Fanfara is synonym with feasts and joy, bright luminaries and special occasions. And indeed it does, because the Italian word fanfara comes from the French fanfare which originated from the onomatopoeic sounds of a brass band playing. Now, I don’t know whether I agree with our cousins the French’s idea, but the name turned our of be popular and stuck.

Fanfara is, by definition, pretty much the same as the Banda, and the English-American brass band and, just like in the rest of the world, it brings to mind images of military parades and celebrations, of festivals and fairs. In Italy, the Bersaglieri, the Carabinieri, the Alpini all have their own fanfara. But what’s even more important is that every little town and village has its own, too.