Saint Valentine’s Day

We have to go back to the Roman Empire to discover the origins of Saint Valentine’s Day. At the time, on February 15th, the Romans celebrated Lupercus and Fauno who were the gods protecting the harvest and the cattle, as well as wishing prosperity and fertility. On the evening before the feast all the girls of marriageable age used to put a card with their name inside a jar. Every young man would draw out a name which he would have to pair with in the sense of dancing and singing together her for the whole of the celebrations Many, inevitably, fell in love and married.
On 496 A.D. Pope Gelasio cancelled this pagan rite replacing it with a day commemorating St. Valentine. Valentine had been a bishop who accepted marrying young couples even if they didn’t get the permission from the Emperor.
Saint Valentine himself, bishop and martyr is the patron of the city of Terni, Umbria.
Many anecdotes linked with Saint Valentines explain well the reason way he has been chosen later by the Church as the patron protector of lovers. An episode says that one day Valentine saw two lovers arguing next of his garden, therefore distracted by their voices, Valentines went up to them and gave a rose asking to hold it together without sting. The two lovers made peace and were so happy that wanted Valentine itself to celebrate their marriage. After them, many other couples went to St. Valentines intercede for their love. So he determined to dedicate the 14th of every month to receive pairs in love.

In Italy and Rome some events took place on Saint Valentine’s day, among them: “For Valentine’s Day Fall In Love With Art”, thanks to this initiative couples can enter state monuments and museums paying just one ticket.
Since this year Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of Carnival, the Roman Carnival organized a Grand Ball in Piazza del Popolo.
In Italy the single people’s day is celebrated as well. Several years ago a group of Italian single tired of being in the shadows for St. Valentine's day celebrations, have proclaimed their own saint and feast day: February 15th, Saint Faustino’s day.

Even though Saint Valentine, the patron of lovers, was an Italian bishop, in Italy there is not much celebration of Valentine's Day as in the United States.
The Pantheon Institute decided to celebrate it, offering to our students a light snack with heart-shaped biscuits and some drinks, we hope that our students appreciated it!

Let it Snow in Rome

When on Friday we looked out the window of the Pantheon Institute Office we were very surprised to see so many snowflakes falling: it was an unusual and amazing sight for us!!!

As you can guess, this weather was somehow unusual for Rome, that is usually blessed by a moderate climate. The Italian capital had not experienced the heavy snow falls for a long period of time, 1986 was reported to be the last heavy snowfall that has dropped in the city.
Our students had the opportunity to assist to a historic event on Friday—the first heavy snowfall in Rome in 24 years!!!

The snow caught Rome unprepared, as a matter of fact it caused some problems: some museums and historical sites, including Colosseum, were closed so as schools and public offices, cars without tire chains were ordered off the road, many houses were without electricity, thousands of people were trapped on trains throughout Italy.

Despite the many practical problems, the general delight of the citizens was palpable. People had snowball fights, snowboarded at the Circus Maximus, made snowmen in the piazzas and contemplated with renewed curiosity and appreciation the many ancient wonders of Rome under the snow.

Surely seeing a white and soft blanket covering the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and Navona Square is a worthwhile experience, so our students are very lucky to be here in Rome now!!!

Welcome to spring semester students!

Spring semester has begun at the Pantheon Institute in a rather unusual day: January 6^th, the Epiphany, which is in Italy the day of “La Befana”, the Good Witch of Christmas who flies over the rooftops of Rome on her broom, and brings gifts to the good children: so the Befana brought us forty-three marvelous new students!

Since their arrival students have been attending orientation sessions, acclimating themselves to life in one of the most exciting cities in the world thanks to the great help of our Italian Professors Barbara and Maurizio, who showed the most important areas of Rome and gave them some useful tips on local life.

The Academic Orientation was on Friday, January 13^th , and Professor Sabatello introduced all our faculty and staff. There was the chance also to try a real Italian breakfast and the delicious Roman cornetti (croissants).

Besides the required academic courses, our students could choose among several interesting elective subjects, such as: Italian Culture, Art, Archeology and Digital Photography (more information on our website page: http://216.14.127.190/spring.php). They will also participate in several field trips, and have already gone to Villa Adriana and Ostia; soon they will visit beautiful Italian cities such as Florence, Venice and Pompeii.

The Pantheon Institute student services staff organized also the first extra-curricular activities, among them a bowling night: some of the students went with Elisa to the bowling alley and spent there a nice evening! Other interesting and enjoying activities will follow, among them cooking class, meetings with Italian students, nights at the theater and concerts.

With Rome as a background, no way to get bored: and the Pantheon Institute will make its best to make also this semester a great experience for all our students!!!