In this Borgo Abruzzese is already very cold and the “Summer Christmas” is celebrated (with decorated tree and lights)

In the heart of the Plateau of the Rocche, in Terranera, a small hamlet of Rocca di Mezzo in Abruzzo, this year the climate gave an unusual event: Christmas in summer. Located at 1,270 meters above sea level, the village saw a surreal day turns into a real Christmas set, with decorated tree, lights and bright fireplace.

The initiative was made even more special by the cold -anomalous cold of August, with evening temperatures close to zero and a dense fog that created an early winter atmosphere. The pro loco of the town organized a dinner in the square that welcomed about two hundred people, quadrupling the population of the village.

The guests, including residents and tourists, participated in the party wearing hats from Santa Claus and settling at tables decorated with red tablecloths, colored balls and classic decorations. There was no lack of mulled wine and panettone, while the Christmas songs resonated in the alleys, helping to create an almost magical party atmosphere.

A different theme every year

The late summer dinner in Terranera never follows the same script. In past years the themes have been varied and original: in 2023, the attention was all for the Disney world, while last year the feast celebrated the pop culture of the 2000s. The event is therefore a mix of tradition and creativity, capable of involving all generations, from the youngest to the elderly, transforming the small village into a summer aggregation center.

The party is not born from nothing: for over fifty years, the inhabitants have undertaken to keep the sense of community alive and to attract visitors, combining past and present through active participation and sharing on social media. The youngest took the organization in hand, giving new life to an event that unites sociality, fun and local identity. Even those who arrive by chance, attracted by fresh mountain air, are actively participating.

And if you think it’s a rare event, that’s not the case. Also to stay on Christmas theme, on August 17th – yes, you understood well: in August – in Lesa, on the Piedmontese shores of Lake Maggiore, the third edition of the Christmas markets took place. Unusual traditions but certainly highly appreciated by those who just the heat cannot bear it.

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