I hope your Friday’s been splendid so far. I might put a damper on it (whoops!) with this pointed question: outside of significant-to-you birthdays, anniversaries and national holidays, how many fixed-date, celebratory rituals do you have in your life right now? 

August is the most relaxed month of the year in (most of) Italy. But while chiuso per ferie (“closed for vacation”) signs are commonplace, the country’s events calendar isn’t really any less packed — rather, it’s the nature of the events that changes. In lieu of arty exhibitions or high-brow conferences, you’re likely to find re-enactments of obscure historical events, music festivals, rustic rural sagre (food festivals) and open-air film screenings.

August is the most relaxed month of the year in (most of) Italy. But while chiuso per ferie (“closed for vacation”) signs are commonplace, the country’s events calendar isn’t really any less packed — rather, it’s the nature of the events that changes. In lieu of arty exhibitions or high-brow conferences, you’re likely to find re-enactments of obscure historical events, music festivals, rustic rural sagre (food festivals) and open-air film screenings.

Confession: I’m writing this week’s letter from an airport deli outside Italy, where I just ate a Sad Layover Pasta Salad. Imagine biting into the color beige, if that were possible, and I think you’ll have a solid idea of how it tasted.