Throughout the year la festa italiana provides a delightful glimpse into Italy’s history and culture. Everything from a national holiday to a village saint’s day to a harvest, whether of wheat, olives or grapes, is a good reason for festevolezza (rejoicing), usually with special foods and lively crowds.

”Quando é festa, é festa!” one of my Italian friends likes to say--or as she translates it:  “When it’s time to celebrate, celebrate!” If you’re heading to Italy in the coming months, you might want to join in some of these festivities.