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The region of Emilia-Romagna stretches nearly all the way across northern Italy from the Gulf of Venice on the east to Tuscany and Liguria (the Italian Riviera) on the west. As with so many other parts of Italy the spring months are not very pleasant in early spring but it warms up fairly quickly. This region is known for its food, even the perhaps unfortunately named provincial capital of Bologna.
In the middle of Lent the town of Forlimpopoli, population about 13 thousand celebrates Segavecchia, the burning of the effigy of "Old Woman Winter." This story can get pretty bloody; in one version a woman is sawed in half by her husband and sons but they repent and she comes back to life. On March's second or third Sunday the small town of Casalfiumanese, population about 3 thousand holds the Bologna Ravioli Festival. In this case Bologna refers to the provincial name. By the way, the city of Bologna is known for its excellent tortellini. You don't have to go very far in Italy to change the local pasta specialties. On or about the 25th to 27th March, the city of Cavriago, home to about 9 thousand, hosts the Festival del Bue Grasso, a two hundred-year-old cattle fair that includes many demonstrations of old crafts and great food stands. The small town of Rocca San Casciano, population about 2 thousand, located about 40 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of Bologna hosts its Festa dei Falo (Bonfires Feast), said to originate in Celtic Pagan rites.
Start the month of April a few days early in the city of Vignola, population 23 thousand with a cherry festival. You can eat all kinds of cherry dishes and drink cherry wine. There's a free train ride from Vignola to Bologna and back where you can learn about the history of the cherry in the specially decorated train interior. This celebration continues until mid-April. The second Sunday of April means a very unique commemoration. The city of Montese, population 3 thousand, holds its Remembrance of Fallen Brazilian Soldiers dedicated to the more than 15,000 Brazilian soldiers who landed in Napoli in July of 1944 to fight the Germans in the nearby Appenine Mountains. The conflict lasted almost 8 months and over four hundred were killed and thousands injured but they were credited with helping in the victory at Montese and elsewhere.
Now that you have the habit, start the month of May about a week early at the seaside resort of Cervia at their International Kite Festival that runs from April 23 to May 2. You might want to stick around or return for their Sposalizio del Mare (Marriage of the Sea) commemorating a event in 1445 when, according to tradition, the local Bishop of Cervia calmed a storm by pawning his pastoral ring. On the day of the Ascension, after a week of celebrations, a historical procession accompanies the Bishop to the open sea, where he blesses the Adriatic and tosses a wedding ring into the sea, surrounded by brightly-colored historical vessels. On the last Sunday in May there's a Medieval Parade and Jousting Tournament near the fortress of Grazzano Visconti that you won't want to miss. It commemorates the late Fourteenth Century marriage of the daughter of the local bigwig to the brother of the king of France. Finish the month in the historic city of Ferarra, population some 135 thousand, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Bologna at their Palio di San Giorgio Medieval Parade and Race. This race ran continuously from 1279 (the world's oldest Palio) to 1869. There are an unbelievable one thousand locals dressed in costume.
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Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet but he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches various computer classes in an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines.
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