| Saint Ansanus - Tuesday December 1, 2020 Catholic : His legend states that he was born of a noble Roman family in the third century. While still a child, Ansanus was secretly baptized by his nurse Maxima (venerated as St. Maxima of Rome) and was secretly brought up as a Christian. Ansanus openly declared his Christian faith during the persecutions of Diocletian, when he was nineteen years old. According to tradition, St. Ansanus preached the Gospel in Bagnoregio (then Bagnorea) and the church of Santa Maria delle Carceri outside the Alban Gate was said to have been built above the prison in which he was confined. Not a paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
[Wikipedia]
|
| Immaculate Conception - Tuesday December 8, 2020 Catholic : Dogma that Mary was from the first moment of conception, totally free from the stain of original sin. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
|
| Pisa Marathon - Sunday December 15, 2019 Sports events : Http://www.pisamarathon.it/
|
| Christmas holiday (beginning) - Friday December 20, 2019 School holidays :
|
| Christmas Day - Wednesday December 25, 2019 Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.
|
| St Stephen's Day - Thursday December 26, 2019 Catholic or protestant : Remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
|