from servant to noble, relief from the heat and leisure time to enjoy the harvest’s bounty. With that, the untouchable cornerstones of Italian life - family, friends, and food - were fused with a fourth “F,” the Ferragosto, as it is known today.
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